18. Under Control

Damon entered Stefan's room, where loud music was playing and Stefan was busy doing pull ups.

"Could you turn it up a little? It's not annoying yet" Damon said sarcastically.

"Sorry" Stefan said simply, continuing with his pull ups.

Damon turned the music off, making Stefan stop and glare at him.

"When are you going back to school?".

"Soon" Stefan said, now doing push ups.

"Oh, come on, just drink already" Damon said, kneeling down and waving his glass of blood near Stefan, "Come on, this self-detox, it's not natural".

"Get that away from me, please?" Stefan pleaded, walking away from Damon and doing his push ups somewhere else.

"How long did it take to wean yourself off of it after you last indulged?" Damon asked, but Stefan completely ignored him, "That's not good".

"I'll be fine, it just takes a bit of time".

"I don't get it, you don't have to kill to survive, that's what blood banks are for" Damon said, "I haven't hunted a human in--God, way too long".

"Oh, I'm impressed" Stefan said sarcastically.

"It's completely self-serving" Damon said, standing up, "Trying to get the town off the trail of vampires, which is not very easy considering there's an entire tomb of them running around".

"What are we doing about that?" Stefan asked.

"We're not gonna be doing much of anything if you don't have your strength" Damon said, making Stefan scoff, "There's nothing wrong with partaking a healthy diet of human blood from a blood bank, you're not actually killing anyone".

"I have my reasons" Stefan said simply.

"What are those holier then thou reasons? You know we've never actually discussed that" Damon said, "You know, I'd love to hear this story".

"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?" Stefan asked, "Just watching me struggle?".

"Very much so" Damon said smirking.

"I hate to break it to you Damon, but I actually have it under complete control".

"You do?".

"Mm-hm".

"Oh, well, then you should just carry on making the rest of us vampires look bad" Damon said, "Have a great day, Stef".

Damon turned to leave but Stefan stopped him, "Has she woken up yet?".

Damon sighed and shook his head, "No, she's still unconscious".

"Why is it taking her so long to gain conscious?" Stefan asked worried.

"I don't know Stefan, I wish I knew, all I know is that despite all her wounds healing and her heart beat perfectly normal, Aria won't gain conscious" Damon snapped, Aria's condition making him very worried.

Stefan sighed, "She's Aria, she's a fighter, she will gain conscious soon enough" Stefan said, convincing not only his brother by also himself.

"Yeah" Damon whispered, turning to leave but suddenly stopped and faced his brother, "Did you love her?".

Stefan looked at his brother in confusion, not knowing who he was talking about, "What?".

"Were you in love with Natalie?" Damon asked, shocking Stefan, "And don't you dare lie to me Stefan".

Stefan knew Damon was going ask him this question sooner or later, he had heard Fredrick tell him about him being in love with Natalie, and he knew Damon would want answers, but he was hoping it would have been later and not this soon.

"When Katherine and Natalie first came to live with us, I saw Natalie and was instantly attracted to her" Stefan revealed, knowing there was no point in hiding the truth from Damon as he would find out the truth one day.

"Then how did you fall in love with Katherine?" Damon asked confused.

"I didn't" Stefan revealed, confusing Damon.

"What?".

"I never loved Katherine, I just like you, was in love with Natalie" Stefan said, making Damon clench his fists in anger, "But unlike you, Katherine had managed to get to me, she compelled me to forget my feelings for Natalie and instead love her, but when I turned into a vampire--".

"You remembered your love for Natalie" Damon realised.

"Yeah" Stefan whispered.

"Does that mean your also in love with Aria?" Damon asked, scared of his brother's answer.

"I'm with Elena, Damon" Stefan answered.

Damon nodded, "Glad we have that cleared out" Damon said, not missing the fact that Stefan didn't deny being in love with Aria.

Damon turned to leave again, but was once again stopped by Stefan, "I would never go for her Damon, specially after seeing how much you love her".

"I'm not in love with her" Damon lied, not wanting people to find out about his love for Aria before Aria herself.

Stefan gave Damon a small smile, "Are you lying to me or yourself?".

Damon didn't say anything, just walked out of Stefan's room, wanting to avoid not only Stefan's questions but also wanting to leave his brother's company, after finding out that all this time Stefan has been in love with Natalie, really messed Damon's head up.

