𝐆𝐎𝐃 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍 - 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒

𝟒𝟏

- Blood Brothers

It's been a couple of days since Grace had knocked Stefan out with a spell, Damon had vervained him at the start to keep him weak as they tried to help him but Stefan was filled with guilt and shame for letting the blood lust he felt get this far. He's refused to feed or speak to either one of them as he was torturing himself due to what had happened these last couple of weeks.

Despite the fact, the raven haired vampire and the Gilbert witch barely saw eye to eye at times - he's been there for her these past couple of days as she sat outside the cellar door Stefan was currently inside as she wanted to be there for him but she didn't know how to help him especially if the youngest Salvatore won't open up to her and just lays there in complete silence.

Grace frowned as she turned to look at Stefan when she heard him groaning quietly only to watch as he seems to be in some kind of trance as he seems to be struggling more than he lets off as she had a sad look on her face and softly spoke, " Stefan" the green eyed Salvatore moved his eyes to the red headed girl gazing at her a moment before turning his attention to his girlfriend who sent him a slight smile and told him, " I love you, Stefan"

The sound of the basement door was heard causing Grace to turn her attention to Damon who held out his hand causing the youngest twin to grab his hand as he pulled her up to her feet as he didn't allow either Grace or Elena to be alone with his brother for long especially as he wasn't in the right space of mind and didn't want either girls to be hurt as there's no guarantee what he will do when he is like this.

Damon moved towards the parlour room pouring himself a glass of bourbon with the two sisters following after him as he let out heavy sigh and spoke up trying to convince himself as well as Grace and Elena, " He's just being dramatic. He's not gonna starve himself" Grace was sat on the couch with her knees to her chest as she couldn't help but get lost in her thoughts as she couldn't help but think maybe if she wasn't helping Alaric and Damon she could of prevented her sister from giving him her blood or at least helped him before things had gotten out of hand like they have done because now he can't control himself around any human without thinking of draining them dry.

"Why would he say that?" Elena curiosity questioned in disbelief shaking her head at the conversation she heard between her sister and Stefan. Damon was leaning against the table in the middle of the room as he took a sip of his bourbon and explained, " He feels bad about hurting that girl. It's typical Stefan martyr stuff. I know my brother and this will pass eventually"

Grace scoffed in disbelief as she turned around to face Damon not believing a word he was saying as she commented, " Will it? Because right now he seemed to be in a lot of pain" Elena nodded her head in agreement as she glanced at her sister as Damon huffed placing his glass on the table and repeated himself, " That will pass, once he eats"

Grace rolled her eyes in annoyance sharing a look with her sister before turning her head back to Damon with a pointed look and told him, " we didn't mean physical pain" Damon stayed silent for a moment sending the twins an assuring look before he told them, " I know what you both meant. Look, are you both going to be okay if I have to run out? I have an errand with the teacher"

"Let me guess, Alaric? Oh, my god. Don't tell me - by some miracle you've actually made a friend. Shocker" Grace sarcastic commented with a smile on her lips but held an confused expression on her face as she stared at Damon to elaborate who shot her a blank look and bluntly replied, " I don't have any friends, Gracie."

Elena chuckled lightly at her sisters and Damon banter as they always seem to be at one another throats or end his throwing sarcastic comments at one another, " Hmm, if you say so. But you know deep down that Alaric will be the only friend you actually have in this simple plain town if you don't include me" Damon smiled with a pout on his lips as he grabbed his black leather jacket putting it on as he turned to face the two sisters, " Aw, don't tell me you actually care for me now, little red. You should both stay up here. You shouldn't be fine there by yourselves"

"We'll be fine" Elena assured the raven haired vampire shooting him a pointed look as it wasn't like she was on her own she had her twin sister who was a powerful witch and she knew if things get out of hand Grace would stop him with just a wave of her hand. " you know, you're both very trusting of him, giving the circumstances" Grace placed a fake smile on her face as she narrowed her eyes at Damon and replied, " because we know the real Stefan and he would never ever think about harming either one of us. You can't say anything about not trusting Stefan or you wouldn't be leaving"

Damon halted as she slowly turned around by the doorway staying quiet for a couple of moments taking in the red headed girl words before smiling in assurance as he looked between the two sisters and informed, " I won't be gone long" Grace watched as Damon turned on his heel leaving the boarding house as Elena grabbed her hand squeezing it in attempt to comfort the two of them as the main focus right now is help Stefan get out of this trance of guilt and self loathing.

