Grey glanced down at his watch for what was probably the tenth time in the last five minutes. He stood up, ready to leave but changed his mind before he even reached the door. He had been waiting for almost half an hour for the witch to arrive for her shift but was instead welcomed with an irate older man who seemed to think the trick to making the perfect coffee was loading it with cream. If he wasn't already dead, he was pretty sure that the third cup he was currently nursing would definitely put him years closer to his grave.

Beverages aside, he was mainly frustrated at himself. He had waited too long since his first introduction with the witch and now he had scared her. He had many encounters over the years with friendly (though mainly unfriendly) witches and if there was one thing they all had in common, it was an inbuilt distrust of vampires that was practically ingrained into them almost as deep as their affinity to the elements that allowed them to perform magic. Bonnie hadn't actively sought him out after their first meeting, which was encouraging, and why he reasoned he should wait before he attempted to approach her again. In hindsight, he realised how stupid he had been but he was too preoccupied in his fears and doubt that he hadn't been thinking straight.

Just as he was about to leave, somebody sat down in the seat opposite him, though not who he expected.

Damon stared at him knowingly, "I think it's about time we had that talk you've been putting off."

Grey sighed warily, however he was surprised the topic hadn't come up sooner. "How did you know I was here?"

Damon shrugged, "It's a small town- the supernatural pool is even smaller. Bonnie saw you coming in here, so she cancelled her shift and called Elena who luckily had the good sense to send me here and not Stefan."

"That would've left me quaking in my boots." The green eyed vampire remarked flatly. Damon stayed quiet, all too aware of evasion tactics to dodge unpleasant conversation. Eventually Grey gave in. "It's a long story."

Damon leaned back in his chair, "Luckily for you, my only beautiful walking, talking distraction has decided it's best if I remove myself from her life, so my diary has cleared right up." Though he meant it as a joke, even Damon could note the wistfulness to his tone.

"Damon..." Grey began sadly.

He held up his hand to silence his friend. He didn't need any consolations or false hope. "That chapter of my life has closed. No amount of talking about it is going to change that." He clapped his hands together, as if to symbolize the end of the topic, "So how about we get back to why you're staking out the Bennet witch."
Grey considered for a long moment whether he could avoid the explanation, but knew that he couldn't put it off any longer. "It's Summer."

"Of course it is" Damon smiled, completely unsurprised.

…...

Peyton was greeted by Tyler as she shut her car door, walking up the stone steps leading to the Lockwood mansion. Tyler smiled in greeting, "You have a really odd definition of hanging out. You've been MIA for the past few days- and you know Caroline is going to flip when she hears you returned my call and not hers." She knew that she had been more or less the worst friend to everybody in her life lately and she was going to rectify that. But firstly she needed to address the nagging need to learn more.

She smiled sheepishly, replying simply "I know."

"When you said you wanted to come round, I wasn't exactly expecting you to want to rummage through the towns archives."

It was the final task she was going to partake in to do with the supernatural world, she promised herself. Her talk with Damon hadn't done much to answer many questions about the history of vampires (and it had done even less to resolve their own personal problems but she at least had some form of closure in that respect). Damon had mentioned that the founder's council were aware of vampire's existence and whilst they didn't know about Damon or Stefan, they at least had some knowledge they could shed. Tyler's parents just happened to be one of the founding families so it took one simple phone call before she was granted access to the normally highly guarded files on all matters supernatural.

"Why the sudden interest?" Tyler asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

She shrugged non-committedly, "Just wondering." He opened the door for her and decided not to push it any further even though he didn't believe her for one second. She looked around the vacant atrium and then turned back to Tyler, "Nobody else home?"

"Mom's at brunch with friends and dad's at work. You know, the library has most of the stuff you want to look at."

"There's some archives there that are missing- the librarian said they are sealed in the mayor's office." Peyton replied. She was only able to find the basics- like the names of the founding families and history of the town before and after the war. She knew the likelihood of vampire goings on in the 1800's or now were unlikely to be public knowledge. She felt guilty for using Tyler to get what she needed but there was no other way short of marching into the mayor's office and informing him he had vampires living in the town right under his nose.

"OK, follow me." Tyler told her as he began to make his way to his father's office. Getting into the office was easy but finding old town history archives proved to be decidedly more problematic. Tyler had managed to get the office keys from his mother but none of the keys opened the selectively locked drawers in the office. "Who thought founders council business would be so secretive." Tyler remarked as he tried opening the last locked drawer. He turned to Peyton surprised when he saw her taking a clip out her hair and bent down to the first drawer. "You have a history of cat burgling you neglected to mention?!" He remarked, smirking as she narrowed her eyes in concentration.

