💫
Rory's outfit

💫

"I say we go to Pearl's, bust down the door, and annihilate the idiot that attacked us last night." All of the vampires from the tomb were out and vengeful and Damon boards up a window that some vampires broke.

"Yeah. And then what? We turn to the rest of that house of vampires and say, 'Oops. Sorry?'" Stefan asked
"Yeah and then for the rest of the afternoon we can spend with them baking fucking cupcakes and singing 'Kumbaya'." Rory crossed her arms.

"You don't have to be snarky about it." Damon said
"I woke up this morning to learn that all the vampires have been released from the tomb. I've earned snarky." She said
"How long are you going to be pissed at me for waking you up?" He asked.

"Till all of the vampires from the tomb are out of mystic falls." She said
"Ouch." Damon pouted
"This isn't being very productive. We're gonna figure out a way to deal with Pearl and the vampires. Yeah? Hmm." Stefan said.

"I wanna go to bed. Preferably with waffles." Rory said
"You want me to make you waffles?" Damon asked and she nodded
"Least you could do after waking me up." She said and he rolled his eyes.

"Waffles coming right up."

💫

Rory groaned as her phone was ringing for the 6th time that day when she then heard a knock on the door and Damon walked in
"You're ignoring me." He said
"The 6 missed calls? Sorry. I wanted sleep." Rory responded.

"Is Stefan here?" He asked
"No. Why? Something wrong?" She asked
"He went out in the woods and didn't come back. I can't get him on his phone. I figured he was here with you." Rory then got here phone and called him.

"It's going straight to voice-mail. Where could he be?" Rory asked
"You're not going to like what I'm thinking." He said
"Well that is reassuring."

💫

Rory waited in Damon's car, chipping off her nail polish when he came in
"What happened? Where is he?" She asked
"They have him. I can't get in." He said
"You're not invited in?" She asked and he shook his head.

"Because the woman who owns the house is compelled to not let me in." He said
"I can get in." She said
"You're not going in there." He said.

"I could be a delicious distraction." Rory suggested and he gave her a look
"What do they want with him?" Rory asked
"Revenge. They want revenge." He said.

"We gotta do something." He said
"I know. But I don't know how to get him out."
"The one time Buffy the Vampire Slayer isn't here." Rory said and Damon turned to her.

"Well..."

💫

Alaric walked down the hallway at the school when Damon appeared
"Well, don't you look...alive." He said
"You can't hurt me." Alaric said.

"Oh, I can hurt you, all right." He said
"We need your help." Rory said and they all go into his classroom to talk
"Stefan's in the house. Damon's a vampire. He can't get in. We need you. I would go, but..." Rory explained.

"But your life is valuable." Alaric interrupted her
"I was going to say because the only self defence I know is to kick a guy in the dick and punch a girl in the tit." She said
"And I know more than that?" He asked her.

"Let me recap...You tried to kill me. I defended myself. You died. Then according to my brother, your ring brought you back to life. Am I leaving anything out?" Damon asked
"Yeah. The part where I try and kill you again. Only this time, I don't miss." Alaric said
"Please. It's Stefan, you're student." Rory tried, she didn't know anything about the guy.

"I'm sorry. But it's not my problem." He shrugged
"That's a shame. Because the woman in charge of the crowd can help you find your wife." Damon said.

"You're lying."
"Am I? Why don't you ask her for yourself? Coward. Come on, Rory." Damon put his arm around her and they went to leave
"All right! Wait. I'll go." Alaric said and then pulled out his collection of vampire weapons.

"Teacher by day, vampire hunter by night." Damon said
"I've you to thank for that." Alaric commented
"What are these cuties?" Rory asked.

"Those are tranquilliser darts filled with vervain." Alaric said
"Oh." She put them down
"Just get me in. I'll get Stefan out." Damon said.

"That's your plan? You're just gonna take them all on yourself?" Rory asked
"Well, I'll be a little stealthier than that, hopefully." He said and Rory held up a small crossbow.

"Whoa. What are you doing?" Damon asked
"Give me the beginners guide." She said to Alaric
"No. No. No. No. No way." He said.

