***

IT HAD ONLY BEEN A COUPLE OF DAYS  since Aria left us, and I already missed that smart-mouthed girl. She had a lot of fire and a lot of potential. It just sucks to think that her potential will be used in another universe, with a different family. But she promised we'd talk again, and I plan to hold her up on that. I sat in my bedroom, directly across from Aria's old room. Both mine and her doors were open, so I glanced longingly at her old bedroom.

"Charlotte?" I was pulled out of my thoughts by Stefan calling my name.

"Yeah, Stef?" I called back, walking downstairs to where Stefan was. He was dressed in black slacks and a long grey hoodie. "Why are you in regular clothes?" Usually Stef walked about the house in just some jogging pants and either wore a tee shirt or no shirt.

"Well, the new park the mayor was talking about was just opened. I thought it would do us some good to get out of the house and take our minds off of Aria," Stefan explained, looking at me in concern. He knew I missed her. I felt this connection to Aria that I couldn't explain. I felt like I needed to be there for her, all the while also knowing she didn't really need me. I felt like her big sister. We had to say goodbye much too soon, and say hello far too quickly. "Not only that, but we're apologizing to Mason Lockwood," Stefan added.

"The one Damon had a brawl with? Yeah, an apology is definitely in order," I said softly, rolling my eyes. "I'll go get dressed. I'll be back down in ten." Stefan modded in response and I walked upstairs to get dressed.

I changed into some ripped high waisted jeans, an off-the-shoulder baby blue crop top (which didn't show my stomach because of the high waisted jeans), and my signature black combat boots. No matter how pretty you look, you still have to be able to run. I curled my hair a bit and brushed it out to look a little wavy, putting on some mascara and lip gloss. I grabbed my phone, slipped it in my back pocket, and sped downstairs.

"Alright! I'm ready!" I called to Stefan, grabbing my car keys from the key hanger in the hall. Stefan walked over, his eyes looking over me in approval. "Good enough?" I asked.

"Beautiful as always, Char. Just be careful around Tyler, because if I punch Mason's nephew there's no way he's accepting that apology," Stefan said with a serious look in his eye, yet a smile on his face.

"Point taken," I nodded, walking out the door and to my car. I had to leave first, because my car blocked Stefan's in. I drove over to the side of the road, letting Stefan pass me so I could follow him to the destination.

***

Once we made it to the new park, I parked my car and walked out with Stefan. We arrived just as Mayor Lockwood began giving a speech. "This is all part of the historical society, continuing efforts to give back to the community. Thanks to the generous donation of the Fell family. We are now standing on the sight of our newest public park. Thank you to everyone who has shown up today to lend a helping hand. Thanks."

Once Stefan spotted Mason, he looked at me and started walking, me following behind him. Mason was removing some boxes from his truck as Stefan and I approached him. He was in a dark purple shirt, that actually favored his tan skin. Or maybe it was me that favored his tanned skin...

"Stefan and Charlotte right? The other Salvatores," Mason said, looking at us. So I'm considered a Salvatore now? Should I correct him or? I just decided not to, seeing as my last name was kept in remembrance of my family, and that was only for me. But now that I've come to terms with them being gone, and that I've made a new family with the Salvatores, I see no reason to correct him, even though my legal last name is Fray.

"The nice ones. The ones offering an apology," Stefan explained.

"Not interested," Mason said, shaking his head.

I scoffed a bit, "Well... that's a little rude." The remark was made to myself, but it was loud enough that Stefan gave me a little look.

"Look, my brother acted impulsively," Stefan admitted, leaning against the trunk of Mason's car.

"You think?" Mason retorted. Okay, I retract any good thing I said about him in my head now. His skin is perfectly tanned sure, but that doesn't change the fact that he's a little ugly on the inside.

"If you and Damon keep at each other throats, somebody innocent is going to get hurt and we don't want that. You have family here so I can't imagine you'd want that either. So what do you say we just quit the whole alpha male fighting thing and call a truce?" Stefan offered.

"I made that same offer to your brother. He turned it down... with a knife," Mason pointed out. Okay, maybe I get the whole douchebag thing now.

"He made a mistake. I'm here to make sure that neither one of you make another one," Stefan explained, "And she's here to kick your asses if you do." Stefan looked over at me and I nodded.

"Tell your brother to watch his back," Mason explained, eyeing me. He obviously saw no real threat, but I am when I want to be. "And that purple-haired girl."

I caught Mason's arm as he tried to leave as Stefan spoke, "Aria's gone. She went home. But, I'm guessing that he only has to worry about that during a full moon. Otherwise you're not as strong, am I right? Or you would have killed Damon by now. There's one of you. There's three of us. I think you're the one that needs to watch his back."

"If he comes at me..." Mason started.

"He won't," I promised. Stefan and I took turns shaking hands with Mason, before Mason left with the box.

"What are you doing?" Damon asked us, appearing behind Stefan.

"Negotiating peace on your behalf," Stefan responded.

"I don't want peace," Damon whined.

"Oh. Consider it opposite day then," Stefan explained.