***

Damon walked into his room and sat next to an unconscious Aria, after finding out about Stefan's pervious love for Natalie and his possible love for Aria, Damon's mind went into haywire, he wondered if Natalie was aware of Stefan's love for her, would she have chosen Stefan over him, he also wondered if Aria found out about Stefan's love for her, would she choose him and leave Damon, afterall everyone always chose Stefan over him.

Damon's chain of thought was broken when he heard a groan coming from beside him, that's when Damon realised Aria was finally waking up.

"Aria?"

Aria groaned, "Why does my head kill so much?".

Damon let out a small laugh, "That will be the result of being unconscious for so long".

Aria slowly opened her eyes, and Damon had never in his life felt so relief seeing dark brown eyes, "Where am I?".

"In my bed" Damon said, helping Aria sit up, he grabbed a glass of water and helped Aria drink it, "Drink up".

Aria gladly drank the water, she realised whenever she woke up from her unconscious state, her throat always felt like sandpaper.

After drinking the water, Aria turned to Damon with a small smile on her face, "You saved me".

"Of course I saved you, I'll always save you" Damon said, making Aria smile, "I swear you're a trouble magnet Aria Connor".

"If I don't get into trouble then how can you prove to me that you're my knight in shinning armour?" Aria teased.

"You've just woken up and you're already talking nonsense" Damon said, shaking his head at Aria.

Aria laughed, "But seriously Damon, thanks for saving me".

"I told you Aria, no matter where you are, who your with, I'll always save you".

Both Aria and Damon smiled at each other, Damon forgetting all about Stefan and him being in love with Natalie and possibly Aria, he was just glad that Aria had finally gained conscious, she was all okay and Damon couldn't be anymore happier.

***

After gaining conscious and spending some time with Damon, Aria decided to go home, she doubted Jenna believed her excuse of staying at Caroline's for so many days, so after much arguing with Damon, Aria finally reached the Gilbert household, and she was confused seeing an unknown car parked in their driveway.

"Jenna, I'm home!" Aria yelled, knowing only Jenna and Jeremy were home as Elena was checking up on Matt, as they had found Vicki's dead body.

"In the kitchen!" Jenna yelled.

Aria made her way towards the kitchen, "Hey, whose car is parked outside?", as soon as Aria entered the kitchen, her question got answered.

"Hello Aria".

"Uncle John" Aria said, with a fake smile on her face, she really didn't like the guy, "You're here", Aria turned to Jenna, "His here".

"Yeap" Jenna said, knowing all to well that Aria strongly disliked the man, "I texted you about his arrival".

"My phone's dead, I didn't see your text" Aria said, walking over to Jenna and grabbing a apple, all the torture had made her extremely hungry.

"Where have you been?" John asked, looking at Aria as if he knew something Aria didn't.

"At Caroline's" Aria lied, really not liking the look John was giving her, like he knew she was lying.

"Anyways, as I was saying, I have no interest in the Founder's Day kickoff party" Jeremy said, reminding Aria of the party she promised Caroline she will go to, despite Aria having no interest in it.

"Sure you do, it's tradition" John said.

"Far be it to break from tradition" Jenna said sarcastically.

"Gilberts have been a part of this town for a hundred and fifty years" John said, ignoring Jenna, "One of the founding families, and with that distinction come certain obligations, including going to the party, one day, when you can appreciate the significance, I'll tell you all about your heritage".

"Hm" Jenna said, "The Gilbert family legacy, I forgot how sacred it was, me and Aria are not Gilbert's so we will never be cool enough to hear it".

"Aria's a Gilbert" John said, "Maybe not by blood, but still, she's very much a Gilbert, one day, she will know too".

"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me Uncle John" Aria said sarcastically.

"Why do they hate you?" Jeremy asked John, gesturing towards Aria and Jenna.

"I don't know about Aria, but Jenna, we used to sleep together" John replied simply, shocking both Jeremy and Aria.

"You slept with him?" Aria asked Jenna, shocked.

Jenna glared at John and threw a apple at him, shocking both Jeremy and Aria.

"I am standing right here" Jenna snapped.

Aria and Jeremy both laughed at the scene infront of them, though Aria never liked John, but his and Jenna's arguments always made her laugh.

***

There was a knock on the front door, opening it, Aria was shocked seeing Damon.

