06. Best Served Cold

Five Years From Now,

Damon stared at the fridge infront of him, a longing expression on his face once he saw the family photo of Kol, Aria and the triplets sitting infront of the Christmas tree, wearing matching pajamas.

Damon couldn't help but feel extremely angry, all he could think about was that it was supposed to be him there with Aria and their children, not Kol, that was supposed to be his place, but one bad decision cost him the people he cared the most about.

"Are you just going to stare at the photos or are you to get to why you're here?" an impatient Kol asked.

Damon looked around the kitchen, he's eyes landed on napkins that had roosters pasted on it, "I'm guessing that was her idea?" he asked, knowing there was no way Kol would pick those out.

"Obviously, she saw it online and thought it would be funny" Kol replied, "Now stop deflecting, and tell me what the bloody hell do you want Damon?".

"When was the last time you talked to your fiance?" Damon replied, not even trying to hide the jealously in his voice.

"Someone's being stalking us" Kol mocked, "And for your information, I talked to my fiance about an hour ago, why are you asking?".

"What time was it?" Damon asked, "And what'd she say?".

"I literally said it was an hour ago and she said that her and Caroline are having her monthly night together" An annoyed Kol replied.

"Yeah, well she's not answering her phone now and neither is Caroline" Damon said.

"It's time for Caroline's broadcast, both Ri and Caroline never answer their phones at this time, Ri because she wants to concentrate on Caroline, and Caroline because she needs to make sure her show goes perfectly" Kol informed.

"I don't care, get her on the horn" Damon demanded, "I'm being hunted again and it's only a matter of time before Aria's the bait that's used to lure me out".

"Despite knowing that you're being hunted you came here?!" Kol yelled, "Risking the lives of the triplets?!".

"I'm not risking anyone's lives Kol, I'm trying to save it!" Damon snapped.

"Dad!" Alec yelled, running into the kitchen before Damon and Kol could argue any further.

"What's wrong Alec?" Kol asked, worried seeing Alec's panicked expression.

"Mom's on the TV and she's hurt" Alec replied.

Damon and Kol exchanged a worried expression, before running into the living room.

"We apologise for the interruption for your current program" Aria said, sitting in Caroline's seat, blood on her forehead and stomach, looking extremely weak, "My name is Aria and I have a urgent message for Damon Salvatore".

"Dad!" Mia cried, running over to Kol, "Mommy's hurt, dad!".

Alec glared at his biological father, "You're the reason she's hurt!" he snapped.

"Alec" Kol warned, while Damon had to stop flinching after hearing the hatred in his son's voice for him.

"Dad, please bring mom back home" Asher pleaded.

"Hey, you three, calm down" Kol said, kneeling infront of the triplets, "Nothing is going to happen to your mother, okay? I promise I'll bring her back home safely".

Asher and Mia hugged Kol in response, while Alec stood there glaring at Damon, who in turn was trying so hard not to snap Kol's neck in half.

***

Present,

"Why is he so attached to my daughter?" Damon complained, standing at the entrance of the Mikaelson living room, watching in distaste as Jayden and Mia sat together, happily chatting in their baby language.

"Because they are each other's epic love" Caroline said, as her and Aria sat on the floor playing with their children.

"Absolutely not!" Damon snapped.

"Absolutely yes" Aria retorted, building blocks with Asher.

"Klaus's spawn is not coming near my daughter, Ria" Damon argued.

"A bit too late for that" Aria said, pointing towards the two.

Damon looked at Mia and Jayden, and realised Jayden had taken advantage of him being distracted for a second and had scooted even closer to Mia and was now grabbing her hand.

"No, no, no" Damon said, walking over to the two and picking Mia up in his arms, causing the little girl to smile, loving being in her father's arms, while Jayden looked at Damon with tears in his eyes, he didn't like the fact that Damon took Mia from him.

"Damon!" Aria scolded, quickly picking Jayden up in her arms.

