04. Family Ties

Stefan gasped and sat up in his bed in shock, still shocked from the dream he just had, of Brayden killing Elena.

"Bad dream?" Damon asked, as he and Brayden sat on Stefan's desk.

"It was so easy getting into your head, are you sure you're a vampire?" Brayden asked.

"You really need some human blood, it might even the playing field" Damon said.

"Ouch, football reference" Brayden chuckled, "Too soon Damon, too soon".

Stefan speeded over to his desk, grabbed a knife and threw it at Damon, hitting him right on his chest.

Damon looked down at the knife, and nonchalantly got up, he removed the knife from his chest, "All right, I deserve that, but we just wanted to let you know, they caught the culprit, the animal responsible for killing coach Tanner and all those people".

"What are you talking about?" Stefan asked confused.

"It was a mountain lion, a really big mountain lion" Brayden replied, standing up.

"It attacked a hunter this morning, it's all over the news" Damon informed.

"Deadly beast captured, all's well in Mystic Falls" Brayden said.

"Why would you two cover your tracks?" Stefan asked confused.

"We've decided to stay a while" Damon replied.

"We are having too much fun here with you and Elena" Brayden said.

"And Caroline" Damon interjected.

"Shut it" Brayden said, glaring at his twin.

"You both can't touch Elena now" Stefan said.

"Well the vervain keeps us out of her head" Damon said, "Maybe that's not our target, believe it or not, Stefan, some girls don't need my persuasion, some girls just can't resist my good looks, my style and my charm".

"And his unflinching ability to listen to Taylor Swift" Brayden interjected.

"That too" Damon said, stabbing Stefan with the same knife he stabbed him with, causing Stefan to fall to the floor in pain, "This is John Varvatos, dude, dick move".

"And you say I'm picky when it comes to clothes" Brayden said, walking out of Stefan's room.

"You are, I only have one or two branded shirts, your whole wardrobe is nothing but expensive brands" Damon said, following Brayden out.

"It's called having a style, something you clearly don't have" Brayden said.

"I have style" Damon said, almost offended.

"Sure" Brayden said.

***

"Okay, so yellow or blue?" Caroline asked Brayden, holding two dresses in her hands.

"Blue, definitely blue" Brayden replied, laying on Caroline's bed, reading twilight.

"Are you sure?" Caroline asked, holding the blue dress infront of the mirror.

"Very, blue suits your skin tone" Brayden replied.

"So, you and Damon covered your tracks to make sure this founders party still happens?" Caroline asked, putting the yellow dress back in her closet.

"Yeap, it's very important this party happens, no party, no Katherine and Kaitlynn" Brayden replied, causing Caroline's face to fall, but Brayden didn't realise that as he was too engrossed in twilight, "Okay, what the hell is so special about Bella Swan, why is Edward so smitten about her, I don't get, she seems so annoying to me".

"You gotta read the first book first, it won't make sense if you don't" Caroline replied, laying next to Brayden.

"So what book am I reading?" Brayden asked, looking at the cover in confusion.

"The last one" Caroline replied, amused.

"Opps" Brayden said.

"You know, it would have been cool if you sparkled in the sun" Caroline teased.

"Cool?" Brayden asked, turning to his side to look at Caroline, "More like making every single person in this world to look at me, telling them I'm a big bad vampire, come and kill me".

Caroline chuckled, "So I'm guessing you don't like twilight?".

"Hate it" Brayden replied, "In the real world vampires burn in the sun, not sparkle, that's so childish".

"Your actually offended?" Caroline asked amused.

"Of course I'm offended" Brayden replied, "This book makes us vampires look so stupid".

"It's just a book Brayden" Caroline said.

"A stupid, unrealistic book" Brayden retorted.

"In twilights defense, to the human eye, vampires are fictional characters, no one ever thought that they would actually exist" Caroline said, "Let alone burn in the sun".

"Still" Brayden said, "Sparkle in the sun? Seriously?".

"Okay, let it go Brayden, it's okay" Caroline said, enjoying Brayden's hatred towards twilight way too much.

"Hmm" Brayden said, "Hey, before we got to the founder's party, I need you to somehow get this story to Elena".

"What story?" Caroline asked confused.

"The story of how Stefan snatched Katherine from Damon" Brayden replied.

***

"You're taking Brayden to the Founder's Party?" Bonnie asked shocked, as her and Caroline entered the Grill, "What about me?".

"Go with Elena" Caroline replied, sitting down.

"She's asking Stefan" Bonnie informed.

"Okay, go by yourself" Caroline said.

"Gee, thanks" Bonnie said sarcastically, "What about your mom? Is she okay with you bringing Brayden?".

"My mom has already met Brayden" Caroline replied, shocking Bonnie, "And she surprisingly actually likes him".

"Brayden's met your mom?" Bonnie asked.

"Yeah, the night you left me drunk here" Caroline replied, making Bonnie feel guilty.