"You need me. I'll get in. You could distract them, and then I'll get Stefan out or the other way around." Rory tried
"You'll get yourself killed. You're not going in there." He said
"I'm going."

"No. I said to you that I would protect you no matter what, so let me fucking protect you. Besides Stefan is my brother." He said
"And I'm his soulmate. Your point?" She crossed her arms
"His what?" Alaric asked.

"Fine. Rory, you can drive the getaway car. You're not going in the house. Even though you'll probably kill us."
"That is so mean." She gasped
"What does that mean?" Alaric asked.

"Last time I saw Rory in a car driving, the car was upside down."

"That was not my fault!"

💫

The plan had begun and Rory was waiting in the car with a vervain laced syringe when a tree branch fell onto the car.
"Nope. Nope. Nope." She said and quickly got out the car and found her way to the house. She pressed her body onto the wall when she hears someone.

"Billy, Jacob, get back in here!" Rory then quickly ran past the door and down a staircase that led to the cellar, failing to unlock the door she takes a pin out of her hair and unlocks it.

A man is stood guard by a door at the end of the hallway. Rory got her vervain syringe out just incase, but Damon got to the man first.
"Are you insane?" He asked her.

"I got scared." She said
"So you ran into a house of vampires. So safe." He said
"Shut the fuck up."

💫

The pair found Stefan tied up to the ceiling and cuts down his body
"Rory...You shouldn't be here..." Stefan said
"She was supposed to stay in the car." Damon said and went to kill a vampire.

"No. No. No. Not him." He said
"Whatever. Let's get you down." Damon walked to the ropes
"There's vervain on the ropes." Stefan gasped.

"Rory, pull that." He walked back to Stefan
"Oh so I am useful." Rory said and Damon rolled his eyes
"All right, let's go. Clothes on." He said.

"Wait." Stefan said
"What? Guys, come on. We have to get out of here." Stefan, with the help of Rory pulled a stake out of the vampire's leg.

"Come on, we gotta go." Damon said
"The other one." Stefan said and Rory pulled the stake  out
"Can you get him in the car?" Damon asked.

"Yeah." Rory nodded
"All right, go." He said
"What about you?" She asked
"You rescue, I'll distract. Go." He said, then Rory and Stefan got out the house.

💫

Rory used all of her strength to help Stefan
"Don't worry, we are nearly there." She reassured until they fell down and Rory cut herself on a rock. 
"Ohh. You okay?" Stefan asked
"Yeah. Come on, keep going. Come on." She said helping him up and they walked closer to the car.

"Come on, it's right over here." She said and helped Stefan into the car then gets into the car herself when she noticed the ignition was removed
"What the-" Suddenly a vampire broke the window on Stefan's side and dragged him out then started to beat him
"This is for Beth-Anne." The vampire then stabbed him with a branch
"And this is for the tomb." Before he could do anything else Rory stabs him with the syringe making him drop Stefan.

"No, Stefan. Stefan, Stefan. Stefan! Stefan!" Rory ripped out the branch as the vampire started to get up
"Stefan, please. Stefan! Oh, Stefan, please get up. Get up, Stefan. Stefan." She begged before looking at the cut on her hand.

"I'm sorry." She put her hand to his lips and he started to drink
"Go, Rory. Run. Run..." He said and she shook her head
"I trust you. Please. I'm sorry." She said and he drank more.

The vampire grabbed another branch and walked towards them but Stefan gets up and pinned him to the tree and stabs him repeatedly with the branch. Even after the vampire has been killed he kept on going.

"Stefan. Stefan! He's dead!" She shouted and he shouted his face changed. She slowly approached him and held his face
"He's dead. We're fine." She slowly wrapped her arms around him. His face then changed back and hugged her back.

💫

They got back to the boarding house and Rory sat looking out the window in Stefan's shirt
"How are you doing?" Rory turned her head to see Stefan approaching her
"I'm okay. The wounds have mostly healed." She said.
"Good." He sat down next to her.

"Rory..."
"Stefan..."
"What you did today, coming to help me...You could have been killed." He said.

