.

So glad to see you well

Overcome and completely silent now

With heavens help you cast your demons out

And not to pull your halo down

Around your neck and tug you off your cloud

But I'm more than just a little curious

How you're planning to go about making your amends

To the dead

To the dead

Recall the deeds as if they're all

Someone else's atrocious stories

Now you stand reborn before us all

So glad to see you well

The Noose – A Perfect Circle

A.N.: Sorry for the wait! I hope you guys enjoy this one and I thank everyone that has reviewed, favourited and followed the story thus far: You guys are awesome. Feel free to share your thoughts - it's always a pleasure to hear from you (:

Amelia returns to the wake immediately spotting her mother and cousins. While Elena had her eyes slightly narrowed due the fact she hadn't outright left with her, Jeremy was curiously looking at the pair. This made him recall all the times in the past that he'd witness similar things, the difference was that now he was going to know what had transpired. He raises an eyebrow, as he looks to his sister. Elena shakes her head gently, he wasn't sure if she was telling him not to ask or if it wasn't the place to speak about it. If it was the first, tough luck... now that he knew about vampires, he wouldn't allow any secret to exist again. He wouldn't be left in the dark while his sister and cousin dealt with the issues alone. He'd be a part of it… and he'd make sure that what had happened to Vicki and Anna would never happen again.

Amelia was walking to them when Alaric appeared. He gently grabbed her arm, giving her a look before looking to Jenna and smiling. He gestured to himself and Amelia and pointed to the door, Jenna furrowed her eyebrows but nodded as she moved her attention to her daughter with a smile on her lips.

"How are you?"

She furrows her eyebrows, slightly taken back by his worried tone. "I'm alive." He raises an eyebrow, seemingly like a parent that was about to scold a misbehaved toddler making her smile. She really liked Alaric, he was probably the best guy her mother had ever dated. Scratch that, he was the best guy her mother has ever dated and most likely would ever date. She hoped that their relation lasted. "I'm okay."

"You can speak to me Amelia," he tells her as he guides her to the door so their conversation wouldn't be overheard.

"What if I don't know what to say?"

He furrows his eyebrows as he looks to her. She seemed tired on that moment, almost as if she had aged a decade of the course of the last year. "I'm worried," he says frowning when she scoffed. "Look, yesterday I took you home and you said that you'd tell me what had happened."

"Didn't anyone tell you yet?"

He nods. "I'd like you to tell me how you are. No one but you can tell me that."

She opens and closes her mouth. He could see several emotions swirling on her eyes: pain, confusion, anger... "I'm way too sober for this shit." She runs her hands down her face hard in frustration closing her eyes briefly.

He shakes his head as a heavy sigh leaves his lips. His gaze was locked on hers. "Amelia, please. Just talk to me."

"What do you want me to say Alaric? Would it even help in anything?" She raises her eyes looking defiantly to him. "That I'm hurt? That I don't know how to deal with all of this? That I'm tired of being blind sighted? That I'm afraid? That life no longer makes sense and I barely know who I am?"

There was a sad smile on his lips. He places his hand above her shoulder and gently squeezes it. "You're just human and you're doing well." He presses his lips against her forehead. "You're doing well and I'm proud of you." Her breath hitches as she looks with him with a heartbreaking expression, almost if she couldn't believe her ears. "I'm here for you." His eyes wander to her mother that was inside looking at them with a smile on her lips. "For her, for Jeremy and Elena. For as long as you'll have me."

She snorts and pats his hand. "Shouldn't make promise you might be unable to keep. "That's the difference between us," he tells her gently giving her a meaningful look. "I have faith." She gives him a puzzled look, like she couldn't make head or tail of his words. "So don't write me off just yet."

She nods with uncertainty. Sure, she believed he believed it... but that didn't mean that he couldn't change his mind in the future. "You and mom are okay?"

"Yeah." There was a bashful smile on his lips that almost made him look like a kid. "I haven't been this happy in years."

Amelia laughs lightly. "She's got mad skills."

He shakes his head with amusement. "Does it mean that you're planning to make up with her soon?"

"Oh, I see it now... you're just trying to earn brownie points," she mockingly accuses him.

He snorts. "You got me," he says dryly. He then raises an eyebrow as he presses, "So?"

"You're no fun."

"And you are trying to deflect," he counters.

She sighs as she looks to him. There was a serious expression on her face. "I kind of have to. I need her and... I sort of feel bad. There's plenty I don't tell her so I shouldn't hang the dickhole over her head forever."

"Language," he tells her halfheartedly. "Now let's go back before they send a search party."

She laughs. "I can see Elena doing that or... coming here to know what we're speaking about. That girl is a control freak."

He shakes his head. "That wasn't very nice."

She looks to him, holding her chin high in defiance. "I'm not a nice person."

"Sure," he says after a laugh. "Your very name makes people tremble, you little devil."

She had a wide and happy grin on her lips. "That's more like it."

They return to where Jenna, Elena and Jeremy were standing. Jenna promptly invited Alaric over for dinner making said man look to the teenagers, trying to access if they were comfortable with it. He smiles and nods as he sees acceptance on their eyes - Amelia even had a mocking smile on her lips. He suggests that he should pick up the food while Jenna volunteers to pick up a desert. Jenna turns their attention to the teenagers, the silent teenagers, and asked if they wanted to go with one of them or home. Jeremy said that he'd go home and Elena wanted to drop by the hospital first to see Caroline and she added that she also wanted to check on Bonnie - making a pause to give Amelia a meaningful look. Amelia knew that Elena wanted her to join, she guessed that she cousin had several reasons to want it so: she was most likely curious about what she had told the Salvatore brothers, maybe she even wanted to have a chat with her regarding their parentage or it could be as simple as wanting to make sure that she was no longer angry with them. However, Amelia wanted nothing of it. Instead she looks at her mother and smiles before stating that she'd accompany her... They hadn't spent time together lately. Alaric's grin rivaled Jenna's - who promptly grabbed and squeezed Amelia's hand - and even if Elena would rather she accompanied her, she was sort of glad she was fixing her relation with her mother. It was a start and maybe soon, all of them were be at a better place.

Once they were inside the car, her mother automatically started the conversation with an, "How are you?"

Amelia prevents herself from sighing. She wanted people to seriously stop asking that question since it was driving her to the brink of insanity. However, this was her mother. Hurt or not, Amelia knew that her mother at least had that right. "I... I don't know. It was scary," she declares thinking back to when she was trying to prevent Johnny from bleeding out in the kitchen floor. To his command of holding a knife, to him gripping onto her hand as they waited for the ambulance - or for Kathy to end them both. Just thinking about it was enough to make her heartbeat pick up.

"I'm so sorry that it happened to you kiddo. I'm sorry for everything," her mother laments glancing in her way. Amelia was rubbing her hands on her jeans as if she was trying to wipe something off. "You still feel the blood?"

Amelia head shots up and she looks to her mother with a startled expression. Her mother had been the only one that noticed... or, well, maybe the only one that mentioned it. "Yeah," she confirms quietly casting her gaze down to her hands that she forces to remain quiet. "Sometimes I still feel the wetness."

"It will get better, things will settle down and you'll put this traumatic event behind you."