Peyton grinned, "Brooke taught me when she was breaking into her dad's liquor cabinet. You have no idea how many times it's come in handy over the last couple of years" After a few turns of the pin, she heard the telltale click and murmured almost unconsciously "Thank you, Mr. Davis." She opened the drawer, pulling out papers that included old newspaper clippings dating back to the 1800's, lifting them up, she asked Tyler "You have a photocopier here?"

…...

Damon had taken Grey to a bar just on the outskirts of Mystic Falls, mainly so they would be unlikely to run into Stefan. He smiled as a waitress brought him over the bourbon and beer he had ordered for himself and Grey.

Without warning, Grey began to speak, "I met Summer a couple of years after I was turned. I was driving the whole route 66; the standard 'explore the world' stuff you do when you get turned. And I was in a small town just outside of Tuscon, Arizona. And I walked into this corner shop to buy some cigarettes. And she was there. I can't quite describe it, but Damon, the second I saw her I was just... floored." Grey smiled, revealing his perfect white teeth. "I don't believe in love at first sight..." He had always been far too logical, (his mother used to argue to a fault), to believe in fate or destiny, "But I saw her and she just took my breath away. I just knew I would never meet anybody on this earth more beautiful than her." His eyes became distant as he relived the memory.

He wandered into the shop without even thinking about it. Grey had tried to quit smoking when he was human but since turning, he saw no harm in keeping an unhealthy habit that could no longer wreck his lungs since his heart was long gone. The bell over the door jingled as he entered, making his presence known to an apparently vacant store. "I'll be out in a minute." He heard a voice shout from behind a curtain at the front of the store.

"No rush." He muttered to himself quietly as he found the cigarette aisle and began rummaging through the section. Settling for the pack of 20, he began to make his way to the counter and almost doubled back as a woman was now stood at the front of the store, her head cocked. Warm brown eyes, long flowing brown hair and a smile that seemed to accompany an expression that conveyed she knew more than she let on. For the first time in his life, he was speechless. "Well, it's about time." She breathed out more to herself than to him as she smiled warmly, revealing a dimple on her left cheek.

"I-uh..." He stammered, holding up the pack sheepishly, "I couldn't find..." He began as a way of apology before he realized he had absolutely no reason to be sorry.

She laughed warmly, the sound stirring something in him he thought had died a long time ago. She bit her lip, "That's not what I meant. Is that all you want?" She gestured to the packet of cigarettes he was holding. He nodded wordlessly.

He cleared his throat, determined to regain composure. Speechlessness was not an emotion he had ever experienced; and certainly not one he enjoyed. But before he could muster up anything to say, she remarked, gesturing to the cigarettes "It's a terrible habit."

He offered her a wide grin, "You tell all your patrons not to buy your products?"

She shrugged as if she didn't care, "I'm just trying to look out for you. It'd be a shame for such a handsome face to die so young." He was taken aback. Was she flirting with him? He had to do a double take. Women were never this brazen- it was very much an era where male dominance was strife. Women, even when unmarried, would never speak so openly with another man, lest their reputations be ruined. The only women so forward were prostitutes and, considering she was working in what he could only assume was a family store that was out of the question. Despite his initial shock he couldn't help but flirt back, "You tell all your patrons how handsome they are?"

She considered for a second then shook her head, "No, but then most of them are my father's 50 year old married friends." She paused and then said "You must think I'm so improper. Remarking on your appearance and we haven't even been formally introduced. I'm Summer Stone." She held out her hand, (another signal of impropriety- not that he was about to complain at all), and he took it, holding her warm delicate hand in his for what he was well aware was longer than a normal handshake. When he finally released her hand, he could feel everywhere her hand had touched his. "I'm Grey."

"It is very nice to meet you Grey." She said as she exchanged the cigarettes for money. He lingered as she watched him expectantly, the ghost of a smile waiting to emerge on her face. "Please don't take offence at my jumping to conclusions, but you don't seem the type of young lady to expect her suitors to ask for her father's permission to court her daughter."

She tilted her head as she replied, "Then please don't take offence when I say you don't seem the type of gentleman to ask ones father for permission to court."

"Well then, Ms. Stone, would you do me the pleasure of accompanying me to dinner tonight."

It was then she broke out into a bright smile, revealing her singular dimple, "I thought you would never ask."