Damon ignored Aria and turned to Caroline who was trying to keep Hope and Alec from hitting each other with the blocks, "When is your son going back to New Orleans?".

"Not anytime soon, Demon" Caroline replied.

Damon groaned in annoyance, then turned to his daughter, "Well I guess I'm just going to have to keep you close to me till then".

Aria rolled her eyes, she then turned to an upset Jayden, "Don't worry JayJay, we will get Mia back to you".

"Not happening" Damon said, just as the doorbell rang, "Kol, get the door!".

"Can't a guy get one moment of peace in this house!" An annoyed Kol yelled.

"No!" Damon yelled back, making both Caroline and Aria chuckle.

"Unbelievable" A sulking Kol said, coming out of the kitchen, where he was busy drinking from bloodbags and walking towards the front door, once he opened it, he was confused seeing Beau on the other side, "What the hell do you want?".

Beau simply handed Kol an envelope and walked away.

"What is that?" Damon asked, walking over to Kol after leaving Mia with Caroline and Aria.

"I don't know" Kol replied.

Damon snatched the envelope from Kol's hand and started reading it, "Lily Salvatore requests your presence to celebrate our town's peaceful spirit and introduce a new friend, this evening 5 o'clock, hmm, looks like mom raised her man crush from the dead".

***

Aria entered Damon and her shared room, a brand new dress in her hand, thanks to Rebekah.

"Rebeka found me the perfect dress" Aria told Damon, she then looked at what Damon was wearing, "Wait, you're not wearing a tie, you better tell Kol that because I'm pretty sure he's about to lose his mind because of the tie".

"Not just no-tie, no going" Damon stated, confused as to why Aria was so eager to go to Lily's party.

"Yeah, that's not happening, if I'm going, you're going" Aria stated.

"To watch Lily bat her eyes at her zombie douche-brain boy-toy?" Damon asked, "Thanks, but I'd rather stay home and stub my toe repeatedly".

"Well, that zombie douche-brain boy-toy is living in our house, bathing in our bathtub and eating my froot loops" Aria reminded.

"Oh, I know, I also know that he's the love of mom's life" Damon said, "Mom, who not only attacked our kids but also convinced Joshua Parker to link your life with Elena's, making me live through possibly the worst three months of my life".

"That's exactly my point" Aria said, "I thought you want revenge, did you change your mind?".

"Of course I didn't change my mind" Damon replied, "I know that Julian makes her happy Ria, more time they spend together, the happier she gets, the more tragic it'll be in six months when I hand deliver his heart to her".

"Six months?" A shocked Aria asked, "There's no way you have patience to wait six months, Damon".

"Eh, you know, give or take, let her get her hopes up" Damon said, "Let her start planning their entire eternity and then squish, he's dead".

"Except, I can't wait six months" Aria said, remembering what Julian did to Valerie's child, "I'm going to kill Julian tonight, Damon".

After informing Damon about her plans, Aria turned around and left, leaving behind her shocked soulmate, who was left wondering, since when did Aria start acting like him.

***

Aria's look for the party

"I can't believe you dragged me to this" Kol complained, tugging on his tie, "And you made me wear a bloody tie".

"Okay first of all, I didn't drag you to this, you were already coming, I just made you my date because Damon was being difficult" Aria said, looping her arm around Kol's, as both of them walked towards the boarding, once they arrived at the front door, Aria turned and fixed Kol's tie, "Second of all, I made you wear a tie because you Mikaelson's boys look damn good in one".

"I look good in everything" Kol said, as Aria knocked on the door, "But ties are bloody annoying".

"Get over it Kol" Aria said, patting Kol's shoulder, just as the front door was opened by Lily.

"Are we allowed to come in or does the help need to invite us?" Kol asked, glaring at the woman infront of her, not forgetting what she put all of them through.

"We had her sign the house over to us, she was too expensive" Lily informed, "Come in".