"What are you doing here?" Aria asked confused.

"I called him" Elena said, coming downstairs.

"When the hell did you get home?" Aria asked confused.

"When you were too busy teasing Jenna about John" Elena said, she then turned to Damon, "Good, you're here".

"You ask, I come, I'm easy like that" Damon said, entering the house, "Plus I needed to make sure a certain trouble magnet hadn't gotten herself into trouble again".

Aria playfully pushed Damon, "Jerk".

Damon just smirked, while Elena gestured Damon to be quiet, she then pointed to the kitchen where Jeremy was eating his cereal.

"Let's go in my room" Aria said, wanting to know why Elena called Damon.

Elena nodded and went upstairs towards Aria's room, Aria grabbed Damon's hand and started pulling him towards her room.

"No Aria, I will not go to your bedroom with you" Damon yelled, hoping Jeremy would hear him, which he did, and a frown came on his face when he saw Aria take Damon to her room.

Aria, who hadn't seen Jeremey's look, simply laughed at Damon, "You are unbelievable".

Damon opened the door of Aria's room and looked around with a smirk on his face, "Ah, just like I remembered".

"You've been in Aria's room before?" Elena asked confused.

"Of course I have, I even spent the night here" Damon said smugly, "We spent it in each other's arms".

"Damon!" Aria yelled, throwing a pillow at him, which he easily caught.

"Damon spent a night here?" Elena asked shocked, thinking Damon and Aria did something they shouldn't have.

"It was the night he killed Lexi, I was upset so he stayed with me to make sure I was okay, that's it, nothing else" Aria defended, knowing fully well what Elena was thinking.

Damon smirked at Aria's flustered state, he then laid down on Aria's bed, "Did you two know your uncle's been kicking it with the Founder's Council?".

"Of course he is" Aria mumbled, "I swear there's something off about that guy".

"You've been saying that since we were kids Aria" Elena said, she then turned to Damon, "And don't worry, we will just add that to the growing list of how everything's falling apart".

Aria sighed and laid next to Damon, "What went wrong this time?".

Honestly, Aria was getting tired of these everyday dramas, apparently getting tortured by hundred year old vampires doesn't even gain you a off day from all the useless drama.

"Look guys, I'm worried about Stefan" Elena admitted.

"Is this about you feeding him your blood?" Aria asked shocking Elena.

"How did you know?" Elena asked, not remembering telling Aria that.

"I told her" Damon said simply.

"Right" Elena whispered, she should have known, Damon and Aria tell each other everything, "Anyways, Stefan says everything's okay, but he's clearly struggling, how long is it going to take before he's back to normal?".

"A few days, give or take" Damon replied nonchalantly.

"It's been a few days".

"Give, then, I don't know" Damon said, getting up, "What's the big deal?".

"He's not himself Damon".

"Well, maybe his problem is he's spent too long not being himself" Damon said, walking over to Aria's dresser, "Hm" Damon said, grabbing one of Aria's bra.

"Damon!" Aria yelled, getting off the bed and running over to Damon, she took the bra off of him and put it back where it belonged, "I swear you have zero shame".

"I was born shameless" Damon said, winking at Aria, making Aria roll her eyes.

"Please don't make me sorry for asking you" Elena said, interrupting Damon and Aria.

"It is what it is Elena" Damon said, looking at all the polaroid's Aria had stuck around her wall, one of them being of them, it was taken the night Emily had destroyed the crystal and Damon thought he had failed Natalie so he wanted to leave town, but Aria wanted something to remind her of him which is why she took this polaroid of them, it was a simple selfie in the woods, with both Damon and Aria smiling, that's right, Damon was smiling and not smirking, Damon looked at the photo fondly, only Aria had the ability to make him smile like that.

"Damon" Elena said, breaking Damon's admiring session.

Damon sighed, "Elena, the Stefan you know was good behavior Stefan, rein it in Stefan, fight against his nature to an annoyingly obsessive level Stefan, but if you think there's not another part to this, then you have not been paying attention".

"He is not you, not even close" Elena snapped.

"Well, he doesn't wanna be me" Damon said, "But that doesn't mean that deep down that he's not", Damon then turned to Aria, "See you at the Founder's party Ria".

After Damon left, both Aria and Elena turned to each other, both extremely worried for Stefan.