He was brought back to the present by Damon, "She knew." He said. Grey frowned but nodded his head- he had never told Damon that part, "It would be a shame for a handsome face like yours to die so early." He repeated what Grey had told him minutes before.

Grey smiled, "I've never picked up on that before." He shook his head- she really had been trying to tell him. "Well anyway," He continued, "we went out, had drinks, and everything was just so easy. You know that kind of..." He clicked his fingers together to try to show his words, "That thing you just can't quite put your finger. It was more than a connection. I just felt like I knew her my whole life. The conversation, the sex- it all just came naturally. It was fun and made me feel the most alive I've ever felt since I died."

"When did the vampire thing come up?"

"Quickly- a few weeks. We were lying in bed and I just came out with it- I just had to get it out. And she just looked at me and said very simply- I know." Grey shook his head, staring up at his friend with an incredulous look not unlike the one he wore that night, "She told me she saw me coming... in a dream- months ago. First thing she said when she saw me- it's about time."

Damon frowned, there was only one type of supernatural being capable of visions, "Summer used to be... a witch?!"

Grey shook his head, "No... Not exactly. Her mother was a witch. But she never passed that on. She wasn't able to do any spells, as much as she tried, but she'd have visions. She'd see things tied to her life." He corrected himself, "Or rather, she sees things."

Damon opened his mouth and then closed it again. "I thought witches lose their..." He wiggled his fingers as he said "... witchy-ness. When they turn."

"I told you she's not a witch. She's... special. That night we met you? She said we had to talk to you. And she didn't tell me until a few years ago but she said she saw you in a dream."

Damon furrowed his brows, "Your girlfriend dreams about me and you didn't knock me out- you're a lot more open-minded than I thought."

Grey laughed despite his dark mood, "As long as you haven't dreamt about her, we're good."

Damon pretended to think for a minute but his face turned serious quickly at Grey's glare. "So then what happened?" Grey sighed deeply as he reflected inward.

"The past caught up to her."

…...

6 months ago...

Grey awoke to see Summer lying on her side facing him, an anxious look on her face as she chewed her bottom lip in anticipation. Immediately, he went from groggy to fully alert. In all the years they had known each other, he had never seen her look so serious. Everything she did, it was with a smile that started from her eyes; she came into his life smiling. He decided then, he did not like Summer serious.

"What is it?" His voice cracked, his always calm exterior was breaking before his very ears.

Summer stared at him, her lower lip trembled as she whispered, "I'm so sorry." He sprung up, into sitting position and pulling her with him.

He didn't even know what he was going to say before the words left his mouth, "Whatever it is, everything will be ok. We will get through it together." He said as he stroked her brown locks behind her face. He caught a tear just as it fell down her cheek, stopping it just where her singular dimple hid.

"I don't..." She began heavily before letting out a deep breath to compose herself. "Grey, I'm so sorry." She said again, "I lied to you... I've been lying to you and it's not fair. I'm sorry. I just need you to listen to everything before you say anything."

He swallowed a lump in his throat, nodding wordlessly. Because that was something he was the only thing he was capable of doing; listening.

She smiled sadly as she stared into his apprehensive eyes and tilted her head thoughtfully, "I love you. I've loved you since... Since before you ever met me." Her smile widened as she said it, like she was acknowledging a memory until then long forgotten. "You saved my life in a way you could never even understand., but you saved me and I will never forget that." She took a deep breath, preparing herself to tell a story she had vowed would stay hidden until her very last day. "Before we met, when I was 16 years old, I fell in love with a boy. His name was Adrien. He was smart and attractive and came from a good family. And that made for a very bad combination because from a very young age, he was told that he was smart and attractive and never had to worry about anything in his life." Grey had never heard much about Summer's past relationships; she had always been very evasive on the subject and whilst he sensed that she had a past, he decided it was better left in the past. "And I fell in love. Not real love... But that first, teenage, falling hard and fast kind of love. The one you look fondly back on years later but know could never last." Her eyes became distant as she continued, "And I was young... and stupid... and despite what your first impressions may have been, I was even more reckless before you ever knew me." Her honey brown orbs stared into his sea green eyes as she sighed, "We had a child together." Grey didn't even have time to register his shock before he continued, "But you know, times back then... Children out of wedlock- it wasn't just frowned upon... I would've been disgraced if the town heard about it- not just me, my father, my entire family. And of course Adrien didn't want to know. I was the town whore in his eyes as soon as I told him- 'there was no way that thing could be mine.'" She scoffed, even now angry at his words, "That thing!" She shook her head, "So my father did what most fathers wouldn't have even considered in that situation- he let me have the baby. And then he gave her away." Summer's eyes lit up as she stared at Grey for the first time since she began the story, "She was beautiful Grey. She had big blue eyes, and she stared up at me with them, took hold of my finger and squeezed it in her hand so tight." Her smile fell, "And then she was taken away from me. I called her Mia."