"Thank you" Aria said, giving Lily a small smile and entering the house with Kol.

"Where the bloody hell did all these humans come from?" A confused Kol asked, looking around and seeing the boarding house filled with humans.

"Neighboring towns, we promised them a night of drink and conversation" Lily replied.

"You mean you compelled them" Aria retorted.

Lily looked at Aria, "I wanted to show you and my son what peace looks like" she said, "My family is civilized, none of these people are in danger".

Aria opened her mouth to say something, when someone caught her eye, "You gotta be kidding me" she whispered.

"I see Ria got you to wear a tie" Damon said, walking over to the duo.

"Why are you not wearing a tie?" Kol asked, he turned to Aria, "You made me wear a tie, but not him?!".

"I didn't know he was coming Kol" Aria snapped, she then turned to her soulmate, "What are you doing here?".

Damon held up his glass of bourbon, "I missed my stash" he replied.

"Yes, alcohol!" Kol said, "That's the only thing that will help me get through this".

After Kol walked over to where they were serving the alcohol, Aria  turned to Lily, "Excuse us for a moment, me and my fiance have something very important to discuss" she said, Aria then grabbed Damon's hand and forced him to follow her into a corner, "Please tell me you're here to help me and not stop me".

"You know I can't let you do what you want to do" Damon told Aria.

"Why the hell not?" Aria asked confused.

"Because Lily just rearranged the furniture" Damon replied, "And she needs a little time to live in it, you know, fall in love with the whole feng shui of it all".

"I am not waiting six months Damon" Aria snapped.

"Okay, I give up" an annoyed Damon said, "What am I missing here? Why do you care so much?".

"Because I promised a mother Damon!" Aria said, equally as annoyed.

"What?" Damon asked, looking at Aria in confusion.

Aria sighed, realising she had spoken too much, even if she wanted to tell Damon she couldn't as Valerie didn't want anyone knowing, that was the only condition she had when she agreed to go check on Ric for Aria while Aria made sure Julian didn't survive another night.

"Damon, can't you just trust me on this?" Aria asked, "The guy is psychotic".

"How am I supposed to trust you if you won't tell me anything?" Damon argued.

"Why is my word not enough for you to trust me?" Aria argued back.

"Ooo, looks like there is trouble in paradise".

Aria turned around and saw Julian making his way towards the couple.

"I'm Julian" Julian introduced, forwarding his hand towards Damon.

"I'm Damon" Damon greeted, shaking Julian's hand.

"Lily told me all about you" Julian informed, "Of course, you were only a boy back then and now, you're, well, you", Julian then turned to Aria, "And you must be the tribrid fiance, Lily told me about".

Aria gave Julian a mock smile, "Yes I am".

"So, what were you two arguing about?" Julian asked curiously, "From what Lily told me, Damon Salvatore and Aria Connor are the powerful couple of Mystic Falls, so in love, last thing I expected was to see you two arguing in the middle of a party".

"Every couple fights Julian, and honestly it's none of your business as to why we're fighting, that's between me and Damon, I think you should stay out of it" Aria said, trying her best not to strangle Julian, and honestly she would have if Damon didn't grab her hand, stopping her from doing something reckless.

"Look's like my charm isn't working on you Aria, you must be dreadfully sober" Julian said, he then gestured for Beau to come near them, "Beau, get these two something to drink, will you?".

***

Rebekah walked up to the front door of the boarding house at the same time as Enzo did.

"Oh, look what the cat dragged in" Rebekah teased, "Don't tell me you're trespassing you're ex-girlfriends house, Enzo".

"Hilarious" Enzo said sarcastically, "I was invited".

"Trying to find out if the other guy is better than you?" Rebekah asked.

"I'm not like you Mikaelson" Enzo replied, "I don't do petty things like that".

"Whatever you say" Rebekah said, knocking on the door.

Enzo looked at Rebekah, "Since you're here, if anyone's wondering, you're my date".