"I know but I would do anything for you." She said
"And what I did, I'm sorry that...I'm sorry that you had to see it." He said
"I'm sorry about giving you my blood before we discussed it. I didn't really have a bunny on hand." She said and he laughed.

"It's okay. It was also idiotic to hug me while I was in that state."
"You would never hurt me. I trust you more than anyone." She took his hand and kissed his ring.

💫
Rory's outfit

💫

The next morning Rory went downstairs to see her mother talking to someone
"Oh. You're here." Rory crossed her arms
"Nice to you too, Aurora." John Gilbert said
"It's Rory, you bitch." She said and walked to the fridge.

"Shouldn't you be at school?" John asked
"Shouldn't you have a wife?" Jenna laughed but covered it up with a cough
"Sorry, somethings wrong with my throat."

"And I have no classes today since my one class is being taught by a sub and I do not deal with that." She said
"So where are you going?" Jenna asked her daughter
"Picked up a extra shift at the grill." She said and picked up her bag.

"See you mom." She kissed her mother's head and then went to leave.

"She's as polite as ever."
"Yep. That's my girl." Jenna smiled.

💫

After work Rory and Stefan were in her room
"Why would he write a report on vampires? Do you think he's starting to remember?" Rory asked
"Damon took away those memories for good, you don't have to worry about that. I tell you what: why don't you just ask him?" Stefan suggested.

"I can't, I would be lying through my teeth." She said
"Why not? I mean if he doesn't know anything then it's just an innocent question." He said
"I don't even know how to talk to him anymore. I mean, we used to be a lot more open with each other. But now, with all these secrets just piling up..." She said.

"Maybe it's time you start opening up to him. I'm not saying you should tell him everything but at least try to find out what he does know and be prepared for it." He said and she sat up
"What about you, how are you doing?" She asked
"Much, much better. I'm still, you know...a little jittery, a little bit on edge but I'm gonna be okay." Stefan reassured.

"I've been really worried about you and I missed you." She said
"I just needed to lay low for a little while and let my body readjust. It's only been a few days." He said
"Yet it feels like a lifetime." She said and slowly leaned in.
"I've missed you too." He whispered against her lips.

Rory deepened the kiss and he moved her so she was on his lap. She laid him back onto the bed and kissed him more when Stefan switched positions so he was on top of her but then he stopped.
"What's wrong? Stefan?" She asked and his face started to change and he threw himself back against the wall breaking a lamp then speeding out of there.

💫

Rory opened the door to reveal Damon
"Took you long enough. Thank you though." She said
"You ask I come. I'm easy like that." He said and Rory grabbed his hand and led him upstairs
"No Rory, I will not go to your bedroom with you." Jeremy looked up from his food and Rory waved at him then rushed upstairs into her room.

"Ah, just like I remember." He said
"Ew no." She said and Damon sat on her bed and takes the teddy bear off the pillow and holds it
"Did you know that your uncle has been kicking it with the Founders' Council?" He asked.

"I knew he was back for a reason." She said
"Yep." He nodded
"Perfect." She smiled nervously as Damon noticed the broken lamp.

"What happened right there?" He asked
"Uh...nothing." She brushed off
"Look Damon, I'm worried about Stefan. He says that everything's okay but he's clearly struggling. How long before he is able to open up to me?" She asked.

"A few days, give or take." He said
"It's been a few days." She said
"Give then, I don't know. What's the big deal?" He asked then walked over to her drawer.

"I'm worried about him. I have no idea what to do. I can't relate to any of it." She said
"Maybe you just let Stefan do what he needs to do." He said taking a bra out of her drawer
"Nice try." She snatched it away from him and pushed him away from the drawer.

"I feel awful. I'm the one who gave him my blood in the first place. I basically gave alcohol to an alcoholic." She laid on her bed and Damon sat on the bed making her head rest on his lap
"Hey, you shouldn't feel bad. With the bond he needs to get used to your blood. You were only trying to help."

"Do you think he blames me for it?" She looked up at him
"No. And even if he had the thought of it that would make him a complete fucking idiot." He said
"Really?" She asked.

"Totally."