Amelia wanted to laugh and cry hysterically as she yelled 'My fucking life is a traumatic event nowadays.' She couldn't, however, so instead she mumbled a meek, "I seriously hope so mom."

"I'm here kiddo, I'm here." Jenna extends her hand to Amelia that accepts it making her beam. "I promise that I won't go anywhere."

"I know," she says with confidence looking to their linked hands. "I know and I love you." There was a small hesitant smile on her lips. "To the moon and back."

"To the moon and back," Jenna repeats with her voice wavering due emotion.

The rest of the ride was spent with iddle chatter that mostly revolved around Jenna and Alaric. Jenna wanted to make sure that her daughter liked him because their relation was becoming more serious. Amelia responded to Jenna's concerns with an: 'Should I call him pops?' which made Jenna swat her leg with a horrifed expression. Thing were slightly serious not serious to the point of them marrying anytime soon. It was the first time that her mother had mentioned marriage, no matter how far away it could be, regarding one of her boyfriends and due that Amelia didn't tease her... much.

The time that they did spent together made Amelia feel lighter than she had in weeks. Sure, a lot of her relationships were somewhat broken at the moment and it would take a while till things got better but at least she and her mother were at a better place. She had missed the silly banter she had with her mother and, without a doubts, the feeling of being unconditionally loved. She was glad that their fall out hadn't made any lasting damages.

When they returned to the household the only person missing was Elena. Alaric was already there with Chinese takeaway. He had even set the table and dishes which had made Jenna plant a kiss on his lips and a deep scarlet blush appear on his lips as he tried to get away from her advances as he bumbled 'The kids are here.' While Jeremy scoffed at the use of the word kids, Amelia pointed out that she had witness far more innocent things than a kiss. Soon, her mother had a matching blush on her cheeks as she told Amelia never to bring it up again.

Jenna tasks Alaric of storing the cakes she had bought while she called Elena. While the two adults were distracted, Jeremy pulls her aside. She slaps his hand for her arm and narrows her eyes as he raises his hands in the air.

"Uh, Uncle John left."

The look of anger fades into one of confusion. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to react to the news... or why the man in question hadn't told her himself that he was leaving... Granted, they weren't... whatever they were supposed to be in his book but last she checked she had stayed by his side while he bled on the kitchen floor... that should have earned her a farewell. Something, that despite the annoyance and relief she was feeling, did sting. "Okay. Why?"

Jeremy shrugs as he pulls something from his pocket. "He didn't say." She immediately rolls her eyes. Of course he didn't. "He just left. I was kinda surprised that he was up and kicking though."

"He's a though bastard." There was a dry smile on her lips. Much tougher than she had given him credit, his wound was deep and he had lost his fingers. "Anything else?"

He sighs. "Look-"

"Not in the mood," she warns him as she raises a hand in the air. "Just say your piece so we can play happy families for my mom."

He nods with a frown. He hands her something. "He left that for you. I didn't read it... Gave me my father's ring." On the palm of his hand was John's ring... or rather... her uncle's ring.

"You should put it on," she points out. "The magical ring of revival is handy."

Jeremy nods with his eyebrows furrowed. "I didn't know if you or my sister rather have it."

"No, put it on. I'm sure she'd agree on it. It's better if you have it." He acquiesces and places the ring on his finger, closing and opening his hand a couple of times as he stared at it. "Still tacky. But hey, now you match Alaric."

He laughs. "Just what I always wanted."

"Laugh all you want but when the awful music taste kicks in... no one else will find it funny," she comments teasingly.

He was grinning, clearly happy that they were having a lighthearted conversation. "Nah, I'll only start stalking the dark for vampires."

"Don't even joke about that. He got a punctured lung out of it once and I rather if you remain in one piece." There was a pause in which she was uncertain on how to act. "I'm, uh, gonna go now." She places the letter - that was folded - in her pocket as she decided if she should read it or not.

He also had a somber expression. "Yeah. Me too."

They return to the kitchen making Jenna raise an eyebrow. "You two alright? It's like you saw a ghost."

"I'm really hungry... Sure, I munched at the wake but I rather not have 'the Mayor died' food," she babbles trying to escape her mother questions.

Her mother automatically snorts. "You have issues kiddo."

"Everyone does," she counters in a less upbeat tone than she had first intended. Seeing the looks on her mother and Alaric's face, she continues before they could speak. "Anyway, food? Now, please?"

"Elena will get her soon enough," Jenna says as she hands her a couple of fortune cookies. "You get no more."

She pretends to cry as she turns her attention to Alaric. "Run while you can buddy. This is your future."

He looks to Jenna with a loving smile on his lips. "I see nothing wrong with it."

She huffs loudly making both of the adults laugh. "He's just trying to butter her up," Jeremy says making Amelia look with a partially stunned expression to him. "I think it's like living with a tyrant."

"Look at him using big boy words," Jenna mocks as she crosses her arms over her chest. Amelia snorts as she approaches Jeremy. Without saying anything she hands him one of the fortune cookies making a wide grin appear on his lips. "It is a family dinner," Alaric points out with a grin that matched Jeremy's. He was beyond happy that he was with them, not only to be accepted but also from being included in their family.

"Trade fortunes with me." Jeremy raises an eyebrow at Amelia's request. "Like seriously: You will be hungry again in one."

Jeremy promptly open his. "Life is like juggling knives, everyone can tell when you mess up," he reads.

"That's strangely profound and like... my new life motto." At that point everyone was laughing. Amelia, with her best puppy eyes, turns her attention to Jenna. "Mom, could we open a few more while we wait for Elena?"

When Elena in fact got home, she found everyone sitting at the table laughing loudly. They had left a single fortune cookie for her and showed her the fortunes they had gotten while they waited for her. She was surprised to find Amelia and Jeremy bickering regarding what had been the weirdest fortune of the bunch since she wasn't aware that they were in good terms. She thought that it meant that Amelia was better with everyone else, but when she placed her hand on her shoulder she immediately glared and stopped laughing. Everyone at the table paused briefly, trying to understand the change in Amelia's demeanor making her ask for dinner.

The dinner wasn't as tense as it seemed like it would be. Amelia avoided speaking with her cousins and instead focused on her mother and Alaric. Once everyone finished eating, the teenagers retreated to their bedroom giving privacy to the adults. Amelia was the only one that lingered for a bit, trying to avoid having a conversation with Elena. When she assumed that her cousin... sister... was already on her bedroom, she left wishing both of them a good night. Even so, since she didn't want to take unnecessary risks, she almost ran to her bedroom and locked the door for good measure.

The first thing she did once she was safely inside of her bedroom was place John's letter on the nightstand. She wasn't sure she wanted to read it. Well, truth to be told she did want to read it. She was curious regarding what John could have written to her - and even why he had left, she also wondered if his letter offered some sort of clarification on the matter - but she was positively sure that she wouldn't like the contents of the letter so... she figured that it would be for the best if she read it at a later date. However, no matter where she looked, her gaze always fell back to the letter, her brain supplying her with Johnny's possible parting words to her - and no matter how dark and rude her thoughts got she was sure that the actual letter would be worse. With a groan of resignation and cursing her curiosity, she tears of the envelope - wondering why he'd sealed it - and reads.