❀❀❀❀

A little while later, Grace was standing outside of the cellar Stefan was currently sat inside lost in his thoughts about the past as she couldn't help the worried look that was on her face. Elena was still upstairs in the parlour room as she knew Stefan wouldn't listen to her like he does with Grace not like she could blame him as her twin had that affect on people and knew that Stefan viewed Grace as his best friend especially after Lexi had died.

"You know, Damon hasn't fed me vervain in a while. I could be at those bars in a flash, and you'd be dead" Stefan spoke up lifting his head as his averted his eyes to Grace who chuckled in amusement with a shake of her head and resorted, " You kill me? That's hilarious but we both know before you could even touch me I'll snap your neck with a flick of my wrist"

Stefan shook his head in frustration looking back down at the ground as he pleaded with the youngest Gilbert sister, " please just go away. I don't want you here" Grace looked down at the bottle of blood in her hand with a determined expression on her face as she unlocked the cellar door moving inside causing Stefan to scoff in disbelief and inquired, " what are you doing? Get out of here" he demanded only for Grace to shake her head not listening to a word he was saying as she closed the door behind her, " No. I don't even listen to my siblings what make you think I'll listen to you?"

"You're taking a stupid risk. I could hurt you" Stefan warned the red headed girl lifting his gaze to stare at Grace who shrugged her shoulders casually with a nonchalantly expression on her face and muttered, " Then I guess I'm stupid" Grace moved forward until she was standing right in front of Stefan holding a bottle of animal blood out to him, "you need to drink this. So stop being stubborn and drink the damn blood Stefan. The more you starve yourself - the harder it's going to be"

Stefan made no move to grab the bottle as he clenched his teeth together glaring at Grace as he harshly hissed, " Grace, get out of here or you'll regret it" Grace raised her brows shooting him a look ignoring his warning as she shook the bottle of blood in her hand and repeated, " drink" Stefan clenched his jaw using his vampire speed to stand up knocking the bottle out of her hands as he leaned closer with his eyes blood red with dark veins under his eyes and yelled out, " I said get out!"

"Corporis impetu" Grace softly muttered under her breathe holding her hand out pinning him to the other side of the wall with a determined expression on her face realising her hold she hand on his as she resorted, " and i said no!" The veins under his eyes disappeared as he glanced at Grace for a couple of moments before taking a seat back on the bed causing her to send him a sympathetic look as she took a seat next to him, " talk to me, Stefan. Why are you doing this? I can't help you if you won't tell me what's going on"

Stefan shook his head closing his eyes with his hands folded under her chin as he let out a heavy sigh and explained, " I'm making the decision I should of made years ago" Grace frowned with an puzzled look on her face furrowing her brows and curiously questioned, " what are you talking about? Stefan, you're not making any sense"

"You have to feed in order to complete the transition" Stefan informed her causing Grace to send him a weird look as she knew all about how you become a vampire and what you have to do to complete the transition which is why she was confused why Stefan had brought it up, " I know that." The vampire turned his attention to Grace with a look of guilt on his face and commented, " it was a choice I shouldn't have made"

Grace listened closely to Stefan who began to tell her how he had transitioned into a vampire as he went to say goodbye to his father but when Giuseppe saw him he was surprised as he was the one who killed his sons. Giuseppe was going to kill his son with a stake but Stefan defended himself shoving his father away not noticing the new strength he currently had causing Giuseppe to stab himself in the stomach but the bloodlust was to strong - he had no control over himself and killed his father completing the transition.