"Guys, please tell me you don't seriously think a hand shake just solved our problem," Damon said putting an arm around Stefan, and then around me as he stood in front of us.

"No, actually I think that the first chance Mason Lockwood gets, he's gonna drive a stake through your heart and then through mine, and then through Charlotte's, all because you took it upon yourself to try to kill him. So thank you, because we don't have enough problems," Stefan said sarcastically. I couldn't help but see the glint in Damon's eye leave when my name was mentioned. He's a little too protective, but that's okay. Stefan and I both left after that.

I started painting with Stefan, as Stefan started to look up at Elena, who was also painting.

"Oh, oh. Longing looks are being exchanged," Caroline said, looking between them. I love Caroline and Elena, but Stefan is my brother. And he's a good person. I feel like he and Elena deserve each other.

"I'm gonna go talk to him," Elena said to Caroline. And that's my cue to join Caroline. Elena got up after a protest from Caroline and went to join Stef, us passing each other as I went to join Care. As soon as I got there, I saw Damon come up behind Caroline.

"What's her problem?" Damon muttered.

"Don't worry about it," Caroline said.

"Why are you being such a bitch to your mom?" Damon asked her.

"Don't worry about it," Caroline said moodily, walking over to another spot as Damon followed. They both started listening to Elena and Stefan, so naturally, I did too.

"Do you still care about Katherine?" Elena asked.

"Don't do this. Please don't turn this into something that it's not," Stefan pleaded.

"So this is not up for discussion. That's what you're saying?" Elena asked.

"No, I'm saying that this isn't up for discussion right now because we have ears on us," Stefan pointed out, as they both turned to look at us.

We all started painting and pretending that we weren't listening to them.

"Okay, when?" Elena asked abruptly.

"I don't know," Stefan shrugged.

"I saw her Stefan. It's like we are the same person. How could you hate her and be in love with me?" Elena asked. I feel the same way. Except they didn't hate Corinthia, at least... not to my knowledge.

"You're reaching. I'm not...I'm not Damon," Stefan explained.

"How about we don't bring Damon into this right now?" Elena asked him.

"You know, I can't...I can't do this anymore, Elena," Stefan replied. I wish I knew what was going on between them.

Damon spoke, "Relationships are about communication."

Caroline left and I followed after, trying to find where Elena ran off to. Caroline seemed to be doing the same thing, so I followed her. We found Elena alone, so we joined her.

"Hey," I said softly. Caroline and I took a seat with her by the water.

"You okay?" Caroline asked, as we watched Elena pick at grass.

"No," Elena replied.

"You know, maybe it's for the best," Caroline said softly, trying to make the best out of it.

"Yeah, maybe she's right," I said to Elena.

"It's not for the best, guys. None of this is for the best," Elena snapped. "I'm sorry, okay? I...I don't mean to take it out on you. You're just being good friends," Elena said softly.

"No, I'm not. I'm not being a good friend at all," Caroline admitted softly.

Caroline saw her mom start to walk away, "Is she leaving? Where's my mom going?" Caroline followed after her, leaving Elena and I alone.

"I'm sorry... about you and Stefan," I said softly.

"Charlotte, don't," Elena warned softly.

"Listen Elena, I love both of you. And I know this is hard, but from what Stefan says you are different from Katherine. You and Katherine look alike yes, and Stefan fell for her beauty once before too, but Katherine was cold and mean and manipulative. And a vampire, to beat it all. She's an awful person, Elena. And you aren't. You're human. You have a heartbeat, blood pumping through you, and a lot of love to give," I said softly.

"Thank you, Charlotte," Elena sighed softly.

"Don't thank me, especially not just yet. We should go find Care now" I said softly, standing up and helping Elena to her feet as we joined Caroline.

"What's going on?" Elena asked.

"I don't know. Something's up," Caroline explained. She began to walk towards the woods, hearing something. When I heard the same thing with my hearing, I followed, and so did Elena.

"Where are you two going? What's going on?" Elena asked.

"Charlotte and I need to be able to hear better," Caroline explained.

"Hear what?" Elena asked.

"Something's wrong, Elena," Caroline said, moving her hair back as she listened closely.

"Charlotte, Caroline..." Elena said softly.

"Shh," Caroline and I both shushed her.

What we heard was Stefan and Damon fighting with Mason Lockwood. Apparently something happened, the truce was broken. That's when I checked my phone, one message from Stefan. I hadn't saw it. 'Vervain in the lemonade. Mason betrayed us. Watch out.' Care and I then heard shots.

"Oh god," Caroline said softly. But by then I was already running towards them. I watched behind the trees as I saw Sheriff Forbes thank Mason Lockwood, injecting Stefan and Damon with vervain from the looks of it. That dick... I'll save them, they're my family. They are all I have left. If they die, I'll have no one left to really call family.

Then I heard Liz, "The brothers also have a girl with them. We suspect she's also a vampire, from what Mason said. So be on the lookout for her, she was with them here today. Charlotte Fray is her name. Find her before she finds us." Too late... Well, now I'm in hiding, slash forming a rescue plot to get the boys back.