***

"I just can't believe Mom and Dad never told you that you were adopted" Jeremy said shocked.

After Damon left, Elena decided it was finally time to tell Jeremy about her being adopted, and she decided she wanted Aria's support in it, which is why Elena, Jeremy and Aria were now walking along the lake, talking about Elena's adoption.

"I'm sure they would've eventually" Elena said.

"Why were you worried about what I thought?" Jeremy asked confused.

"Because she thinks you will think differently of her after finding out she's not your biological sister" Aria informed.

"Seriously?" Jeremy asked Elena.

Elena sighed, "Going your whole life thinking you're related by blood to someone".

"Does it bug you that we're not?".

"No" Elena said quickly, "Jer, you're my brother, that's all that matters".

"That's all that should matter" Aria injected.

"So Mr. Saltzman said you've been doing great in history now" Elena said.

"Yeah, yeah, he's really been helping me out" Jeremy said, "Yeah, he gave me some extra credit and stuff".

"He loved your vampire paper" Elena said, shocking Aria, who didn't know this information.

"You wrote a paper on vampires?" Aria asked shocked.

"Yeah" Jeremy said, "He thought I had a clever angle".

"But why vampires?" Aria asked confused.

"I don't know, boredom" Jeremy said, "Or maybe I'm just as nuts as the long line of Gilbert crazies".

"The Gilberts weren't crazy" Aria said.

"Easy for you to say, you and Elena aren't even Gilbert's" Jeremy teased, playfully nudging Aria.

Aria laughed and lightly slapped Jeremy's arm, "Shut it".

Jeremy, Aria and Elena laughed and proceeded to return back to their home to get ready for the Founder's party.

***

"Oh, God, I shouldn't be here" Stefan said, staring at the entrance of the party in worry.

"Where else are you supposed to be then Stefan?" Aria said, walking between the two brothers.

Elena and Aria had arrived at the Founder's party before Stefan and Damon, while Elena had gone in, Aria waited outside waiting for the two brothers to arrive, having promised Damon they would enter the Founder's party together.

Stefan and Damon looked at Aria and both the brothers froze, Aria was wearing a short black dress, which was off the shoulders, with her long hair placed down, she looked breathtaking.

Stefan coughed and turned his gaze away from Aria, "Anyway but here Aria".

"Come on, don't be a downer, it's a party for the founding families" Damon said, taking his gaze off of Aria, who was oblivious to the effect she had on both the brothers.

"That would be both of you" Aria said, walking into the party with both the Salvatore brother's by her side.

"It would be rude to skip it" Damon said.

"I really liked you a whole lot better when you hated everybody" Stefan told his brother.

"Oh, I still do, I just love that they love me" Damon said, making Aria laugh.

Aria turned to Stefan, "You good?".

"I'm good, I'm fine" Stefan said quickly.

"No cravings, no urges?" Damon asked, "Is that whiskey you've been drinking all day doing it's job?", Stefan gave Damon a mock smile, "We are who we are Stefan, pretending doesn't change that".

"Nothing would make you happier then to see me give in, huh, Damon?".

"Whatever, it's inevitable".

"Okay, enough you two" Aria said, "I swear you both argue like a married couple, Stefan why don't you go find Elena, I'll keep your impulsive brother company, making sure he doesn't eat anyone".

Stefan nodded and left to find Elena.

"Don't embarrass me, young man" Damon called out.

After Stefan left, Damon turned to leave, "You know, out of me and Stefan, it's Stefan whose most likely to eat someone tonight".

Aria sighed, "He said his fine Damon, and you need to trust him and stop teasing him, you're not making it easy for him".

"Yeah, yeah" Damon said, he then held out his hand for Aria, "Shall we, Miss Connor?".

Aria smiled and placed her hand into Damon's, "We shall, Mr Salvatore".

Both Aria and Damon smiled and proceeded to enjoy the party.

***

Aria and Damon went towards the bar where Stefan and Elena was, just as Aria and Damon entered they saw Stefan compel the DJ to change the boring classical song into a upbeat dancing song.

Stefan saw Aria coming towards him, "Aria, come dance with me".

Aria laughed, "Shouldn't you dance with Elena?".

"Elena doesn't want to dance" Stefan said.