Rebekah looked at Enzo in shocked, "Excuse me?" she asked, just as Lily opened the door.

"Lorenzo, I'm so glad you came" Lily said, giving Enzo a small smile.

"Wouldn't miss it" Enzo said, handing Lily some flowers and after kissing her cheek into the party.

"Men" Rebekah whispered, shaking her head and following Enzo into the party.

***

"Hmm, nice break" Julian praised Aria, as the two vampires played pool together.

"Obviously" Aria said, "After all, once upon a time this used to be our pool table".

Aria turned to see Kol and Damon entering the room, the look on both their faces was enough to tell Aria they were here to make sure she didn't kill Julian, making Aria shake her head slightly.

"Ah, Damon and friend, come play with us" Julian said.

"No thanks" Kol said, "And it's Kol by the way".

"And I would, but I have an irrational fear of pool tables" Damon said, making Aria scoff softly.

"It's not irrational fear of losing?" Julian asked.

"Yeah Damon" Aria said, a challenging look in her eyes, "Are you sure you're not afraid of losing?".

"Ria, don't tell me you forgot" Damon said, giving Aria a mock look.

"Forgot what?" Aria asked confused.

Damon looked at Kol, "Wait, have they never--", Damon looked between Julian and Aria, "Have you two never heard the story about the girl that tries to kill the vampire during a game of pool?".

Julian chuckled, while Aria rolled her eyes, "Well, considering my body's been in stasis for a century, why don't you enlighten me?" Julian said.

"Well, there's this girl, she's like Aria, maybe a wee bit taller" Damon started, as Kol walked behind Aria.

"He's sleeping with you tonight" Aria whispered to Kol, making him chuckle lightly.

"So this vampire that she wants to kill is at least three hundred years older than her" Damon continued, snatching the pool stick from Julian's hand, "And anyone and everyone with half a brain knew she was being an idiot, but she had this inexplicable obsession", Damon potted a ball, "So she bets the vampire on a game of pool, and just as the vamp is setting up for his last shot", Damon broke the pool stick in half and went to attack Julian, but stopped midway.

"And?" An disinterested Julian asked.

"Never got a chance" Damon replied.

"Oh" Julian sarcastically.

"Yeah" Damon said.

"On second thoughts, he's not allowed in the house tonight" Aria whispered to Kol.

"You two should go to couples therapy" Kol whispered into Aria's ear, a teasing tone in his voice, which in turn made Aria elbow him in the stomach.

"Another vampire comes out of nowhere and stops him" Damon continued, "Like I said, she was being an idiot".

Aria glared at Damon, "Why do you say that Damon?" she asked, "You don't think woman have it in them to kill a vampire?".

"Oh, I think a woman can kill anyone they want Ria" Damon replied, "But not when they are clouded by rage and aren't thinking straight".

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, we aren't you men" Aria said, "You are the one who let rage control you, not us, we know the difference, we know control".

Before any of the other vampires could say anything else, Aria walked away.

Kol turned to Damon, "You're sleeping in the dog house tonight mate".

"Shut up" Damon snapped, following after Aria.

"Are they always like this?" A confused Julian asked Kol.

"Not always, only sometimes" Kol simply replied, following after Damon to make sure he doesn't make things worse between him and Aria.

***

"You're sulking" Kol observed, walking over to Aria, two glasses of champagne in hand.

"I'm not sulking, I'm mad" Aria retorted, taking one of the glasses and downing it in one, making Kol give her an impressed look.

"You know, if you just tell me and Damon the reason you're so mad, we might understand and help you" Kol said.

"Might?" Aria asked, narrowing her eyes at Kol.

"Well, it obviously depends if the reason you're mad is good enough or not" Kol replied.

"Have I ever gotten mad without reason?" Aria retorted.

"No, not that I remember" Kol said.

"So, if you and Damon know I don't get mad without reason, why don't you two sit this one out and let me do me?" Aria asked.