Amelia,

I'm not aware if your sister has told you that she and the vampire she is dating about their visit. I'm sure that the latter did not tell you that I was threatened to leave, with the promise that he'd turn me into an abomination if I remained since neither you nor her wanted me in their lives. While she left her position on the mater clear, I am not sure regarding yours. I heard rumors that you have fallen out with them but I can't make myself trust them. You did come to the rescue of the older Salvatore.

Even if I am aware that we are in opposing positions of the spectrum, I hope that one day you will see eye to eye with me. I know that you are hurt with what I did and I wish that I could tell you that I regret it, but I don't. This life is not without sacrifices and to rid the world of this scum I would sacrifice all that I hold dearly, like I have so done many times before. I know that you won't pity me and you will most likely think that I got what I deserved, after all you do have your mother's temper, but trust me when I tell you that I didn't want to part with you in these terms. I always hoped that in you I would find what I had lost with Elena. I thought that I'd have with you what my brother had with his children... with my child.

Despite all, you are my daughter. You are brave, fierce and... naive. We will see each other again, that I can assure you. No matter what, I will come for you.

J. G.

She spent a couple of minutes blinking as she re-reads the letter. First off, it wasn't as bad as she had imagined it. There weren't any explicit threats of removing limbs - and hey, he hadn't said that she was a total and complete disappointment - or anything of the sort. She assumed that that was... good... Now, the final words did leave her confused. Was he threatening her? The 'I will come for you' was some sort of promise of future punishment or something else? She pinches the bridge of her nose as she places the letter inside of her nightstand tucked in a book. If her mother ever caught the letter and read it, she'd have things to explain. Things that at this point she didn't want to explain. Her mother had never gone through her things before so she assume that she would never read it unless Amelia offered it to her... However, she did think that it was better to be safe than sorry. There was no possible way to make that letter seem a normal thing.

Amelia jolts from the bed, where she had sat down while she read, and goes to the bathroom. The day hadn't been as terrible as she first assumed that it would have been. The confrontations were kept to a minimum and she did managed to avoid most of their advances. She even dared to say that the time spent before dinner was fun - those fortunes had been hilarious - and she did make up with her mother. The day had been okay albeit a bit long. Nothing that a shower and much needed night of sleep wouldn't cure.

When she left the bathroom she felt the urge to run back inside, lock the door and hide. On her bed like nothing was wrong and as if he wasn't an intruder but the owner of the room was Damon. Apart from lying on the bed relaxed - as if it was his own bed - he was also using her cellphone, again, like it was the most natural thing in the world. He was seemingly ignoring her as he pressed the keys of her phone and squinted his eyes as he looked to the small screen. She tightens the grip on her towel, cursing the fact that she hadn't taken her clothes with her to the bathroom when she went to take her shower. In her defense she hadn't expected Damon to drop by today - him randomly appearing on her room was a normal occurrence, but given that they were at odds... she hoped that he would give her space. Decided to act as if she wasn't utterly annoyed at the sight of him - maybe he'd get the hint and leave - she starts collecting her clothes. She was pulling her pajamas out of the drawer when he loudly groaned, startling her to the point that she not only jumped on her feet but dropped the clothes on the ground. She narrows her eyes to him as she grips the towel more tightly, pausing briefly to pick up the fallen items.

"Stefan sent you a message," he explains with a harsh tone. His gaze was still locked on the phone but now his eyes were narrowed and his lips were a tense line. She furrows her eyebrows as she wonders what could have Stefan said to annoy him, but before she could have asked he continued, "And Tyler. He asked if you were going to the carnival tomorrow." His tone was mocking. He slowly raises his gaze and smirks. "I told him that you were busy."

She takes a deep breath of air trying to calm down. She couldn't yell, her mother and Alaric would probably run to her bedroom to check on the commotion and she did not want to explain what was happening. "Any reason why are you readying or replying to my texts?"

Instead of replying his gaze, almost lazily, travels up and down her body as if he just noticed that she was rolled in a towel. While her body tenses, the mischievousness in his gaze increases. "Any reason why you didn't get dressed? Not that I'm complaining... if anything-"

Not caring to hear the end of his sentence, she rushes to the bathroom and closes the door with more force than necessary. She immediately heard his chuckle and chastised herself from blushing... He had clearly gotten the reaction he had wanted. Oh, she wanted to march back inside of her room and slap some sense into him. First, he shouldn't even be there and the fact that he was there like he either owned it or had been invited, when clearly neither were truth pissed her off. And why on earth was he checking her phone? Sure, it wasn't something that overly bothered her... he frequently used her phone and she had never before seen a point in hiding what she said or with whom she spoke. Still, they weren't on the best of terms. He couldn't act like everything was fine and dandy, like things hadn't changed. At that moment, even if his behavior wasn't anything abnormal, didn't sit well with her. It was okay when they weren't fine and since they weren't fine at the moment, he simply shouldn't act like they were. It made her feel like he had dismissed all that she had told him on the previous days... like he was ignoring - and he was - her wishes and needs.

She leaves the bathroom feeling more aggravated that when she entered. He was still on her bed lying seemingly relaxed, his eyes closed and with a neutral expression on his face. The side of the bed she usually slept when they shared the bed, was undone - the covers partially shoved down ready for her to lie down. She immediately scoffs as she grips onto the dirty clothes she had brought from the bathroom, Damon had a lot of nerve. At the sound he curiously looks to her, raising an eyebrow and making her turn her head and march to the door decided to ignore him. She was going to drop her clothes and check if her mother was up. Maybe she could hide with her and Alaric for a bit and Damon would get the hint and give her space. Well, she was aware that he wouldn't... but he wouldn't go to her mother's room so she'd get the space one way or another. Maybe they could have a sleep over. Movies and ice cream would definitely make her feel better.

The door of her mother's room was partially open and without thinking she lets herself inside. "Hey, can we have a-"

"Fuck," Alaric screams making her screech and her mother yelp.

This time it was her fault. She immediately turns her body to the wall and presses her hands against her eyes as if she could physically remove the images. In the midst of the fury of movements she tried very hard not to replay the image of her mother on her knees in front of Alaric, or the expression of pure bliss in his face. Or the sounds, god, she would need therapy at some point. While she was frozen on the spot trying to cope with what she had seen, Jeremy bursts inside of the room - screaming almost immediately - as something falls on the ground.

She hears a chuckle - Damon's chuckle - and feels him pull her to his chest. "Jenna," he purrs. She could very well guess his expression.

"Don't you have a house?" Her mother screams with anger. "Why are you always here?! This never happened so out. Out!"

"What's happening?"

As Damon pulled her - and she allowed him to for the sake of getting away of this uncomfortable moment - Jeremy bumped against Elena. "You don't wanna know, trust me," he tells her with a partially scared voice.

"I would have warned you baby-cakes," Damon tells her teasingly making her pinch his stomach in annoyance.

Once the door of her mother's room was closed she took a deep breath of air. "Oh, this shit has to stop." She turns to the door without fulling stepping out of Damon's embrace. "Close it next time horn dogs!"