Aria turned to Elena who just shrugged in return, "All right then, show me what you got Salvatore".

Stefan laughed and led Aria to the dance floor, while Damon and Elena watched on.

"Have I entered an alternate universe where Stefan is fun?" Damon asked Elena, but his eyes not leaving Aria, who was happily dancing with Stefan.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Elena asked worried.

Damon shrugged, "Eventually, one way or another".

After their short conversation, Damon and Elena turned back to watching Stefan and Aria dance the night away.

***

After having enough of seeing Aria and Stefan dancing together, Damon had grabbed Aria and dragged her to meet the Sheriff.

"I love a woman in uniform, but I have to side with this look" Damon complimented.

"Looking hot Liz" Aria complimented, hugging her.

Liz laughed, "Thank you Aria, you look beautiful as well".

Aria smiled, "Thank you".

Liz turned her attention to Damon, "You know, I had my doubts about you at first, but like everyone else on the council, you've won me over, plus Aria's hanging out with you, that must mean you're a good guy".

Both Aria and Damon laughed.

"Thanks Liz" Damon said, "It's really nice how welcoming  the council's been, I like my life here in Mystic Falls, it's starting to feel like home again".

"Well then you're not gonna like what I have to tell, Johnathan Gilbert's claims check out" Liz said.

"What?" Damon asked shocked.

Liz looked towards Aria in uncertainty, sensing Liz's uncertainty Damon spoke, "It's okay Liz, Aria knows".

"You do?" Liz asked shocked.

Aria nodded, "I got attacked by a vampire and Damon saved him, that's when I learnt the truth about all the so called animal attacks" Aria lied.

"Have you--".

"No" Aria interrupted, knowing what Liz wanted to know, "I haven't told Caroline, hell I haven't even told Elena".

Liz nodded in grateful, knowing her daughter wouldn't be able to handle this all, "The blood banks, the missing people, all of it's true, we might have a problem" Liz said, continuing the conversation.

"Excuse me, sheriff" Jeremy said, walking over to the trio and interrupting their conversation.

"Um, I was curious if there's been any more information on what happened to Vicki Donovan" Jeremy asked.

"It was an overdose, Jeremy" Liz said.

"Yeah, but her body was buried, somebody must've done that" Jeremy said.

Damon and Aria looked at each other in worry, both knowing what exactly happened to Vicki.

"We're aware of that, the investigation is ongoing" Liz said, "But there's nothing more I can tell you at this time, I'm sorry".

"No, it's okay" Jeremy said upset, and walking away.

***

Damon and Aria were at the bar, when Elena walked over to them.

"Bourbon and coke" The bartender said, handing Damon and Aria their respective drinks.

"Thank you" Aria said.

"You noticed what your brother's been up to?" Elena asked Damon, standing next to Aria.

"No, I've been too preoccupied with yours" Damon retorted, confusing Elena.

"Jeremy was asking Liz about Vicki's death" Aria informed.

"He knows her death was ruled an overdoes" Elena said.

"Really? Oh, but, sheriff, someone buried her, who would do that?" Damon mocked, "I know, I know, me, I mean, I could compel him, but he's wearing vervain".

"No Damon" Aria said.

"I don't want you to compel him" Elena said, agreeing with Aria.

"If he keeps asking questions--".

"Damon, no, I'm serious, I'm not gonna do that to him again, I'll handle it" Elena said.

"Heads up, I'm not getting involved in this" Aria said.

Elena sighed, "Fine".

Damon turned around and picked a rose from the nearby vase, he smelled it, then handed it to Aria, making her smile.

"Okay, don't say I didn't warn you" Damon told Elena, taking Aria with him, leaving behind a worried Elena.

***

Damon and Aria were outside in the balcony, relishing each other's company to the fullest, their peace was broken when John Gilbert came up to them.

"Aria".

Aria turned around and internally groaned seeing John, "Uncle John".

"What are you doing out here?" John asked.

"I'm hanging out with Damon" Aria said, gesturing to the older Salvatore who was looking at John in suspicious.

John looked towards Damon, "Damon, right?".

"John".

"We didn't get the chance to meet at the council meeting".

"Yeah, it's a pleasure" Damon said, "Are you enjoying the kickoff?"