Grey stared at her, thinking over the multiple times she would get defensive about past relationships. He prided himself in being perceptive, and yet he had never figured it out. As if she had read his thoughts, she said "I never wanted you to know. And you respected me and loved me enough to not let yourself think anything."

Grey stuttered, "Why? I would've loved you regardless."
Summer knew she shouldn't be surprised; the one thing she had always known to be true was Grey and their love for each other. But she was expecting anger and betrayal from Grey; that she could've lied to him for so long. Instead, all she got was his unwavering acceptance. "It was too hard to think about that part of me. That part of my life I could never live. I knew when I gave that baby away, I would never have another. I didn't want to after that. And I didn't want to share it with you. I wanted you to be my new life- my fresh start." She held his hand tightly, leaning into him. "After I lost Mia, I was ready to end my own life. I didn't see any hope. And that same night I had a dream, but a waking dream- the only one I've ever had. And I was standing in a store, and this breeze brushed through my hair. I heard a bell and I looked up. And it was you. I saw your face walking into my life in that store buying a stupid pack of cigarettes. And I saw your face, your beautiful face, and I felt this rush of warmth and love and hope. You saved my life that night." Her eyes watered, her voice breaking.

"And you waited." Grey whispered.

She nodded breathing heavily "The longest five years of my life." She took his hand in his, interlacing their fingers together. "You were my salvation, Grey. You saved me that night. And I think you've saved me every night since." She looked into her loves eyes and placed her small hands on either side of his heartbroken a face; a face that mirrored her own. "You could never know how much you mean to me. You are the sole reason I am here today."

Grey knew he should find some solace in her words. But he couldn't help but feel a sense of something else. Something she wasn't telling him. And he should've said something to her; something inside him was screaming not to bite his tongue again, to learn his lesson. But once again, he stayed quiet and instead enveloped her small frame into his arms. "Everything is going to be ok. I promise." He whispered into her hair. But even as he said it, his heart wasn't in it. His instinct told him that there was something very wrong.

And he was right.

Present day

Damon exhaled deeply, "I never knew." He had met Grey and Summer in the year after he had been turned and they were his closest friends; beside Stefan, the closest thing he had to a family. Yet he had never suspected it was even possible for Summer to have a whole other family from another life.

"Yeah, you and me both." Grey smiled sadly. "A couple of months ago, I woke up and she was gone. And she left me a letter. Her great (about four times) grandchild is dying. Cancer that's spread everywhere- inoperable. He could already be dead for all I know. Her parents never had any other children- just Summer. That's the last of her line."

"And you don't know where she's gone?" Damon asked even though he already knew the answer.

"I could find out, but I know that if she wanted me to know she would've told me herself. The last line of her letter was that she was tired. 'I need time.'." A sad expression was etched into Grey's features- one Damon had never seen and didn't ever wish to see again from his oldest friend.

"She'll come back. You two are-"

"Made for each other?" Grey finished, a hint of bitterness to his tone. "This is one thing I can't fix. I can't give her family back to her." Grey pursed his lips, staring into the depths of his now empty glass, as if they held the answers to problems he was incapable of solving. "I love her and there is absolutely nothing I am capable of doing to make her happy." He leaned back in his seat, "It's the worst feeling in the world."

…...

Peyton stared down at the files and documents she had photocopied at Tyler's house. After promising to meet up with him later that night she drove back home and went straight to her bedroom, laying all of the papers around her as she sat cross-legged on the bed. In front of her was all the collected knowledge at her disposal (some public, but most secret council collected) about vampires, hunting and the Salvatore family. In short, this was the closest she could get to learning about Damon. Because, even in her extreme denial, that was the real reason she was doing this. She didn't care about the history of vampires and how they came to reside in Mystic Falls. This was the closest she could get to Damon. An unbiased, unedited history of his past.

Yet as soon her finger traced the first page of a series of collected paper clippings, she couldn't help but feel she was intruding on a past that was better left untouched. Did she really want to know about everything he had done? The doubt lasted another couple of seconds before she could no longer take it and picked up the papers and began to read.