"I thought you guys were sleeping!" Her mother counters. Her tone softens for her next words, "Are you okay though? You need something?" She could still hear the embarrassment in her voice.

"She's fine," Damon states with amusement. "You two have fun, you crazy kids."

"Go home!" Her mother yells. Even if Amelia wasn't seeing her she could feel her mortification oozing.

Elena was narrowing her eyes at Damon, her expression softening for a bit when she saw that Amelia was still in his arms. "Where they?"

"Yeah." Jeremy looks to the door. "We're gonna need therapy!"

"So will I," Jenna counters. "This is the second time this happens."

Amelia sighs as part of the embarrassment vanishes. Sometimes it was like her mother was a teenager. Despite feeling awkward a smile appears on her face as she taunts her. "You should have learned by now mom. Just... lock the door, okay? Don't leave it open and don't do it around the house while we're here."

"I'm not stupid," her mother mumbles in a small voice, almost like a kid that had been scolded by his parents.

"You're a lucky guy Alaric," Damon says and immediately groans when Amelia steps on his foot hard. "Ouch, violent. You know I only have eyes for you baby-cakes."

"Shut up Damon! And go home," Alaric says harshly.

"Woah, you are making me feel welcomed today," He quips showing no discomfort or no sign that he'd listen to them. "Let's get you to bed Ames."

Jeremy subtly blocks their path. "What are you doing here?" He whispers with a partially alarmed expression thinking that maybe he had news to share, that danger was coming or something of the sort. "Something happened?"

"You were there, you saw what happened," Damon answers with a grin on his lips.

Jeremy, Amelia and Elena scoff. Elena presses after rolling her eyes, "Seriously, is Stefan okay?"

His expression immediately changes. All traces of amusement disappears and he seemed bitter and angry, clenching and unclenching his fists a couple of times. Amelia furrows her eyebrows not understanding the particular violent reaction at Stefan's name. "Call him Elena. I didn't come here to speak about your boyfriend."

Elena crosses her arms over her chest. "Why did you come?"

"Not for you," he states making her scoff again with her eyes narrowed. "Night-night," he mumbles with a smirk as he pulls Amelia to the bedroom before Elena could say anything else. Then he smiled through the door, waving his hand mockingly before he closed it, ignoring the angry and annoyed looks on Elena and Jeremy's face.

"Should we follow them inside?"

Elena sighs at Jeremy's question. "I don't know. You are an ass," she declares knowing that Damon could hear her.

"Does he do this often?"

Amelia sighs tiredly, rubbing her eyes. Damon was still by the door as if he expected that her cousins would barge in at any moment. "What do you want Damon?"

"I want my best friend," he tells her in a quiet tone so the other two wouldn't over hear. "I also need her right now. I... had a run in with Katherine." She widens her eyes and takes a couple of steps in his direction, her gaze jumping all around him as she looks for wounds. She had little to next experience, but if the runs in that Stefan and Johnny had with Katherine pointed at something was that he'd most likely be hurt. "I'm fine... Sort of... Physically fine," he elaborates giving her a tired look.

Her gaze lingers in his face for a few seconds. It was in times like this that she could see how old he truly was. With a sigh she turns to the door. "Go to bed. It's fine," she tells her cousins.

"Are you-"

"Just go," she insists.

Jeremy sighs. "If I hear something, I'll come running."

"We'll come," Elena corrects. "Call if you need us..."

She walks to the bed as Damon remains by the door for a few seconds longer. She gets inside of the bed and pulls the covers up to her chin as wondered why was she feeling so damn worried. She was aware that no matter what shitty things Damon did, she'd always have a soft spot for him - soft spot was a massive understatement, he was, after all, one of the most important people in her life - and that regardless of him being a shitty friend... she didn't want to return the courtesy. Still, she'd have to draw the line at some point or else he'd never learn. But Kathy was one of those subjects that she was fully aware that could seriously mess with his mind. Kathy was his weakness and beserk button all in one and whatever she had told him, couldn't be good... Worse, whatever she told him could make him lose it and lose himself. Given her importance and despite the fact that despite being an ass, Damon was her ass, she'd be the supportive friend that she usually was. She'd be there for him because she knew that she was one of the few people - or even the only one - that really cared about him.

He hesitantly turns to the bed and removes his clothes, getting in the bed a few seconds after with the same tired and hurt expression that had appeared when he mentioned Kathy. Instead of pulling her to him like he usually did, she felt his hand hovering above hers and after a few seconds - as if he realized that she wouldn't pull her hand away - he intertwines their fingers. He no longer looked relaxed or, rather, he could no longer keep up the facade of being relaxed. His body was tense and his thumb kept running up and down hers as if it was some sort of weird nervous tick.

"Wanna speak?"

He looks to her, surprise flashing in his eyes. He remains staring with several emotions twirling in his eyes, pain, confusion, relief and anger. For a bit she feared that he wouldn't say anything and would remain staring like he was a statue and when he finally spoke, she almost regretted asking. "It was always Stefan." He closes his eyes and the grip on her hand tightens. His voice was incredibly soft, almost if he didn't want her to hear his words. "It was never me... Just Stefan." At his words, she frowns and untangles their fingers. He raises his head with a frown so he could look at her, trying to guess what was going in her mind, when she hugs him tightly he gasps. Immediately his arms warp around her, pulling her closer and ignoring their awkward position. "I... I loved her... I would have done anything and everything for her," He confesses as he adjust their position so they'd be more comfortable. He pulls her to him till her torso was lying above his and with his arms around her, he rests his head above hers. "I was never enough. I'm never enough," he mumbles as if it was some sort of chant and she could feel her heart break at his words. Kathy had hurt him more than she had Stefan... and maybe even John. Physical wounds would heal - even if his fingers would never really grow back - but she was unware if Damon would ever get over what she had told him.

"Damon don't speak like that," she pleads as she grips even more tightly to him.

"You don't get it Amelia," he mutters with a harsh and pained tone. "For one hundred and forty five years she was it for me. She was it and now I discovered that for her it was Stefan... She never compelled me... it was real but at the same time it wasn't... It was never me. I was played. I... Sure, after the shit she pulled with the tomb I was pissed... But if she told me she wanted to fix things between us... I would have tried."

Amelia closes her eyes wondering if he would ever truly get over the mess that was Katherine Pierce. "I know, you love her."

"I don't know," he mumbles as his grip tightens a bit. "I... I just wanted it to work, she's been it for so long that I don't know how to let it go... It's like I'm..." He makes a pause. "Not that it matters, I'm not Stefan. She was just playin' with me."

"Then she's stupid," she declares with a slightly broken tone. "Sure, you're an ass, really bossy and can't take a hint or respect other people needs-"

"You really know how to make me feel better," he mocks with a strained tone of voice.

"But you're also... uh... sort of loyal, funny and passionate. You give everything when you like someone... Despite being flawed and at times seriously fucked up, you are a great guy. Don't let her take that from you. Don't let her make feel like less than you are. Don't feel less of a being... You're not."

He moves their bodies, ignoring her protests and her tries of maintaining the tight embrace, so he could look to her face. "You really think that? After all that I did?" His gaze was jumping around her face, trying to spot insincerity or doubt. He found nothing of the sort.