"Oh, yeah" John said, "I forgot how much fun these small town celebrations can be"

"Yeah, yeah, when is the last time you were here?" Damon asked, trying to get some information off of John.

"It hasn't been that long, my brother's funeral" John informed, "How long have you been in town?".

"Not long at all" Damon said.

John nodded, he then turned to Aria, "Aria, get back inside, let me and Damon have a man to man".

Aria frowned, not knowing why John is trying to get rid of her,  "I think I'm going to stay uncle John".

John looked at Aria with narrowed eyes, "I was right, you do know".

"Know what?" Aria asked confused.

John ignored Aria and turned back to Damon, "So what do you think, Damon? You know this vampire problem is real, right? It's a potential bloodbath".

Damon smirked, he stepped infront of Aria, blocking Aria from John's view, "I wouldn't overreact, John".

"Oh, I think it's like 1864 all over again" John said, "Vampires running amuck, guess we're gonna have to hunt them down, throw them in a church, burn them to ash".

"That is the story, huh?" Damon asked.

"Part of the story, yeah".

"Oh, there's more?" Damon asked, pretending to be oblivious.

"Oh, there's a lot more".

"Oh, please do enlighten us, Uncle John" Aria said, glaring at the man infront of him.

"Well you see Aria, it seems there was a tomb under the church, where the vampires were hidden away, waiting for someone to come along and set them free" John said, "But then you and Damon already knew that, didn't you? Being that Damon's the one that did it and you helped him, as the tomb couldn't be opened without the blood of a Connor witch, meaning your blood Aria".

"And you're telling us this, why?" Damon asked, glaring at John.

"I just thought to get the introductions out of the way".

"Look, well, you know that I could rip your throat before anyone would notice" Damon threatened.

"Right".

"Yeah, okay" Damon said, "But you probably ingest vervain, so".

"Why don't you take a bite, find out?".

"Don't tempt him" Aria snapped, knowing if tempted Damon would most likely do something stupid.

"Don't worry Ria, it's not worth my time" Damon said.

Damon grabbed Aria's hand and started walking away from John, but then he suddenly stopped, he let go of Aria's hand and turned to face John, who was already looking at him, before Aria could register as to what was happening, Damon speeded towards him and snapped his neck, he then pushed his body down from the balcony, Aria looked at the scene infront of her in shock.

Aria ran to the edge of the balcony, she looked down to see John's dead body, Aria turned to Damon in shock, "What did you do Damon?!".

"I killed a threat Aria" Damon said simply, "He knew about me and he knew about you, I could risk my truth coming out but I can't risk people finding out what you are, he had to die".

Aria looked at Damon then back at John's dead body, she didn't know what to feel about this.

***

Damon and Aria walked over to Stefan, Aria still not knowing if she should be mad at Damon or not.

"Do you wanna hear the bad news or the really bad news?" Damon asked his brother.

"Actually, I don't want any news, Damon" Stefan said.

"The council's back in vampire mode and Damon killed Uncle John" Aria said, getting straight to the point.

"What?" Stefan asked, looking between Damon and Aria in shock.

"Great party, by the way, huh?" Damon said sarcastically, walking away from Stefan, with Aria.

***

Damon and Aria were near the dance floor, watching various couples around them dancing.

"You know, you've danced with Stefan, but you still haven't danced with me" Damon said.

"That's because you haven't asked me" Aria said.

"Well, I am asking now" Damon said, forwarding his hand for Aria, "Aria Connor, can I have this dance?".

Aria smiled, she went to put her hand into Damon, but froze when she saw someone behind Damon, "Oh my god" Aria whispered.

Damon looked in the direction Aria was looking in, and got shocked seeing a alive John Gilbert walking through the door.

"You've gotta be kidding me" Damon said angrily.

***

"Thank you all, thank you very much, thank you" Mayor Lockwood said, "Thank you all for joining us tonight, in just a few moments, we will officially begin the countdown to our upcoming Founder's Day celebration, and it's a very special one this year, the 150th birthday of our town", everyone started clapping, while two workers brought a huge bell, "And I will like to welcome back one of our town's favorite sons, to do the honors of ringing our official charter bell, John Gilbert, would you please join me up here?".

As John went up on stage, Aria and Damon looked at each other in worry, worried John will out Damon's secret to everyone.