Before Kol could say anything to Aria, Lily walked on to the makeshift stage and clinked her glass, gaining everyone's attention.

"I hate to interrupt the party but I just wanted to introduce my dearest love, Julian" Lily announced, as Julian came beside her, "He's just returned from, shall we say, travels abroad", Lily laced her fingers with Julian's, "My family is finally complete, my hope now is that in time, we can learn to accept each other and together restore this town, with its residents, to a state of peace, cheers".

Aria's eyes landed on Damon, who was standing in the corner, he lifted his glass up and gave her a cheers.

"I hate you" Aria mouthed to Damon.

"But I love you" Damon mouthed back, his signature smirk on his face.

***

"You really need to learn how to have some dignity" Rebekah commented, as Enzo walked over to her, having seen and heard Enzo and Julian's little conversation, in which Julian considered Enzo as the help.

"Julian is looking for Oscar's car, I intend to find it first" Enzo told Rebekah, who eyes had landed on Lily, who was looking right at Enzo, which is why Rebekah stepped forward, leaving almost no space between her and Enzo and placed her hand on his check and lightly caressed it.

"Helping you out" Rebekah whispered into Enzo's ear, "Your ex-girl toy is watching, I'm helping you make her jealous, isn't that what you wanted when you told me to be your fake date?".

"Maybe a little" Enzo admitted, and for a moment him and Rebekah stood there, staring at each other, Enzo then took a small step back, "Anyways, I got what I came here for, have a nice night".

***

Aria entered her and Damon's former bedroom, Damon right behind her, and the two soulmates were shocked seeing the state of their room.

"What did they do?" Aria whispered, looking around in disgust, "Where's our TV gone, Damon?".

"Where's our bed?" Damon added, equally disgusted.

"I think your mother took over our bedroom" Aria said, walking over to the music station and putting some music on so no one can hear them, "And I bet you her lover boy is sharing the bed with her".

Damon picked up a fencing sword from the table and used it to pick Lily's undergarment that was placed on the floor, "And here I thought she slept standing up like a horse".

"Damon, either help me kill Julian or leave" Aria stated.

Damon waved the fencing sword at Aria, "Do you know what this means?" he asked.

"Don't know, don't care" Aria stated, pushing the sword away from her.

"It means my mother is happy, Aria" Damon said, stepping closer to the tribrid, "Another couple of months of this and she'll have convinced herself it's forever, and that's when we strike, Aria".

"Look around us Damon" Aria snapped, "Look at our bedroom, can you honestly tell me this is the place our kids used to play in? You want to revenge from Lily, the only way is to kill Julian, and not six months later, but now".

Damon observed Aria, "You know something about Julian, you never become this vengeful, so tell me Ria, what do you know that I don't".

"I want to tell you Damon" Aria said, stepping closer to Damon, "I really do, but I can't".

"Why not?" Damon asked, "Do you not trust me?".

"Don't say that" Aria snapped, "I trust you with my life, but this isn't my secret, whatever's happening has nothing to do with me but it has something to do with someone else".

"Who?" Damon asked, he stepped forward and cupped Aria's face, "Tell me Ria, who is this about".

Aria opened her mouth to reply, but Rebekah entered the room.

"Here you two are" Rebekah said, entering the room, a bottle of bourbon in hand, "Look what I found".

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on" Damon said, snatching the bottle from Rebekah before she could take a sip from it, "Does this bottle say Mini Klaus? No, no it says, Damon's good stuff, do not touch".

Damon took a sip of the bourbon and immediately started coughing, making him realise there was vervain in the bourbon.

Rebekah, using the opportunity quickly snapped Damon's neck, just as Kol entered the room, the scene infront of him shocked him.

"What in the world is happening here?!" Kol asked, extremely confused.

Aria quickly used her magic to snap Kol's neck.

"Both of them are going to be so mad at you" Rebekah told Aria.

"I know" Aria said, feeling extremely guilty, "But they would have never let me kill Julian".