"Caroline look--".

"So hows the whole witch thing going?" Caroline asked, not wanting to hear anything from Bonnie.

"No more witch talks, okay?" Bonnie snapped, "That whole Mr. Tanner prediction thing has me freaked".

"Okay" Caroline said, "And I know you think Brayden and Damon are dangerous, but let me tell you, they're not, they just both have a lot of issues with Stefan, you know, like major, deep-rooted drama".

"Like?" Bonnie asked curious.

Caroline hesitated, "I'm not really supposed to say anything".

"Caroline Forbes, when have you ever kept a secret in your life?" Bonnie asked.

"Oh, I can keep a secret" Caroline whispered.

"What?" Bonnie asked, not having heard Caroline.

"I'll tell you, but you can't tell Elena" Caroline replied, knowing all to well Bonnie and Elena told each other everything, they only kept Caroline out of the loop, not each other.

"No" Bonnie assured.

***

Zach entered the Salvatore's living room, where he saw both Brayden and Damon.

"Didn't know you both were here" Zach said, slightly scared.

"Just going through Stefan's homework" Damon informed.

"I'm reading twilight, apparently I have to read the first book to understand why Bella is so special" Brayden said.

"Blondie can get you to do anything, can't she?" Damon asked amused, "I should use that to my advantage".

"That's not true" Brayden said.

"It's so true" Damon said, still flipping through Stefan's homework, "Boy, this country has dumbed down in the last hundred years".

"Tell me about it" Brayden said, still not pleased with twilight.

"Why Stefan wants to go to high school is beyond me" Damon said, "I mean in the 70s, he went Ivy League, Harvard, I understood".

"Liar" Brayden said.

"You're right, I didn't get that either" Damon said.

"Anything you want to say?" Brayden asked Zach, realising he was staring at him and Damon.

"Get it out, what's on your mind?" Damon asked.

"Why are you both here?" Zach asked.

Damon finally stopped reading and looked up, "To spend time with you, Zach, family's important".

"I know you both, you always have a motive" Zach said, "So tell me, what is it this time?".

Brayden finally closed twilight and speeded over to Zach and wrapped his hand around his throat.

"Let's get one thing straight Zach, we are vampires, you are a mere human, don't question us, don't anger us, otherwise you will die" Brayden threatened.

"I didn't mean to upset you" Zach said, struggling to breath.

"That's not upset Zach, that's Brayden being Brayden" Damon said.

"His right" Brayden said, just as Stefan walked in.

"What's going on?" Stefan asked, causing Brayden to finally let go of Zach.

"Having a family moment, Stefan, spending some quality time" Damon replied.

"Next time, remember what I said" Brayden said, patting Zach's back and leaving the room, Damon following behind.

"Are you okay?" Stefan asked Zach.

"No, I'm not and neither are you" Zach snapped, pushing Stefan away, "How many more people have to die before you see that?".

"I see it, all right" Stefan snapped.

"Then why aren't you doing anything about it?" Zach asked frustrated.

"I can't, Zach" Stefan replied, equally as frustrated, "I can't, it would take human blood, it's the only way that I could stop them and I can't do that".

"Vervain could weaken them, if they ingested it" Zach whispered, making sure Damon and Brayden couldn't hear them, "It would help get you the upper hand".

"Vervain hasn't grown here since 1865" Stefan said, "Both Damon and Brayden saw to that, the little I had, I gave to Elena".

"Come with me" Zach whispered, leading Stefan into the cellar, he opened the door and showed Stefan the vervain he has been growing.

"You've been growing it" Stefan said shocked.

"It's just something that's been passed down through the generations" Zach replied, making Stefan look at him in shock, "Blood only runs so deep when you're related to vampires, Damon and Brayden would kill me if they knew that I had it".

"But you're telling me" Stefan said, "Why?".

"Because I trust you" Zach replied, "And you're gonna need it if you wanna get rid of the twins".

***

Brayden entered Stefan's room, shirtless, and saw his younger brother sitting on the chair and polishing his shoe, "I need a shirt, and a tie, still unsure on the tie part though".

"They still wear ties at this thing?" Damon asked, also entering Stefan's room, shirtless.

"Why are you two even going?" Stefan asked.

"Well it's only fitting, we were at the first one, remember" Damon replied, as Brayden looked through Stefan's shirts.

"You really need to get some better shirts Stefan" Brayden said, finally picking out an black shirt.

"I think it's better if we don't draw attention to ourselves" Stefan said, ignoring Brayden.

"So you should stay locked up here brother" Brayden said, walking over to the mirror while Damon raided Stefan's closet, "I promise I will not eat Elena tonight".

Stefan didn't say anything just took a sip of his drink, "My goodness, me and Brayden have driven you to drink" Damon said.

"Can't seem to rid myself of you two" Stefan said, "What else am I supposed to do, besides go about living my life?".

"God Stefan, you make being immortal so much boring" Brayden said, wearing the shirt.