"One hundred and fifty years of community, prosperity, family" John said, addressing everyone, "We take care of each other, we look after each other, we protect each other" John said, all while staring at Damon, "It's good to be home".

Aria's gaze fell on John's hand and frowned seeing the ring he was wearing, it was a ring Aria was all to familiar with.

Aria quickly grabbed Damon's hand and dragged him to where Alaric was standing, "Both of you, look at his right hand".

"Whose?" Alaric asked confused.

"Uncle John" Aria spat, "Look at his ring".

Damon and Alaric looked at John's ring and both were shocked seeing that John was wearing the same ring Alaric had.

"Well, looks like mine" Alaric said.

"Yeah, and that'd be a big coincidence if he didn't just come back from the dead five minutes ago" Damon informed, "Where the hell did you get that ring?".

"Isobel, my wife" Alaric said.

Damon chuckled, "Who gave birth to Elena, under the medical care of the esteem Dr. Grayson Gilbert".

"Who just so happens to be John's brother" Aria whispered, trying to digest everything.

"You both think John knew Isobel?" Alaric asked shocked.

"I think John knows much more then his letting on" Aria said, as all three of them stared at the town's favourite son.

***

After talking to Elena and realising his older sister knew much more then she was letting on, Jeremy had quickly gone home, he had searched every inch of Elena's room, in hopes of finding her diary, but failed, as Elena's diary was no where to be seen.

Suddenly Jeremy ran to Aria's room, he didn't know where Elena placed her diary but he knew exactly where Aria hid her diary, he knew whatever Elena knew, Aria knew, if Elena's diary couldn't give him answers then Aria's will.

Jeremy ran inside Aria's room and looked under her bed, he pulled out a box that were full of things Aria held close to her heart, things like her very secretive diary.

Jeremy quickly grabbed Aria's diary and sat on her bed and started reading it, wanting to know what Elena and Aria knew.

Reading Aria's diary, Jeremy was shocked to learn that vampires were real, and that Vicki was a vampire that Stefan had killed and Aria and Elena had asked Damon to take Jeremy's memories away as they didn't want him to be in pain.

But the biggest shock Jeremy got, was when he read about Aria's love for him, he couldn't believe what he was reading, in all these years not once would he have guessed that Aria was in love with him.

Jeremy quickly slammed Aria's diary shut and tried to process everything he just learnt, including the fact that Aria had been in love with him since forever and not once did she try to tell him, instead she watched him mess around with girls like Vicki, but not once did she come up to him and confess her love.

***

"Going somewhere?" Damon asked John.

Alaric, Aria and Damon came outside and started walking next to John, all three wanting get answers from Uncle John.

"I never like to be the last one to leave a party" John said, "It's too desperate, are you here to kill me or are you gonna let Aria and Mr. Saltzman do your dirty work?".

"Okay, you obviously know who I am" Alaric snapped.

"I do" John informed, "Alaric Saltzman, the high school history teacher with a secret".

"Sure know a lot for someone who just got to town" Damon taunted.

"More then you can imagine, Damon" John said, "My knowledge of this town goes beyond anything that you, or you or the council knows".

"I doubt that" Aria snapped.

"Aria, I'm very surprised your supporting these monsters, specially considering one of them killed your parents".

Aria looked at John in shock, "You know about my parents?".

"I do Aria, and I also know who killed them" John revealed.

"Who?" Aria asked, with teary eyes.

"Yeah, no, I'm not telling you that Aria, your too attached to these monsters, you won't be able to do what is needed to be done".

"How could you say that?" Aria snapped, "How could you tell me you know who killed my parents but you won't tell me who it is!".

Damon saw Aria about to lose control, so he quickly wrapped his arm around her stomach and pulled her into his chest, "Ria, relax".

"Damon, he knows!" Aria yelled, "He knows who killed my parents, but he wouldn't tell me, how is that fair?!".

"I will tell you one thing Aria, the vampire that killed your parents, wasn't there for them, she was there for you".

Damon and Aria looked at John in shock, "Me?".

"Yes you, she wanted you dead, and your parents knew that, which is why they sacrificed their life for you".

Damon frowned hearing John's words, one thing that Aria missed but Damon hadn't, was that John said she, the vampire who killed Aria's parents was a girl, and immediately there was one girl who came into Damon's mind who would want the Connor bloodline dead, and Damon really hoped he was wrong, because if his not, then Aria's in more danger then he thought.