She nods. "Yes, I do," there wasn't an ounce of uncertainty on her voice. Her expression was decided and even if she wasn't smiling and her tone was without a doubt harsh, he could see the fondness in her eyes. "You might be terrible and I really wanted to snap you neck... But... You're Damon, my Damon and I do love you. Despite all."

He was at a loss, barely believing what he was hearing. He tentatively touches her face, grazing his thumb along her jaw. She didn't flinch and he suddenly lets his hand fall. He pulls her to him to the point that she was straddling his stomach and tightly hugs her - resting his chin above her shoulder. "I don't deserve you," he whispers as the hug tightens to the point it hurt to breathe. "I don't deserve you."

She slaps his arms. "Hurts to breathe," she wheezes out. He immediately lets go of her, looking to her with an apologetic expression. "You gotta be careful," she mumbles as she tuts his nose. "Human, yeah?"

"Yes. I should let you sleep, uhm?"

She wiggles away and rests her head in the chest. "We both should." She presses a kiss on the center of his chest as she thinks what she could say to make him feel better. She reached the conclusion that it wasn't in her power... but that maybe if he knew how much he meant to her that his feelings of rejection would ease up a bit. "I'm here, you're not alone and even if we aren't that okay... you won't be alone. Not really, you got me." She closes her eyes as a blush appears on her cheeks. She could believe she was saying something so cheesy. "You have a place in my heart, you know? Even when I want to kill you, you're still there." Her tone drops a bit. "I don't know if you'll ever leave to be honest. I guess we're stuck together for a foreseeable future... despite all."

"I know." His tone was strangely emotional. "You're also mine. My Amelia."

She snorts. "You've made that abundantly clear D."

For a few seconds he didn't comment. "You know that you are, don't you? Even if you didn't want to you'd still be mine."

She scoffs as she looks to him. His expression was more serious than she had expected. In fact, it was so serious that she had to lighten up the mood. The way he was looking at her, like she held some sort of answers to all of his problems was scary. "Way to creep out a girl."

A grin appears on his lips. "You should be flattered baby-cakes," he coos teasingly. "I don't nor would say that to a lot of people."

"For good reason too, they'd run for the hills." She settles her head back on his chest.

"You're aren't," he counters raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not." She makes a pause. "You got supper speed, it would be pointless, 'sides I'm smart. I don't bet on something if I don't like all the outcomes."

When he first got there he doubted that he would end up laughing, but he did. "Is that why you owe me money?"

She scoffs. "One day you're gonna get turned down, I promise buddy."

With a smile on his lips, he pats her head. "Whatever you say baby-cakes," he says condescendingly. "I'm sure we'll find you a way to pay be back." His tone was suggestive and she immediately rolls her eyes.

"Don't be frisky with me."

"But you love it when I'm frisky with you," he whines.

She scoffs. "Go to sleep D."

He laughs again. "Good night Ames," he says sweetly. "Thank you-"

"Sleep well," she interrupts him before pressing another kiss on his chest. She definitely didn't want to have another conversation that would end up with them being cheesy with each other.

Damon was the first to wake up. His phone kept vibrating but thankfully Amelia was still deep in sleep, sprawled above him with a relatively relaxed expression. During the night he noticed that something was wrong with her. She'd whimper at times as her body lightly trembled. He'd rub her shoulders and whisper that everything was okay, that he was there and she'd calm down. Even if he felt beyond happy - and really smug - that his voice was able to calm her, he'd have to speak with her regarding that. So much shit happened that he didn't know exactly what seemed to be the source of her distress.

He checked his phone before checking hers - she had received at least two text messages. His messages pertained her daddy leaving the city, which he could admit that he was curious about the reasons, and both the Mayor's wife and Liz trying to set up a meeting between him and the first and also Stefan trying to get a hold of him. Her three messages where from Stefan and he had to fight the urge of breaking her phone. While the first two were inquiring if she was still with him - yesterday he had sent one warning Amelia about Damon's run in with Katherine to which he had replied to a 'Mind your own fucking business' - the last was addressed to him. He wanted to talk. Damon loudly scoffs almost walking her up. He tugs her closer to him before replying to his brother with the same words.

He had planned to let her sleep a while longer, partially due the fact that her sleep had been restless for the most part of the night, when Alaric knocks on the door. He knocked three times before entering the room and immediately closing the door when he saw Damon there. While Damon was smirking, Alaric's expression was a mix between embarrassment and anger.

"What are you doing here?" His tone was a little above a whisper.

"Sleep over?" He offers with the smirk still in its place.

Alaric scoffs with a glare. "You-"

Jeremy opens the door, interrupting whatever Alaric had planned to say, and immediately closed the door. "Something happened? What can I do?"

Damon rolls his eyes at Jeremy's eager tone. Amelia would soon wake up if the two idiots didn't leave. "Reel it in, she's sleeping. You should all leave."

"What are you doing here?"

He looks to Alaric and grins. "C'mon Ric, I don't need to explain what I'm doing here, do I?"

Damon had wanted to push his buttons and by the tense line his lips had become, he had succeeded. "Don't you dare-"

Amelia opens her eyes and blinks twice. When her gaze falls on Jeremy and Alaric's faces she squeals. "What the hell is happening here?" She had pulled the covers above her face and was now completely pressed against Damon's side. "God, were you all watching me sleep?"

"I protected your modesty," Damon mocks receiving a slap in the stomach. "Violent!"

Jeremy walks to the other side of the bed and gently pulls down the covers till he could see her face. "Is everything alright? Why is he here? Something happened?"

She looks first to Jeremy and then to Alaric. "The question is what are you two doing here. Is mom okay?"

Alaric's expression softens. "She's fine. I wanted to speak with you." Both Jeremy and Damon were looking to him, waiting for his words. "Alone."

"No need to be coy Ric," Damon mumbles. "Ames doesn't mind if I listen..."

"I'm not leaving," Jeremy says almost at the same time.

Amelia groans loudly. "It's too early." She pulls her body up, till she was sitting. Since there was still space on the bed, Jeremy also sits next to her. "What is it?"

Alaric rolls his eyes. "Does he sleep here often?"

"Sure do," Damon quips flashing him another grin.

"Damon," Amelia whines as she rubs her eyes. "Don't drag this shit. I need coffee!"

He rolls his eyes. "Go make her a coffee kid."

Jeremy scoffs. "I also want to know what's happening!"

"Get her coffee," Damon insists as he lays his head on her stomach.

"But-"

Amelia sighs as she fights off a smile. "Shut up you two."

Jeremy looks with a sour expression to Damon while the later grins. "So, Ric, what's the matter?"

"Are you okay?"

She looks to Alaric with a partially surprised expression. He was seemingly ignoring the other two and she wasn't sure what had brought on his question. "Uh, yeah. I'm okay."

Alaric sighs giving her a suspicious look. "We'll speak later." He turns his attention to Damon. "You should leave."

"You and Jenna need to learn how to treat guests," Damon mockingly states. However he turns his attention to Amelia. "I have a meeting but I'll find you later, okay?"

She nods. "Don't lose it, okay?"

"Wait, are you two fine now?"

Both reply at the same time. "Of course, she loves me."

