Together

Chapter 49

POV Narrator

The Decades dance was well underway at Mystic Falls High School, the Scooby gang blissfully unaware of the things going on around them, and that the Originals were putting things into play, like elegant chess pieces on a board.

"Bonnie seems happy." Stefan comments as Elena drags him onto the dance floor.

"She's working on it." Elena replies simply, watching her friend dance with her date.

"I've been meaning to talk to her. Apologize." Stefan says.

"Yeah, you should, although I wouldn't expect her to forgive you. Or Damon." Elena points out, a bit mad for what Stefan and Damon had done to Bonnie's mother, even if it had been to save her life. As well as her sisters.

"Listen, Stefan, about Damon... We should probably talk about the trip to Denver." Elena tries, letting go of Stefan.

"I don't need to know, Elena. When all this is over, if you and I find our way back to each other, you can tell me if you want to. Otherwise I don't need to know. I don't want to know." Stefan offers honestly, bringing Elena closer again to begin dancing.

"How can you be so fair about this?" Elena wonders.

"Because after everything I've put you through, I'm just honored to be your date tonight." Stefan answers earnestly, dipping Elena and doing a turn.

"We three need to talk." Damon suddenly appears, all but dragging his brother and Elena out in the hall.

Having arrived late to the dance, due to Kol's interference (not that Jeremy remembered), Jeremy walks in, completely and blissfully unaware of the compulsion he's under from the youngest Original, observes Damon, Elena, and Stefan walk out and tries to follow, only to bump into Bonnie.

"Sorry uh. Hey. Bonnie." Jeremy stumbles out, expression one of confusion before smoothing out.

"Why are you still wearing your ring? Didn't Elena tell you?" Bonnie questions.

"Yeah, I know all about Alaric. When my sister stops hanging out with vampires I'll take it off." Jeremy retorts before stalking off after his reckless sister.

"Ex-boyfriend?" Jamie, Bonnie's date asks.

"Yep." Bonnie mutters.

"That's not awkward at all."

"If Alaric is sick then we need to find a cure. Something." Elena cries in a hushed whisper.

"We tried medicine, we tried magic." Damon argues back.

"Why don't we get him off vervain, compel him?" Stefan suggests.

"What? To pretend to be Alaric? The guy that we know is gone. We're talking about someone who not only hates vampires, but vampire sympathizers. Which makes one of his most obvious targets: I don't know, you!" Damon gestures to Elena.

"What you think he'd go after Elena?" Stefan asks, now looking worried.

"So wait, what are you suggesting we do?" Elena questions, eyebrow raised challengingly.

"I'm suggesting that we put him out of his misery." Damon replies, looking grim.

"What?!" Elena all but shrieks.

"No, no way in hell!" Jeremy now butts in.

"Oh come on, It's what he would want. It's a mercy killing." Damon argues. "And where have you been? I don't think we were asking you. You've been awol."

"You are out of your mind!" Jeremy asks. "And I've been... Around."

Elena then thinks back to her conversation with her sister and bites her lip.