"You know, after all this is over, no more secrets, you have to tell us all of us why you want Julian dead so badly" Rebekah said.

"I promise I will, for now, just stay here with these two, make sure they don't wake up" Aria said, "I have to go kill a vampire".

"Be careful" Rebekah warned.

"I'll try my best" Aria said, walking out of her former bedroom.

***

After looking around for a bit, Aria finally found Julian alone in the kitchen and luckily for her he was all alone, she walked behind him and tapped his shoulder, when he turned around she stuck a stake into his stomach.

"I have to apologise on my fiancé's behalf, he told you the wrong story" Aria said, shoving the stake deeper into Julian's stomach, she then used her vampire speed to slam him to the fridge, Julian wrapped his hand around Aria's neck, but Aria headbutted him and threw him across the room and into the firepit.

Hearing Julian's screams, a panicked Lily ran into the kitchen, "Julian!" she yelled, quickly grabbing the cloth and putting the fire out.

Both Lily and Julian then stood up and glared at Aria, who in turn gave them a smirk, while upstairs both Damon and Kol had also gained conscious.

***

"What did I do to make you hate me so much?" Lily asked Aria, as Julian took the stake out of his stomach.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" Aria asked, glaring at the woman infront of her, "Because of you I missed three months of my kids life, Lily! I had promised myself that I won't miss a moment of my children's life and because of you I missed their first word and their first step, surely as a mother you should know how I feel? Oh wait, who am I talking to, you left your kids for freaking strangers!".

"Aria!" Lily yelled, just as Kol, Damon and Rebekah entered the kitchen together but Aria and Lily ignored them.

"Don't yell" Aria warned, "Yelling won't change the fact that you are an awful person, but today, I'm not here for you, I'm here for your lover, so move out of my way".

"Not happening" Lily said, standing infront of Julian protectively.

Aria looked at Julian, "Did you tell her what you did?" she asked, "Does she know that you have the blood of an innocent baby on your hands?".

Lily looked between Aria and Julian in confusion, "What are you talking about?".

"Go on Julian" Aria said, "Tell Lily what you did".

"Shut up, Aria!" Julian snapped, realising she knew what he did to Valerie, he went to attack Aria but Kol and Damon quickly speeded infront of her.

"Don't even think about!" Damon snapped, shoving Julian away from Aria.

Aria lightly nudged Damon and Kol to the side and glared at Julian, "You don't deserve to live" she then turned to Lily, "He killed someone who hadn't even come in this world Lily, he killed a mother's child before she could even hold him, how can you love a person like this?".

"You don't know anything about us, Aria" Lily snapped.

"I think I do" Aria said, "I think you crave love, something Damon's father couldn't give but you found in Julian, you turn a blind eye on all his cruelties because you don't want to lose him, but let me tell you something Lily, that's not love, that's toxic".

Julian, having enough of Aria, grabbed a knife and threw it at her, but Kol quickly grabbed it before it could hit her and threw it right back at Julian, hitting him right on the stomach.

Aria then used her magic to shove Julian into the glass cabinet, but Julian quickly recovered and went to attack Aria again when Lily came between them.

"Julian, stop!" Lily yelled, stopping Julian from attacking Aria, she turned to the group of four, "Get out now!".

Seeing Aria not moving, caused Damon to grab her hand and drag her out of the room, while Rebekah and Kol followed behind.

***

"I don't get why you're so mad" Aria said, as both her and Damon entered their bedroom at the Mikaelson mansion, "Julian is still alive".

"This is why there is a hard line between good and evil, Aria" Damon snapped, "I don't cross over into your territory, don't cross over into mine".

"Stop making this about you!" Aria snapped back, "For once, my actions don't relate to you".

"You know, I didn't think I'd ever say this Ria, but I miss the days when you just let your soulmate handle all the dirty work" Damon said, "Quite frankly, I can't figure out why you have such a big beef with this guy".