…...

"So why have you been stalking Bonnie?" Damon finally broke the silence. He felt sympathy for his friend but couldn't help feel he was still not being entirely honest with him.

"You're not going to believe me if I tell you."

The blue eyed vampire smirked at his friend, "I'm a lot more open-minded than you think. Being an immortal blood-sucking monster tends to change your perspective on the realms of possibility."

"I visited this witch in New Orleans after Summer left." Grey began hesitantly; he had not told another soul what he was about to say and even though he trusted Damon implicitly he still felt wary about revealing what the witch had told him. "There's a cure."

The look of pity on Damon's face was almost enough to make Grey wish he hadn't said anything. "Grey, she was lying. And if you were thinking more rationally, you would've killed her for even dare to lie to you. She was just telling you what you wanted to hear."

Grey shook his head vehemently, "No." The vampire wasn't foolish; he hadn't survived as long as he had by taking what people said at face value. Grey had an innate ability to reads peoples expressions and nuances; he could pick up the whitest of lies effortlessly. "I could tell- she was telling me the truth."
Damon held his hands out in exasperation, "Well so what. She believed whatever idiotic thing she's been told. But that doesn't make it true. We're dead. No amount of magic is capable of bringing us back to life."

"Damon, I looked into it. It sounds legit-"

"Have you met one single person that was cured?" Damon cut him off sharply. "It can't be done, Grey. Otherwise every other vampire would know about this magical cure." Damon noted the look of determination on his friends face and sighed, "Why does this even matter? Summer doesn't want to be cured."

Grey's eyes softened at the mention of her name, "She hasn't said but... I know."

"Grey..." Damon began.

He shook his head, "I could sense it. Ever since she told me, I just knew. I did it- I took away her chance of a normal life."

"She didn't want a normal life. She wanted you. She wants you." He corrected quickly. Grey opened his mouth to reply but Damon didn't let him. "Look, you're right- she might be going through a phase of being sick of this life after death, but that's all it is. A phase. She will get past. And she will come back to you. Don't do something stupid because you think it's what she wants. The only thing you need when you have immortality is somebody to spend it with." Damon sighed leaning back as he lamented, "I'd give anything to have what you have with Summer."

Grey regarded his friend sadly, "You've got it. You just need to give her time."

"I think we have officially clocked out." Damon still remembered their last conversation; it was the closest to a goodbye they could manage.

"Damon I've seen it- that thing you can't quite explain between the two of you. That's real. It's love- the kind that doesn't just go away."

Damon frowned- he knew that those words should've given him some kind of hope or resolve but Summer wasn't the only one that was tired of the life they were subjected to as a vampire. And he had learnt all too well from his past that in the long run, hope was a much greater heartbreak in the long run than disappointment of a love lost. "What about this cure?" He opted for a change of topic.

"It needs three things."

"Bonnie?" Damon guessed.

Grey nodded, "The only one able to perform the spell has to be of the bloodline that performed the original spell to create vampires. A Bennet witch. The vampire who turned her- me." Grey counted off, inhaling deeply as he listed the final thing, "And the blood used to create the original vampires."

Damon laughed, "How is that even-" He began before realizing, "The blood of the doppelganger." Grey nodded in confirmation, quickly adding, "Not enough to kill her."
"Well there's a bright side." Damon muttered sardonically.

"Just enough to complete the spell." Grey finished explaining. He knew Damon was fond of Elena and he could never hurt her without facing his friend's wrath.

"So let me get this straight- you wanted to ask a witch who hates you to perform a spell on a girlfriend who is MIA whilst also using the blood of my brother's girlfriend- both of whom are also not your biggest fans at the moment."

Grey shrugged, "You know what they say- it's not who you know..."
Damon smiled widely, "Yeah, I'm not exactly the top of Bonnie's Christmas list either… And here I thought, I was meant to be the stupid one…"

…..

Peyton sighed in frustration, pushing the papers that lay scattered around her away. She had tracked Damon's beginning to the 1860's, as he had already told her. A clipping about two different fires; one of which had supposedly killed Katherine had been highlighted in various parts by someone before her. Both had to mean something, except she couldn't figure out what yet. She knew she shouldn't care; that she should destroy all of these papers along with her own questions but she couldn't stop herself. She had to know more.