"No." She narrows her eyes. "You still have to make amends," she declares. "Doesn't mean we're on radio silence."

He laughs not only because of the way she put it but also because of the looks the other two were giving them. "Good." He then gets up from the bed making Alaric and Jeremy scoff at his state of undress as he quickly gathers his clothes. "If you were as attractive as I, you would take off your clothes often too."

"Don't egg them on D," she mutters. "Phone?"

He tosses her phone. "See ya latter baby-cakes." After planting a kiss on her head, leaves.

"Does he do this often?"

She looks to Jeremy. "I rather not speak about it but yeah, we have plenty of sleep overs. "She jolts from the bed. "I'd appreciate if you two left so I could change."

"We're supposed to help in the carnival," Jeremy informs her. "Elena already left and I was waiting on you."

Amelia scoffs. "I don't remember signing in."

"It would be a good distraction." Alaric pats her shoulder and leaves with Jeremy on his trail.

She was considering her cousin and Alaric's words when her phone vibrated. 'Damon I just want to talk about it.' She rapidly checks the other messages and sighs. So this was what Damon had referred to last night. 'He had a meeting, he isn't here.' Not even a second had passed when she received a reply. 'Is he okay? Are you okay?' She sighs, she was definitely tired of that damn question and when she decided that she wouldn't reply, he sent another. 'I'm worried. Katherine told him something and when I got home the place was wrecked. He left without telling me what happened. Was he okay with you? Did he do something stupid?' She stares into the phone, sure, she really didn't want to speak with him but if he continued pressing Damon would snap. 'We spoke and then we slept. He's not okay, you pushing it makes it worse.' Once again his reply was almost immediate. 'Could we speak? I want to give you space but I'm worried. About both of you.' With a groan she types her reply. 'Fine, pick me up in twenty.' Giving it a second thought, she starts typing again. 'Window, Jeremy and Alaric are trying to make me help at the Carnival.' She thought that he'd refuse, she was surprised when he didn't. 'Okay. Window, twenty minutes.'

Like clockwork, in twenty minutes he was entering her room through the window. Much like Damon last night, he seemed restless and tired. He offers her a small smile as he approaches her. She got up from the bed and walked to him looking ready to leave.

"You're not going to tell them?"

She shakes her head. "I don't like it when they make plans for me," she states. "Having them running on their tails should be punishment slash amusement enough."

He shakes his head with a small smile. "They just want to-" The glare on her face made him stop. "You are on your right," he amends diplomatically. he didn't want to piss her off or he was sure that she would no longer have a chat with him.

She rolls her eyes. "We gotta go, pretty sure they're gonna check on me. Also." The corners of her lips tug upward. "You're paying coffee."

"Breakfast's on me." He offers her his hand. He seemed partially uncomfortable or embarrassed, she couldn't really tell. "Shall we?"

"Uh, piggy-back." She really didn't want Stefan to carry her like Damon did, it would be weird and just thinking about it sort of weirded her out. He nodded and he bent on the ground.

Once they were in position, he speaks, "Ready?" She wraps her arms tightly around his neck and nods.

Being carried by Stefan and Damon was rather different - and not just because he was carrying her differently than Damon. He wasn't as fast, she wasn't sure if that had something to do with the fact he didn't consume the magic red stuff or if he was trying to be mindful of her. Also, when Damon ran with her she felt like she was in a roller coast, with Stefan if was if she was riding a bike. Sure, she still felt massive amounts of adrenaline pumping but it was different. The 'dismount' was also different, while Damon would often put her on the ground and place a hand on her back till she settled, Stefan held her by the arms till her heart slowed down.

He had taken her to the outskirts of the city and was now guiding her to a bar on the side of the road. Neither of them showed any intention of starting their conversation and were in a slightly uncomfortable silence. Stefan seemed like he wanted to speak, if the constant glances in her direction hinted at something, but he didn't follow through. Once they were sat on a booth of the seemingly empty bar, he ordered their coffees before turning to her.

"What do you want to eat?"

She quickly glanced at the small paper that served as a menu. "Uh, are the pancakes good?"

The girl nods. "Yeah. You should pair it with a milkshake. It's really good."

Amelia nods with a grin. The girl was really bubbly. "Okay, I want that then. Lots of syrup too."

"Is there any other way of eating pancakes?" The girl giggles before turning her attention to Stefan. "Anything else?"

"No, thank you." He smiles politely handing the menus she had given them.

The girl nods. "I'll bring the orders in a jiffy. If you have room later you should eat the apple pie," she tells Amelia. "My mom's recipe always wins the prize."

"Oh, bring it then. I always have room for pie!"

The girl laughs. "With our homemade vanilla ice cream or do you want a different combo?"

"What do you suggest?"

"Caramel," the girl automatically says. "Oh, it's so good!"

"I'll look forward to it then. Thanks." She flashes the girl a wide smile making her grin in return.

"Call if you need anything," the girl says as she leaves.

Amelia turns her attention to Stefan. "She was really nice."

"Yeah," he mumbles looking like he wasn't really interested. "Uh, how are you?"

She sighs with a frown. "Could we not? I'm here 'cause of Damon."

His expression hardens, he wasn't completely pleased at her words. "You two made up?" She wasn't sure if he was angry at the possible fact or if he was annoyed.

"Sort of. Kathy's a bitch. We always bond over shitty people." He hadn't relaxed at her words but now he also seemed worried. "You should give him a bit of room, I don't know exactly what she told him... but she professed her love for you."

He seemed startled. His hands clenched into fists. "What?" The word left his clenched jaw quickly. It was like he was trying to control his temper.

She looks at him with a frown on her lips. "I really don't know the specifics and I'm only telling you this so you ease up on the inquisition. He's hurt, he loves her... or loved... I'm not even sure anymore." She pauses as the frown deepens. "It's all a mess right now… I'm not even sure he know what he feels at this point."

For a bit neither of them spoke. The girl - Lucy - returned with Amelia's order and their coffees, stating that once she was finished she'd return with the pie so the ice cream didn't melt away. She then left after wishing her a good meal. As she ate Stefan seemed lost in thought and barely touched his coffee, at times he'd open his mouth and rapidly close it, furrowing his eyebrows as his lips became a tense line.

"Out with it," she mumbles at some point.

He exhaled loudly. "What can I do? We were okay yesterday, we had reached an understanding... and it seems like it's lost today," he mumbles with a pained expression.

"Broody," she calls out gently. "You gotta calm down. It's not your fault but he's hurt. Give him space, yeah? Remember that he really had feelings for her, plus it's always a pain when you discover that the one you like doesn't return the feelings. Even worse if she likes your brother instead. Just ease up on the inquisition, he's trying to come to terms with it... it won't happen overnight."

Stefan nods with a frown. "I know. She's a danger and I don't know what she's trying to achieve apart from fucking my relation with my brother." She giggles at his use of the word 'fucking', making a small smile appear on his lips. "It isn't amusing."

"You rarely curse, it's like watching a grampa curse," she defends, crossing her arms over her chest. "Plus, you smiled."

He rolls his eyes but nods. "But what happened?"