"How can you even look at me right now?" Stefan curiously questioned turning to look at Grace who had a soft smile on her lips as she grabbed his hand squeezing it in attempt to comfort him, " you need to be able to talk about these things, Stefan. Your one of my best friends and I'm always going to be there for you no matter what. Come upstairs, we can talk about it more and we'll keep talking as long as you need just the three of us, you, me and Elena"

Stefan placed his hand against her cheek pushing a strand of red hair before her ear as he looked at her in surprise and disbelief and stated, " You're so sure I'm ready" Grace nodded her head in confirmation taking his hand pulling it away from her cheek as she pulled out his daylight ring that was in her pocket and placing it herself n the palm of his hand,"And when you feel the same way... I'll be upstairs."

Grace sent the youngest salvatore brother one last smile before making her way out of the basement and back towards the parlour room where her sister was sat on the chair writing in her diary, " How did it go?" The brunette curiously questioned causing Grace to huff laying down on the couch as she muttered, " Hopefully, I think I got through to him. Now it's just the waiting game"

"Ugh. God. The wonder twins are still here" Damon groaned with a roll of his eyes as he walked into the room causing Elena to stop writing in her diary with an unamused look on her face and sarcastically commented, " were you expecting anything else?" The raven haired vampire grabbed Grace's legs lifting them up as he took a seat next to her placing her legs on his lap with a sigh, " Nope"

"So how was the errand?" Elena curiously inquired closing her dairy placing it on top of the table next to her causing Damon to run his hand down his face and replied, "Futile. Although, I think I witnessed the teacher having an existential crisis. Has Stefan eaten yet?" Grace raised her brow as she recalled their earlier conversation and pointed out, "I thought you didn't care."

"Chalk it up to morbid curiosity" Damon replied with a shrug of his shoulders sending Grace a look causing her to let out a heavy sigh and informed both Damon and Elena, " I think he's getting there. But he's got a lot of guilt that he has to deal with. And it doesn't help that you've spent the last 145 years punishing him for Katherine getting caught."

Damon scoffed in disbelief with an offended look on his face staring at the red headed girl and snapped, " this is my fault now?" Elena shook her head in disagreement understanding what her sister meant and elaborated for her, " No, it's no one's fault, Damon. We're just... saying you're not exactly innocent. You've made it your life's mission to make him miserable."

The raven haired vampire glanced between the twins with a scowl on his face as he immediately stood up and began speaking, " Let me ask you a question. In all this important soul-searching and cleansing of the demons of Stefan's past, did you ever manage to get the rest of the story?" Elena frowned turning to look at her sister as it was Grace that Stefan had told about his past only the red headed girl shook her head and stated, " He said there was more."

"Yeah. That's an understatement." Damon grumbled under his breathe turning around about to walk away when Grace quickly stood up and called out to the vampire, " Damon. Damon, tell us" she grabbed his arm lightly spinning him around as he stared at Elena and Grace with a hesitant look on her face but continued explaining what had happened after Stefan had completed his transition.

Grace eyes widened in shock as she listened to Damon tell both girls that it was Stefan that made him to complete his transition as after Katherine died he wanted to die too but Stefan forced him to feed on a local girl and the youngest twin couldn't understand why Damon held resentment for his brother, "From the moment Stefan had his first taste of human blood, he was a different person. I suppose I should thank him. It's been a hell of a ride,"

"Oh, my god. He said he wanted to die. That's why he won't feed. Now I understand why, but..." Grace trailed off placing her hand against her lips only for Damon to interrupt her as he added in, "His choice. If he's stupid enough to make it, so be it." Grace narrowed her eyes at Damon with a heated glare and hissed, "Don't do that. Ok? Don't pretend like you don't care."