She picked her red marker with a new resolve. What she had managed to extract from everything she had gathered so far was Katherine arrived in Mystic Falls in 1864 and with her, the death count increased; presumably other vampires had arrived with her. Before she arrived, a fire had destroyed an entire family. But she still wasn't able to understand the relevance of that house fire to the vampires. Then another fire burned up the old town hall some months later; that was when the town deaths suddenly stopped. And when Damon dropped off the map and left Mystic Falls, with Stefan in tow.

The first fire. The fire before Katherine arrived. She knew that was important. Otherwise why would it be here at all? She went back to the clipping that described the fire; reading aloud the areas that had been highlighted. "Accidental fire… their child, 8 year old Robert Venator…. Entire family perished… No survivors." She stared at the picture that had been attached of the family, staring at the dark haired, brown eyed boy staring back at her. She couldn't explain why she felt like he looked familiar. Maybe she was just clutching at straws. That was the only explanation; how else could a boy that died in a fire more than 100 years ago look familiar to her. She picked up the aged newspaper clipping, so worn and crumpled, the picture was faint and faded with age. Squinting her eyes and tilting her head she frowned as she stared at those large brown eyes, with the upper eyelid that quirked up ever so slightly. He almost looked like… And then it clicked- her dad. This boy was the spitting image of her own father. Peyton had never met her grandparents; they had died before Peyton was even born but whenever her father showed her pictures of his childhood, she was able to pick out his father within seconds. They had the same eyes. And this boy; he had that same family trait. One she had never inherited but made sense to her as soon as she found out she was adopted.

Robert Venator was one of her ancestors; she was sure of it. She opened up her laptop and began a search into the Venator family. Just as she hit search, the doorbell rang. And then again. After two more shrill rings of the buzzer, she realized whoever it was going to go away so reluctantly, she went to answer.

On the other side of the door she was greeted by a very angry looking Caroline. Before she could say anything though, Caroline shook her head, "You get in touch with Tyler to get some old dusty books before you answer my call?! I don't even know if I should be insulted or seriously concerned." Peyton was about to answer when Caroline continued, "And I don't want to hear some crappy excuses that are clearly going to be lies. I suppose in all this crazy breakdown you must be having, that you haven't even taken the time to shower." Caroline held out a limp, greasy curl of Peyton's blonde hair and dropped with a clear look of disapproval on her face. It was only then she realized she couldn't remember the last time she showered. She was almost surprised Tyler hadn't mentioned anything to her but then realized that angering Peyton by suggesting she showered wasn't the smartest comment to make; Caroline, on the other hand, was neither scared or shy about her thoughts.

"I miss my friend." Caroline bit her lip, her eyes watering slightly. "I get you've been going through… whatever you've been going through. And I know that you don't exactly like to talk about your feelings. But like it or not, I'm the best you've got. Everybody else is back in Tree Hill." Peyton began to talk but Caroline raised a hand to stop her. "Hush. I haven't finished. If it's Damon trouble- you know I'm great with boy talk. If you feel homesick, we can drive to Tree Hill right now. Whatever is wrong Peyton- you've kind of become one of my best friends. And when you're sad, it makes me sad. So whatever it is, please just talk to me and whatever it is, we will figure it out together. We can-" Peyton embraced her friend, stopping whatever she was about to say. Immediately, Caroline returned the hug, smiling against Peyton's shoulder. "You been practicing that speech for a while?" Caroline pinched her on the back, "Shut up." Peyton laughed quietly.

And before she could stop or second guess herself, Peyton told her everything. From the beginning. Everything she had learned; from Damon and Stefan and Grey being vampires right up to the Venator family that she was now certain were somehow related to her own family. And when she finished talking, something incredible happened; Caroline believed her. There was no doubt or scepticism. Just a friend taking everything she said to be absolute. That, in itself, was enough to reassure Peyton that she had made the right decision.

They were in Peyton's room and Caroline was pacing the room back and forth as she tried to process everything she had been told. "So let me just say this out loud so I know I'm getting it right…"
"Ok" Peyton agreed readily, still a little surprised that her friend wasn't as scared or shocked as Peyton had been over the past week as she had been trying to piece everything together.

"Damon and Stefan are 100 year old vampires that were turned by an Elena doppelganger here in Mystic Falls. Elena doppelganger-"

"Katherine." The blonde interjected.

"Right- Katherine was believed to be dead until a couple of months ago when Damon found out she had just faked her death to get away from a vampire killing squad founders council that still exist today… A council my mom is a part of."
"Caroline…" Peyton began in a consoling tone. She hadn't even thought about the effect the news might have on Caroline and her mother but before she could say anything Caroline shook her head.