"Like I said, I don't know the specifics. He just crashed in, I got pissed off... we caught my mom giving a blow job to Alaric." Stefan widens his eyes, cringing at her crude words, as she scoffs. "C'mon, I'm the one that should be mortified... And I was, swear that I'll need therapy at some point." After a brief pause she continues, "Then he told me he needed his BFF and told me he had a run in with Kathy. We talked and then we slept. Alaric and Jeremy woke me up and you started texting and that was it."

"Can I ask now how are you?"

She narrows her eyes. "Sure, if you can tell me why you spoke for me."

He seemed confused. "Uh? What are you talking about?"

"Johnny." The word came out like an accusation and followed by a glare.

Several emotions flashed through his face. Anger, surprise, shame and wariness. "He spoke with you?"

She was sure that if she said 'yes' he'd do something to Johnny. It was strange, but the look on his face - the same sort of look that she had seen countless times in Damon's face - hinted at that. "Left a letter, told me you threatened him," she mumbles pausing to shove a piece of pancake on her mouth. "Were you really gonna turn him?"

He sighs. "He's an ass."

She nods agreeing with his assessment. "It didn't gave you any right to speak for me though. Maybe I wanted him around."

He immediately scoffs, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah? He almost killed you. He's lucky all I did was threaten him."

"Vampires are so touchy," she mutters slightly taken back by the rage in his tone. She hadn't expected him to act so defensively of her…. It was sort of weird and she really didn't want to dwell on it. "Still, you can't speak for me. It pissed me off." He merely rolls his eyes. "Seriously, I got Damon always deciding stuff for me. Not to mention Elena's need to control everything... and now you? It's annoying."

"I just want the best for you." His words weren't apologetic, they were a bit harsh and rather unStefan like. She raises an eyebrow making him sigh. "You're my friend, I worry."

"Of course you do," she mumbles mockingly. "It's all you ever do."

"You're important to me and it isn't just because of Damon," he states with a serious expression. "I care about you."

"Goddamn it. Why are you all being cheesy," she mutters closing her eyes briefly. "Enough with the declarations Broody."

A small smile appears on his lips. It was the kind of smile she didn't expect to find on his face since it was mischievous. "I know you also like me."

She snorts. "Do not. Stop being juvenile."

He chuckles. "Are we good?"

A serious expression appears on her face. "For the time being. You also need to make amends." She then takes a deep breath of air. "But we're not on radio silence. Too much shit is happening," she tells him, repeating the words she had told his brother. "I'm not on radio silence however, push me and that will change. I don't even care... uh... I mostly don't care if someone dies 'cause of it. Push me and it will change."

"I get it." He discreetly checks his phone. "Uh, Elena is looking for you. Mind if I tell her you're with me?"

She shrugs. "As long as she doesn't appear here I don't give a damn."

He frowns, looking after he replied to Elena. "You are her sister. You should-"

"Damon's your brother," she interrupts him. "Doesn't prove shit. I was serious Stefan, don't push me... It's taking a lot to be on speaking terms with all of you and the more you guys push the less I feel like it."

"Okay." She bites her bottom lip as she considers if she should ask him about his conversation with Damon or not. A small smirk appears on his lips. "Out with it," he repeats her previous words with a small mocking edge to it.

"How did yesterday's conversation went?"

"Good. It was like I had my brother back," he states with a soft tone. "But Katherine ruined it."

"D is gonna bounce back, plus you know how he deals with this shit." She looks to him and frowns. "He's gonna try to murder her... He always tried to murder his problems... I just hope he doesn't get hurt on the process. Kathy seems to like to stab people."

Stefan nods. "I have his back."

"What about the magic red juice, you're gonna start drinking it?"

His lips become a tense line. "I don't know if I can," he confesses in a slightly broken tone. "I know that I should but I don't know if I'm strong enough."

She rolls her eyes. "Sure you are. We're all alive... that shows restrain right?"

"It's not that easy... you don't get it."

She gives him a pointed look. "Explain it to me then." There was a partially surprised expression on his face. "I won't understand if you don't tell me, so tell me."

He seemed to be debating and she was almost sure he would deflect. But then he sighed and stared to her as if he was assessing her. She didn't know exactly what was going in his mind but after a couple of seconds he started speaking again. "I... I never could control it, since the beginning. I don't know what it is but unlike Damon... it was always hard for me. Sure, at time I could get a grip on it but it never lasted." He looks down to his hands. "I... I liked killing them," he confesses and his tone oozed shame and reprobation.

"Why?" He looks to her partially confused with her question. He thought that she would feel repulsed by his words but there was nothing on her face that hinted at that. Her heartbeat was also normal and if anything, she seemed worried. "I mean, was it some sort of blood craze..." she trails off trying to explain where she was asking.

He gives her a puzzled look. It was clear that whatever he was about to say made him feel embarrassed. "Uh... Mostly..." She raises an eyebrow urging him to continue. "Sometimes I... played."

She shakes her head. "It's considered bad manners to play with your food," she comments trying to ease his mood.

He smiles and almost automatically frowns. "I just...I lost myself... but then came the guilt so I'd turn it off... I was always on and off the rails, Lexi was the one that helped me with it. She always brought me back."

"That's good, support systems are key," she mumbles as she thinks of what her mother would say in a time like this. "You got more now. Elena... Damon also worries-"

"You," he points out with a cheeky grin.

"Me," she confirms with a roll of eyes. "I still maintain that you should get back to it, ease up... like mixing it with your current... diet."

"What if I'm not strong enough? What if I hurt someone?"

She frowns at his desperate tone. He really wanted/needed someone to reassure him that he wouldn't fuck it up. "Stefan, you didn't eat me."

"I wanted to," he confesses as his eyes widen. "I really wanted to." He seemed alarmed and his tone was rougher. "You have no idea how much I wanted to drink…"

"But you didn't," she presses trying to stop him from thinking about it. "And that counts for something. Sure you were kinda off the rails but you didn't eat someone."

He sighs running a hand on his neck. "What if next time it's different?"

"You shouldn't doubt yourself that much. Sure, a bit is good... doubting yourself keeps you in check but not that much. You should have a bit more faith in your ability to control... Also, with Damon's help and with our support I'm sure you can pull through."

He still seemed to doubt her words. "You really think so?"

"Yeah. You are annoying and at times I seriously want to use you as target practice." He promptly scoffs at her words. "But I honestly believe you can do it if you want. And if anything, I'll be here… and I'm sure Lexi and the others will too."

"You think that Elena would agree?"

She shrugs. "I can't speak for her... You should though."

He immediately shakes his head. "One thing is speaking to you... I mean we all know you are a lunatic and this doesn't faze you... Elena isn't like you... She's..."

She rolls her eyes feeling annoyed at his words. "Pure as angel feathers," she mocks him. "While I'm what Santa gifts the naughty people. Black as coal."

He rolls his eyes with a frown. "That isn't what I'm trying to say. You aren't... judgy."

She laughs. "Oh, you'd be in so much trouble if I told her you said that." A panicked expression flashes in his eyes. "Relax Broody, I'm not going to... You know I agree," she says teasingly making him roll his eyes. "Still... okay, she definitely wouldn't react well to the 'I liked killing' part but you can open up to her all the same. She is your girlfriend."

"I know."