Grace scoffed turning on her heel storming out of the room leaving Elena alone to speak with Damon as the youngest twin made her way back down the basement to cheek on Stefan only the cell was empty causing her to look around before something caught her attention as it was his daylight ring she had giving him, " Oh, you've got to be kidding me" Grace rushed up the stairs startling both Damon and Elena who looked at her in confusion, " He's gone. His not in the cell"

"What? Where could he have gone?" Elena inquired with an concerned look on her face knowing her boyfriend would most likely do something stupid especially since he isn't in the right state of mind causing a look of realisation appeared on Grace face as she grabbed her jacket from the couch making her way out of the house as she called out, "I think I know where his gone. Stay here with Damon in case he decides to come back"

❀❀❀❀

The Gilbert witch was currently rushing through the woods making her way towards the quarry only to pause next to a tree as she saw Stefan looking around frantically with an overwhelming look on his face causing her to sigh softly as she called out, " Stefan" the vampire turned around with teary eyes as he stared at Grace with a puzzled expression, " Damon told me the rest of the story. I thought that I might find you here"

"I should have died that night, just like I had chosen. I should have let Damon die, too" Stefan brokenly spoke up as he didn't have it in him to fight anymore but Grace wasn't about to give up on him especially since he's been their for her on the hardest days she was struggling because of what she is, "But you didn't. And if you die now, it's not gonna change what happened"

Stefan shook his head frantically with teary eyes as he held a saddened and heart broken look on his face at everything he and his brother had been through since turning into a vampire, "Every single person that's been hurt...Every single life that's been lost, it's because of me." Grace held an understanding expression on her face knowing that he blamed himself so she stayed quiet for a couple of moments before trying a different approach.

"The night that my parents died" Grace trailed off as she took a nervous breathe with a guilty expression on her face, " I blew off family night so that I could go to some party with my sister and my friends. Elena and I ended up getting stranded, and they had to come pick us up. That's why we ended up on the car at wickery bridge and that's why they died. Our actions are what set things in motion but we have to live with that"

Stefan took in Grace's words with a thoughtful look on his face but shook his head nonetheless and responded, "I made a choice, Grace. And because of that choice, a lot of people were hurt." Grace moved forward until she was standing in front of the vampire and stated, " you also made a choice to stop, to reject the person that the blood made you. You made a choice to be good, Stefan."

"No. Please don't do that," Stefan pleaded with the Gilbert witch not wanting to hear anymore but Grace ignored him as she continued speaking, " That's the person who jumped in the water to save the family whose car had driven off the bridge." Stefan confirmed shaking his head rapidly as he continued to plead, "Please. Don't make this all ok."

Grace scoffed shooting Stefan a firm look as she took his hand in her own and told him, " that's the person who saved mine and my sisters life" Stefan ripped his hand away from Grace narrowing his eyes at her as he snapped, " you don't understand, Grace" the youngest Gilbert rolled her eyes in frustration folding her arm across her chest trying to understand more as she pleaded with him, " Then tell me"

"It hurts me." He cried out with tears flowing down his check as he can't help but think about everything bad he has done since he's been a vampire and just wants the suffering to stop, "It hurts me, knowing what I've done, and that pain...That pain is with me all the time. And every day, I think that if I just...If I just give myself over to the blood, I can make that pain stop. It would be that easy, and every day, I fight that. And I am so terrified that one day, I'm not gonna want to fight that anymore, Grace. And the next time I hurt somebody...It could be you."

Grace shook her head as she cupped his face with her hands forcing him to look at her as she softly told him,"There will be no next time." Stefan took her hands in his own with a shake of his head and muttered, " you don't know that" Grace huffed with a concerned look as she stared at the vampire in determination and resorted, "Maybe I don't. But what I do know." Grace let go of his hand as she took out his daylight ring holding it up showing him it, "Is that you can take this, throw it in the quarry, and let the sun rise. Or you could take this ring and put it on and keep fighting."

Grace placed the ring his hand closing his fingers around it with a hopeful look, " it's your choice" she told him as she shook her head turning around as she began to walk away about to make her way up the hill when Stefan stopped her as he suddenly called out, " Grace!" The red headed girl turned around watching as he placed the ring on his finger before rushing towards the teenage girl bringing her into a tight hug wrapping his arms around her waist as she sighed in relief running her fingers through his hair muttering comforting words to him.