"It's fine. One personal crisis at a time. So Grey- Damon's friend, is a random friend that has just come to Mystic Falls who we don't altogether trust." Peyton smiled at her own mistrust had become their mistrust.

"I like him. I just think he has ulterior motives." Peyton reasoned.

Caroline nodded her head, "Right. But before we worry about that, your family ancestor Robert Benat."
"Venator." Peyton corrected her.

Caroline waved her hand dismissively, "Not important. This kid must have survived the fire then, right?" She asked rhetorically, not giving Peyton time to respond now that she finally felt like pieced were falling into place and making sense to her. "So why would the founders council lie about this boy surviving the fire unless his life was in danger? And the timing of the vampires arriving."

Peyton frowned, understanding now where her friends thought process was coming from, "You think the vampires killed them?"

"Not just that," Caroline smiled knowingly, "I think they killed this family because they were hunters. And maybe not just founders council, but actual hunters. And this boy must have survived the fire. The founder's council lied about that- to make it seem like the whole family died. So the vampires didn't know." The blonde laughed, "Maybe being a detective runs in the family." She sat down next to Peyton on the bed and turned to see Peyton's own smile faltered. "What's wrong?"

"My dad grew up here- he said he knows your mom."

"Peyton, that doesn't mean anything…" Caroline said the words but even she could pick out her doubtful tone.

"My dad who is never around. Who descends from a hunter family." The teen ran her hands through her hair, "God, I am such an idiot."

"Peyton you don't know that he's." Caroline began again.

"But I do. It's not like my dad hasn't lied to me before. I know he's capable of it- all in the name of protecting me. I am so sick of people thinking they need to protect me. My dad, Stefan, Damon."

"Do you think Damon knew…. About your dad?" Her friend asked.

Peyton shrugged. She didn't know what to think anymore. "I wouldn't be surprised. Just add to the list of lies he's told me." Peyton glanced at her friend's expression and knew there was something she was debating whether or not to say. "What?"

"I know Damon's lied a lot and I'm not condoning what he's done… at all."

"But?"

"Your dad, and lets emphasize we're not even sure what we know yet… But if he is what we think he is, that wouldn't have been Damon's lie to tell." Caroline never thought she'd live to see the day where she was defending Damon to Peyton. "And for what it's worth I believe him when he said that he was trying to do right by you. The way he looks at you; how he cares about you. I didn't think it was possible for Damon to even have those feelings. I know you feel betrayed, and I understand that, but his feelings for you? I believe they are genuine."

The blonde stared at her friend, "I think it's too late for us."

"You've spent this long trying to work out who he is and where he's come from. It doesn't sound too late to me."

…..

The blonde stood in front of the Salvatore mansion once again. That was when she made a promise to herself to make no more promises. Time and time again, she said this was it. The end. And then she'd find herself seeking out Damon within no time at all. She wondered if it was possible to need and dislike and understand and be baffled by a person all at the same time. Because nothing with her and Damon was easy or black and white. They were marred in shades of grey. Just the thought of him made her feel conflicting emotions. But now she knew things would be different. Because now she knew who he was. And she wouldn't be naïve enough to say she knew all of him, but maybe she knew enough of him for her to be able to stand at his door once again and not be scared of who he was, or of what she might say, or what they were. Because now, she felt like they were finally on level ground, looking at each other as equals.

She reached out with a newfound certainty and knocked on the door. She stepped back, waiting as a light inside lit up the hallway and somebody approached the door.

The door opened to reveal Grey. The vampire took in the teen standing at his door, curiously, "Hey… You look good." He told her honestly. Peyton was reminded of what Caroline had said when she saw her and didn't realize how bad she must've looked if even Grey was commenting on it. But after a shower and a bit of makeup application, she had to say even she felt better. Who knew Maybelline was the cure to vampire discovery?

"Thanks." Peyton replied, unsure what else to say.

Grey walked onto the doorstep, "Is everything ok?"

The blonde nodded, "Yeah. Is Damon in?"

The vampire nodded slowly, a little surprised. He hadn't expected her to come to see him, especially given how Damon had described how their last conversation had ended. "Yeah. Do you want me to get him?"

Peyton nodded and Grey disappeared behind the door, leaving Peyton alone again.

She didn't know what to expect when she saw him again. What surprised her is that she didn't feel anger or fear. When she saw him, a strange feeling occurred in her stomach; she would've described them as butterflies if he was any other boy and they were in any other situation, but they can't have been that. So what were they?