"Anyway, your call. I'm not gonna blab this to her so you're safe. You can speak with me, promise that the lunatic will listen and not judge..." A mischievous grin appears on her lips. "At least give pause to the animals, pretty sure that they will start hunting you at some point." She starts laughing. "Oh, imagine if they started chasing you... Squirrels throwing nuts at you!"

He snorts. "You got issues Amelia."

She nods as she shoves her almost finished plate to him. He raises an eyebrow as she raises her hand. "I really feel like having pie so you can finish that up. It's really good," she adds as she licks her lips.

Surprisingly he did eat the left over pancakes as she devoured the pie. Lucy's claim that the pie was good didn't really did it justice, this pie was divine. The pie was so good that she ordered one to take - at Stefan's inquisitive look, she replied by handing him a piece of it. She even made Stefan leave a generous tip at the girl, claiming that it was the least he could do after the amazing meal, and promised that she would return... soon. The girl laughed and told her knowingly that nobody could resist her mother's pie which Amelia knew it had to be true. Lucy added that next time she had to tried the strawberry pie with banana ice cream - Amelia merely mumbled that she was now sad that she was so full making the girl laugh again as Stefan shook his head at her antics.

Before hoping on his back so they could return, he told her that they had to go to where the Carnival would take place. Not only would Elena need a hand but Jeremy also wanted to have a chat with them. Apparently he had freaked out regarding her whereabouts and the message she left - 'A vampire took me out of the window for a meal' - was received with humor. Even if Stefan was scolding her into never doing something like that again - whereas she laughed - he had an amused smile on his lips. He also asked her not to relay their discussion neither to Damon nor did Elena since he had things to consider and he want to be the one that spoke with both, whenever he found the right thing to say. With a muttered 'I wasn't going to anyway', she got on his back and they returned to Mystic Falls.

Jeremy merely glared at her making her grin. As an apology she promised that she'd share her pie - which she had asked Stefan to carry like it was the most precious thing in the world - making him roll his eyes. So for a bit they were at the hallway looking a bit uncomfortable.

"You're now wearing the ring," Stefan states - as Amelia rolls her eyes thinking Thanks Captain Obvious - to break the silence. "That's good. Between that and the bracelet that Elena gave you, you should be protected."

"Unless a human kills me," Jeremy deadpans making Amelia frown.

"What?"

He casts his eyes down. "Uh, it just protects me from the supernatural."

"Should teach you not to mess with me then," she mumbles with a hint of humor trying to ease up this mood.

"Scary," he mocks her.

Stefan rolls his eyes. "While I'm glad that the two of you are in friendly bickering terms... we have more important things to discuss." He hands Jeremy a small flash of vervain. "This is the herb that is on that bracelet."

Jeremy nods. "Right. So I know that it protects me from compulsion," he says referring to the bracelet. "Anything else?"

Stefan acquiesces. "Vervain is toxic to vampires."

Jeremy raises an eyebrow. "Like poison?"

"Yeah, it's very poisonous. It keeps them out of your head," he states.

Amelia raises an eyebrow. "Also tastes like crap, so drinking theoretically means that no one would sip on your blood... but then again... they could always snap your neck."

Stefan frowns. "Yeah, though that was a massive understatement... crap doesn't begin to cover it," he tells her making her snort.

"But why vervain?" Jeremy continues before they got sidetracked.

Stefan shrugs. "Don't know, certain natural herbs and roots and other elements are just harmful to vampires."

"Like a stake to the heart?"

Stefan nods. "Right but it has to be wood," he stresses. "Don't ever forget that."

Jeremy smirks. "You're pretty confident in yourself telling me all the different ways I could kill you."

Stefan chuckles. "Jeremy, if I thought you wanted to kill me we would be having a much different conversation," he points out with a smile on his lips.

"Oh, even I feel threatened," Amelia comments with a faux scared expression. "That hero hair and scrunching eyebrows... So intimidating. I nearly pissed my jeans."

"Don't harp on the guy," Jeremy mumbles. "Clearly he has issues with his scary face."

Amelia automatically burst on laughter. "That was just precious," she mumbles in the midst of her fit of laughter. "Damn it look at his face."

Stefan shakes his head. "You should remember last time. I got a pretty threatening face."

Her expression loses all amusement and she begrudgingly nods. "Yeah, still lacked finesse. Looked like a dog with rabies."

Jeremy was looking at the pair confused. "What other time?"

"Not important." Stefan gives her a meaningful look to which she nods.

"I want to know."

Amelia sighs and glance to Stefan. "Look, let's just say Stefan got lost under that pretty hair and has in fact a scary face."

"Stop mocking my hair," he mutters indignantly.

She shots him a dry smile. "Sorry, I dread to think how long it takes you."

"Back to the point. Are we going to look after Katherine?" Both Stefan and Amelia narrow their eyes. "I'm not sitting this one out."

"Neither of us are looking for anyone," Amelia states with a harsh tone. "We." She points to herself and Jeremy. "Won't ever look for trouble. Fail to do so and I'll ask Damon." She glance to Stefan. "Or Brood to snap your neck."

"As if," He huffs.

"We would," Stefan says with a slightly convincing tone and expression. If it wasn't him Jeremy would have believed the words... but it was Stefan. And Stefan wasn't the sort of guy that was walking around being violent.

"My sister would kill you," he tells him trying to catch his bluff.

"'Fraid not." Stefan smiles. "If it was for your protection I'm sure she'd be on board."

He groans loudly. "You can't keep me out."

"Jer... look." Amelia sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. "At any moment we could die... pretty sure that at some point we will die."

"I won't let that happen," Stefan promises.

She rolls her eyes and continues as if he hadn't spoken. "Point is, we won't look for trouble. Half the time it will find us regardless... so don't do stupid shit."

"Fine."

"Well, today we are going to have a nice little distraction courtesy of the slave driver Elena."

"Speak of the Devil and he shall appear," Amelia says as she sees Elena approaching.

Jeremy chuckles as Stefan shakes his head at her words. He places his arm around her shoulders. "Hello Elena."

Elena smiles. "Hey, did you..."

Jeremy interrupts her, "Yeah, yeah, I set up the goldfish toss... all three hundred goldfish." He makes a pause, nodding his head to Amelia that had a surprised expression confirming that indeed he had set up three hundred goldfish. "It's gonna be epic!" He mutters tartly.

Elena frowns and looks to Amelia. "How are you today?"

She groans. "Okay and I'm going away now." She grabs Jeremy's hand and pulls him with her. "We'll find ourselves a fork and you're gonna thank me," she promises him as she pulls him away. "Fuck, you'll probably name your firstborn after me. Swear to god that I found teh holy grail of pies. See ya guys." She pauses and looks to Stefan, a small smile appears on her lips. "Thanks for the food Broody."

Elena's frown deeps. "She's still mad? Thought you smoothed that over... and she seemed fine with Jer… and with you," She trails off uncertainly.

Stefan caresses her arm. "She's making an effort... We shouldn't push... You know how she is."

"I do." She then smiles. "Well at least today we'll have a positively boring human day and both of them are going to be distracted... and we'll all be fine."

Stefan smiles. "I like the sound of that."

Little did they now that, like always, trouble was lurking.