"Did you not hear a word I said to Lily?" Aria asked, glaring at her fiance.

"Oh I heard, but I don't understand" Damon replied, equally as furious as Aria, "So till you tell me what has gotten into you, neither of us are leaving this room".

"Stefan had gotten Valerie pregnant!" Aria finally blurted out in frustration.

Damon looked at Aria in shock, not sure if he was hearing things, "What?" he asked.

"It was when you both were human, in 1863, while Lily sent Oscar to you, she sent Valerie to Stefan, they fell in love and then Valerie got pregnant" An overwhelmed Aria informed, sitting on the bed with her head in her hands, "But before Valerie could tell Stefan, Julian found out about the baby and he beat her till the baby was dead, when Valerie came to me with help, I couldn't say no Damon, Valerie asked the mother in me for help, how could I say no to her?".

A shocked Damon sat next to Aria, "Why didn't you just tell me this?" he asked.

"Because Valerie made me promise" Aria replied, "She didn't want anyone to know, you should know, just because I've told you this, doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying to kill Julian, he doesn't deserve to live Damon, not after what he did to Valerie's child, the child who would have been our family if it survived".

Damon looked at Aria, after a moment of silence, he finally said, "I'm in".

Aria looked at Damon in slight shock and confusion, "What?" she asked.

"I said, I'm in" Damon repeated, "I'll help you kill Julian, now, not in six months".

"Really?" Aria asked, slightly skeptical.

"Really" Damon replied.

***

Damon sat outside on the Mikaelson porch, staring up at the night sky, lost in his thoughts when Kol came and sat beside him, two glasses and a bottle of bourbon in his hand.

"What are you thinking about?" Kol asked, after a moment of silence. 

"How Julian reminded me so much of someone" Damon replied.

"Who?" Kol asked curiously.

"The almighty Giuseppe Salvatore" Damon replied.

"Your father?" Kol asked slightly shocked.

"Mmm-hmm" Damon replied, "Contrary to popular belief Kol, you weren't the only one with a horrible father".

"Here's to horrible fathers" Kol said, handing Damon a drink.

"To horrible fathers" Damon cheered, clinking his glass with Kol's and both the vampires downing their drinks in one go, then after a few moment of silence, Damon spoke again, "You know, ever since I learnt about Aria's prophecy, about the fact that she could have a child with a vampire, the possibility of a real family excited me, granted, it's quite a dysfunctional as hell family, but still, it's my family".

"When I was human, I wanted a family as well" Kol informed, "But in the back of my mind, I always had this fear that I'd turn out to be like my father".

Damon scoffed, "We're not our fathers Kol, I don't know about Mikael, but my father, he sent my mother to die alone, he bullied me and Stefan for years and then shot us".

"My father had a habit of beating his children" Kol remembered, "Granted, Nik had it worse then all of us, but that doesn't mean the rest of us were safe".

"When Aria told me that she was pregnant, I was afraid" Damon admitted, "But then I decided that I want to be a great dad to the triplets to spite my father, to show him that I'm nothing like him".

Kol chuckled, "And you're not" he assured, "And I guess being around the triplets made me realise I underestimated myself, you're right Damon, we're not our fathers, we have it in us to actually be good, sometimes".

"Yes we do" Damon whispered, "Did Ria tell you? About Valerie and her child?".

Kol nodded, "I told her she's not doing this alone, if Valerie and Ri want Julian dead then that's exactly what's going to happen".

"Tomorrow, tonight, now" Damon added, "Whenever they want, but they aren't going to do this alone".

"No, they are not" Kol said.

***

Presenting 7x06 of The Vampire Diaries . . .

How was the chapter?

Thoughts on Aria being adamant on killing Julian?

Thoughts on Damon and Aria's constant arguing?

Thoughts on Aria attacking Julian?

Thoughts on Damon and Kol finally agreeing to help Aria and Valerie to kill Julian?