"Is everything ok?" The blue eyed Salvatore brother didn't even try to hide his concern as he mimicked what his friend had asked just moments ago. When Grey had told him Peyton was at the door, his first reaction was automatically a gut churning worry. Why else could she possibly be here unless something terrible had happened? She didn't seem hurt, or even particularly upset but still the seconds it took for her to respond were some of the longest of his life.

"Yeah…I mean no." Peyton shook her head to try to clear her mind of the muddled mess that were her racing thoughts. "My dad- is he…?" She couldn't even say the words out loud. When had she grown so cowardly? She sighed, beginning again, "Is he a vampire hunter?"

Damon dropped his head sadly, "Did he tell you?"

Peyton smiled sadly, "No, but I think you just did."

The vampire nodded his head, "When you came to Mystic Falls, you were wearing a bracelet- it contains vervain." Peyton automatically went to hold the bracelet that her father had given to her when she was a child. "Vervain is like poison to vampires- and a very rare herb. Not the kind of thing you get in a normal jewellery piece. It protects you against compulsion from vampires. When I found out he gave it to you, I got suspicious."

"And you found out that he's a hunter?" Peyton finished.

"I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't."
"I know. I get it- it wasn't your secret to tell, right?"

Damon nodded slowly, not expecting Peyton's reaction to finding out he knew about her father being a hunter to be one of understanding. "Have you spoken to him?"

She shook her head, "I'm not really sure how you would even bring something like that up. Hey dad, so I just found out that you've kept another life changing lie from me. So if you could just ring me back when you get this- if you're not too busy stabbing vampires, of course…"

Damon nodded in consideration, "I like it- short and snappy." Peyton laughed despite her dark mood and then stopped herself. She wasn't meant to be laughing or happy. Her life had been turned upside down. Again. Three times in one year had to be some kind of record.

"Do I come across as some weak little girl that needs protecting?"

His answer was immediate, "No."
"Then why do people keep lying to me?" She had always prided herself on her independence. She didn't need anybody. From a young age life had taught her that it was impossible to rely on anybody to stick around so she learnt the only person she could rely on was herself. So why was everybody in her life incapable of being honest with her?

"Your dad has just been doing what he thinks is best for you. Knowing about vampires is dangerous. Being a hunter is a hell of a lot worse. He probably just wants you to live your teens carefree and easy."

Peyton stared down at the ground, a broken look on her face, "Even before I ever met you, nothing in my life has been carefree and easy." A crushing sombreness overwhelmed Damon at her words.

"I'm sorry." He didn't know what else to say. He knew it wasn't enough; not nearly enough, but he felt all the words in the world weren't enough. "I'd do anything in the world to fix what you're feeling right now. I guess that's how your dad feels. He just thinks lying is the way to make sure you're not hurt."

The girl stared at this boy she thought maybe she could've loved; maybe she did, she wasn't sure of anything anymore. "Can you make me one promise?"

Damon nodded wordlessly. "Please don't lie to me anymore. I don't know if I can take it." Her voice cracked with emotion. "Promise me."

"I promise." He agreed earnestly. "I know I definitely don't deserve it but can you promise me something too?"

Peyton gave a sideways grin, "Only you, Damon Salvatore…"

"You need to know anything else about vampires or the founder's council, you come to me. And if you don't want to come to me, then Stefan… Or hell, even Grey. Because there are some things you do need protecting from, no matter what you believe. Knowing about this world I live in, it's not safe. And if the wrong people see you're sneaking around…" He trailed off, unable to even finish the dark thoughts that were starting to wreak havoc on in his mind. "I will tell Grey and Stefan- just promise you will come to one of us."

Peyton nodded, "OK."

The vampire breathed out, relieved. He had half been expecting her to start ranting at him about how she didn't need or trust him or anybody else. "Do you want to come in?"

Peyton shook her head, "I should head back. I said I'd have dinner with Caroline." Peyton turned to leave and then added, "In terms of full disclosure- I told her everything."

"That's good. You need somebody to talk to about it." Damon reasoned aloud. "Goodbye Damon."

"Bye Peyton." He watched her leave and then went back inside his home. Grey was waiting for him in his bedroom with a glass of bourbon. "So what was all that about?"

"I don't know. It felt like…"

"Closure?" Grey tried to finish for him but Damon shook his head as the first genuine small smile graced Damon's face. One Grey hadn't seen in a long time. "No. It felt like the start of something new. Something better."