"Anyways" John said, looking at Damon and Alaric, "If you were planning on some clever high speed snatch ring vamp kill move, know that if I die, everything I know goes to the council, including a fascinating little tale of the original Salvatore brothers, and their present day return to Mystic Falls".

"You!" Aria went to lunge at John, but Damon quickly held her back, "Damon let go of me!".

"Ria you need to calm down" Damon said.

"No!" Aria yelled, "He doesn't get to come here and tell me that he knows who kills my parents but won't tell me who it is because apparently I am to attached to vampires, and you know what maybe I am, but he still has no right to hide such a thing from me, and then he dares threaten you, I'm going to kill him!".

"Shh Ria, relax, breathe" Damon said, hugging Aria tightly.

"He can't do this" Aria sobbed into the hug.

"How'd you get that ring?" Alaric asked, taking John's attention off of Aria and giving Damon some time to calm the young witch down.

"I inherited one, my brother Gray, the other" John informed, "This was his, and I wouldn't have given mine to Isobel had I known she'd hand it over to another guy".

"You did know her" Damon said, glaring at John, while still hugging Aria.

"Who do you think sent her your way when she wanted to become a vampire?".

"You sent her?".

"Guilty" John said smugly, "Why, did you think someone else sent her? Maybe Katherine Pierce?".

"How do you know about Katherine?" Damon asked shocked.

"How do I know anything Damon?" John asked sarcastically.

Aria broke the hug and glared at John, "What the hell do you want?".

"So many questions Aria" John said, he then turned to Alaric, "It's a pleasure meeting you Ric, I've heard so much about you".

John gave Aria one last glance and walked away from the trio.

Aria, Alaric and Damon looked at each other in confusion, all three shocked as to what has just happend.

***

Aria sat in the Salvatore's living room and stared at the fire infront of her, with tears in her eyes, her mind kept going back to John's words, all she could think about was her parents dying because of her.

Damon entered the living room and frowned seeing Aria so upset, he quietly went and sat next to her, "I called Elena and let her know you will be staying the night here, but don't worry I didn't tell her why".

"It's my fault" Aria whispered.

"What?" Damon asked confused.

"It's my fault that my parent's are dead" Aria said, looking at Damon with tears streaming down her face, "The vampire who killed them wanted me, but instead ended up getting my parents, their death is on me, I'm the cause".

"Hey, hey, hey" Damon said, cupping Aria's face and wiped her tears, "Your parent's death isn't your fault, you didn't do this, none of this is on you, and if what John said is true, then your parents died protecting you, they wanted you to live Aria, without the pain, without the guilt, and your going to have to live your life, if not for yourself then for your parents, whose death isn't on you, it's on the vampire who killed them, not you".

Aria looked at Damon, "Damon, who would do something like that, who would kill my parents and why?".

Damon contemplated if he should tell Aria about his suspicion, but he decided against it, she was already going through so much, him telling her this would just make things worst, plus he wasn't even sure if what he was thinking was right, until his sure, he can't let Aria know.

"I don't know Ria" Damon lied, "But don't worry, I will find that vampire, and I will kill them myself, I promise".

Aria didn't say anything, just lunged forward and hugged Damon tightly, Damon gladly hugged her back and let Aria cry her heart out, knowing she needed this more then anything.

***

After Aria had cried her heart out, Damon decided it was best she went to sleep, and Aria gladly agreed, she was both physically and mentally exhausted, which is why she without any protest went into Damon's room and fell asleep, while Damon stayed downstairs and waited for his brother, wanting to tell him about his suspicion.

Damon sat infront of the fire place with a glass of blood in his hand, Stefan entered the living room and slowly approached his older brother.

"We have a problem Stefan" Damon said, hearing Stefan's footsteps, "And when I say problem, I mean global crisis, I think I know who killed Aria's parents, I think it's--".

Damon paused and looked at his younger brother's agitated face, "You don't look so good" Damon observed, "It's different this time, isn't it? The need is too strong, of course it would be after all these years" Damon placed his glass of blood on the side table and got up, he approached Stefan and lightly patted his shoulder, "Have a good night brother".

While Damon went to check up on Aria, he failed to see his younger brother down the glass of blood he had left behind.

***

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