💫
Rory's outfit

💫

Rory walked into the Founder's Day 150th Anniversary Kickoff with her mother,
"Right, I'm gonna go find Stefan. Love ya!" She kissed her mother's cheek and walked around before finding him... at the bar.

"Hey." She greeted
"Hey. How are you?" Stefan kissed her on the cheek and she immediately caught on
"Are you drunk?" She asked
"Okay, I know it's a little weird but it's really helping me. The alcohol takes the edge off." He justified.

"You don't need to explain, I've had my good few shares of underage drinking. But I was literally underage not just physically."  She said
"But considering what has happened how worried do I need to be?" She asked
"Oh no! You don't need to be worried. It's just until the cravings go away. Listen, I think we should enjoy it while it lasts. Would you like to dance with me?" He asked.

"You hate dancing. I usually have to beg you." She raised her eye brow
"No, no, no you have to beg the sober me. The drunk me there is no begging necessary." He said and Rory looked to the floor.

"There's really no one dancing." She said
"That's because they need something better to dance to. I'll be right back." He said and then the music changes and Stefan started to dance along with other people.

"Have I entered an alternate universe where Stefan is fun?" Rory turned to see Damon
"Listen, I know you said not to worry but..."
"You're worrying." He said
"I'm worrying!" She admitted.

"He asked me to dance."
"Oh and what? Need to get the snipers out?" He asked and she rolled her eyes.
"Is he gonna be okay?" She asked.

"Eventually. One way or another." He said as him and Rory watch him.
"I'm gonna see my mom." She said and left to walk over to Jenna.

"Hi." She said.
"Your boyfriend is quite the dancer."
"Not a word." Rory said and they laughed.

"History teacher three o'clock." Rory said
"How do I look?" Jenna asked and Rory smiled
"Beautiful." She said and Alaric walked over.

"I was looking for you." He said
"Here I am. I haven't seen you in a while."
"Well uh... Things have been a little crazy but I'm here now. Do you want to get a drink?" Alaric asked and Jenna looked over at Rory.

"Go." She mouthed
"Sure." Jenna smiled
"Okay." And they both left.

Rory then felt hands wrap around her waist and she looked up to see Stefan
"I want to show you something." He whispered
"Okay." She said and he lead her into a remote bit of the house.

"What is it?" She asked, instead of giving her an answer, he kissed her hard.

His hands traveled from her hair to her hips as he pressed her body into the wall. He then slightly bit her lip making a moan leave her lips giving him the perfect time to slide his tongue into her mouth. Stefan then placed his hand under her right thigh and lifted it up, deepening the kiss.

Suddenly someone cleared their throat and the couple moved away
"John." Rory gasped and pushed Stefan away
"Really classy Aurora. Really classy but then again, not surprising." He said before walking away.

Stefan then lowered Rory and turned to the direction John was walking. He started to walk after him but Rory caught his shoulder
"It's fine. Don't worry about it." She said
"But-"

"Don't worry about it. Relax."

💫

Rory walked back to the bar and sat next to Damon
"Have you noticed what your brother has been up to?" She asked
"No, I have been too preoccupied with your cousin." He replied and she gave him a look in question.

"Jeremy has been asking questions about Vicki Donovan's death." He further explained
"He knows that her death was ruled an overdose." She said
"Really? 'Oh but sheriff, someone buried her. Who would do that?' I know I know! Me! I mean I could compel him but he's wearing vervain." Damon scoffed.

"No, I don't want you to compel him again." Rory shook her head
"If he keeps asking questions..." He said
"Damon, no I'm serious. We are not going to do that to him again. I'll handle it." She said.

Damon then picked up a bright red rose and placed it in her hair
"Okay. Don't say I didn't warn you."
"Wait what did Stefan do?" He asked.

"Apart from shoving his tongue down my throat which led us to getting caught by John which then led to practically being slut shamed. Stefan nearly attacked him, he looked fucking murderous." She said.

"He shoved his tongue down your throat? Are you kidding me? I haven't even gotten a kiss yet." Damon complained
"Not what we are discussing right now." She shook her head in disbelief.

"How about I go find him and ask him what is problem is." He suggested
"You can't do that to Stefan." She said
"I wasn't talking about Stefan." Before Rory could say anything, he left.

💫

"Elena is talking to Jeremy right now." Rory said and Damon nodded as they walked to Stefan
"You wanna hear the bad news or the really bad news?" He asked
"Actually, I don't want any news Damon." Stefan replied.

"Alright, let me rephrase. Do you want to hear how the council is back in vampire mode or how I just killed Uncle John Gilbert?" Damon asked
"What?" Stefan and Rory turned their heads
"Great party by the way, huh?" He asked and then took Rory's hand before leaving.

"You killed John?" Rory asked as they walked through the crowd
"I did what I had to do. He knows." He said
"And besides, he slut shamed you."

"Damon, I have 9 soulmates. Of course people are going to slut shame me. Doesn't mean you kill them." She told him
"No one should treat you like a slut." He said and she looked up at him as he leaned closer to her.

"Unless it's me and we are in bed." He whispered then looked up
"You got to be kidding me." He said and Rory turned around
"What the fuck?"

💫

"Thank you all, thank you very much, thank you. Thank you all for joining us tonight in just a few moments we will officially begin the countdown to our upcoming Founders' Day celebration and it's a very special one this year. The one hundred and fiftieth birthday of our town." Rory stood next to Damon and Alaric as the mayor speaks.

Then a bell is wheeled in next to him
"And...and I would like to welcome back one of our town favourite's sons to do the honours of ringing our official charter bell. John Gilbert, would you please join me up here?" The mayor said and John makes his way to him as people applaud.

"One hundred and fifty years of community, prosperity, family. We take care of each other, we look after each other, protect each other. It's good to be home." He said and Rory rolled her eyes
"Look at his right hand." Damon said
"Whose?" Alaric asked.

"Towns favourite's son. Look at his ring." Damon said and they both notice the same thing as John rang the belll
"Well, it looks like mine." Alaric said
"Yeah, and that would be a big coincidence if he didn't just came back from the dead five minutes ago. Where the hell did you get that ring?" He asked.

"Isobel, my wife." The history teacher answered
"Who gave birth to Elena, under the medical care of the esteemed DR Grayson Gilbert, John's brother?" Rory asked and they all look at John
"Do you think John knew Isobel?" Alaric asked.

"I think John knows a lot of things." Damon answered.
"Well, this is enough for me today. I'm gonna go." Rory said
"Right, gets some sleep. See you tomorrow." Damon nodded and kissed her hair.

💫

"Not so excited that we have another month of these Founders' Day events." Jenna said as her and Rory walked up the stairs
"Tell me about it." She groaned and saw that Elena was talking to Jeremy then went back into her room to see Stefan just stood there.

"Oh my god you scared me!" She clutched her chest
"Sorry. I'm sorry that I ran off earlier." He said
"What happened? Is everything okay?" She asked.

"Uh, no." He shook his head
"Talk to me." She sat on her bed and patted the side next to her
"Please." Stefan then sat on the bed next to her.

"I tried so hard to keep it together tonight and it was working, it was working but then Matt's mom, she got hurt and she was bleeding and I had her blood on my hands." He stopped himself and Rory held his hand.

"And then what happened?"
"And then that guy in the parking lot, I wanted to feed on him and it took everything inside of me not to do it." He said
"But you didn't?" She asked.

"No, but I wanted to. Rory, my head is pounding. I feel like my skin is on fire. I have this hunger inside of me that I've never felt before in my entire life and all I keep thinking about is how I promised that I would never keep anything from you, and so I'm telling you this." He said.

"That's okay; I need you to tell me these things so we can figure out what I can support you with." She said
"But I don't want you to see me like this, I don't want you to know that this side of me exists." He admitted.

"Stefan, I don't care how many sides of you exist. We have many sides that sure aren't the best but you're gonna get through this. It's gonna be okay, you're gonna be okay." She held both of his hands but he pulled away.

"No, no, no, no, no. I'm sorry, I can't, I'm afraid of what I could do to you." He said and Rory faced him and kissed his lips
"I'm not." She said then wrapped her arms around him.

And slowly he wrapped his arms around her.

Neither of them said anything. Nothing needed to be said. They just sat there in each other's arms.