"Brayden's right, you're dead dude, get over it" Damon said, he then put a tie around his neck, "What do you guys think?".

"Horrible" Brayden replied simply, making Damon roll his eyes.

***

"It's cool not growing old" Damon said, checking himself out in the mirror, while Brayden sat on Stefan's bed, putting his shoes, "I like being an eternal stud".

"Yes, being a 150-year-old teenager has been the height of my happiness" Stefan said, sarcastically.

"Did my boring little brother just crack a joke?" Brayden teased, "The world must be changing".

"I should have a drink and celebrate" Damon said, grabbing a glass and walking over to where the bourbon was, where he saw a picture of Katherine and Kaitlynn, "1864, you and Katherine, and Brayden and Kaitlynn were the perfect two couples, it was hell watching my two brothers dance happily with the girls they love, while I stood to the side and just watched".

"My happiness was short lived, as you well know" Stefan said.

"Oh don't be dramatic Stefan, it wasn't only your happiness that was short lived, all our happiness was short lived" Brayden said, walking over to Damon and taking the photo off of him and staring at Kaitlynn's face.

"I left the party early, I was waiting for Katherine" Damon recalled, "The night you dropped her off, I was waiting just inside", Damon started pouring himself a drink, "You were such a gentleman, gave her a kiss on the cheek, when what what she really wanted was--", Stefan turned and glared at his older brother, while Brayden simply rolled his eyes and sat the photo back down, "Oh, well, here's to history not repeating itself, huh?", Damon went to take a sip on the drink, then suddenly poured it on the floor, dropping the glass along with it, "I admire your effort Stefan, pouring yourself a drink then spiking the bottle with vervain, we are not some drunk sorority chick, you can't roofie us".

"But you know what we are?" Brayden asked, "Betrayed, I don't about Damon but I feel very used here, god forbid if tonight I take your anger out on your little doppelganger".

Both Brayden and Damon walked out of Stefan's room, leaving behind a vary Stefan.

***

Brayden's Outfit For The Party ^

Caroline walked to the front door of the Lockwood mansion, Brayden on one side of her and Damon the other.

"Caroline, you look smashing" Carol Lockwood, Tyler's mother said.

"Thank you, Mrs. Lockwood" Caroline said, "This is Brayden and Damon".

"Her boyfriend" Brayden said.

"Her boyfriend's twin brother" Damon introduced, making Caroline shake her head at the two.

"Oh, well, come on in" Carol told the twins making them smirk.

"Lovely to meet you, we've been looking forward to this party for quiet a while" Damon said, stepping in with Brayden.

"Well, enjoy" Carol said, walking away.

"I need a drink already" Brayden said, offering his arm to Caroline.

"You really aren't a party person, are you?" Caroline asked, looping her arm around Brayden's.

"Nonsense, I love partying" Brayden replied, "Just with people I like".

"Aka, his a party person, but not a people person" Damon said, making Caroline laugh, her eyes then landed on her mother, who was smiling at Brayden and Caroline.

"Oh, look, it's your mom, let's go" Brayden said, dragging Caroline with him before she could protest.

"Brayden, it's nice to see you again" Liz said.

"You too, Mrs Forbes" Brayden said politely, shocking both Caroline and Damon.

"Please, call me Liz" Liz said.

"Okay, Liz" Brayden said, "Uh, this is my twin brother, Damon".

"Nice to meet you" Damon said, shaking Liz's hand.

"You to" Liz said, "Well, I'm on duty, I have to go, you kids enjoy".

"Will do" Caroline said.

"Since when are you so polite to people?" Damon asked his brother, after Liz walked away.

"I know when to be polite and when not to" Brayden replied.

Caroline chuckled, "That's nice to know".

***

Elena and Stefan stood infront of a wall that had things to do with the first ever Founder's party, including the original registry.

"The founding families of Mystic Falls welcomes you to the inaugural Founder's Council Celebration" Elena read out, "Wow, look, it's the original guest registry", Stefan looked at Elena, suddenly worried, "Look at all these familiar names, Sheriff William Forbes, Mayor Benjamin Lockwood, is that Damon and Brayden Salvatore? And Stefan Salvatore?", Elena looked at Stefan in shock, not knowing how that was possible.

"The original Salvatore brothers" Damon revealed, walking over to the couple with Caroline and Brayden, "Our ancestors, tragic story, actually".

"We don't need to bore them with stories of the past" Stefan said, worried his brothers would reveal something he didn't want Elena to know.

"It's not boring, Stefan, I'd love to hear more about your family" Elena said.

"Well, I'm bored, I wanna dance" Caroline said, "And Brayden and Damon won't dance with me".

"I will dance with you Princess" Brayden said, "But when I'm drunk".

"And I don't dance overall" Damon said.

"Boring" Caroline said, she then turned to Elena, "Could I just borrow your date?".

"Oh, uh--", Elena looked Caroline awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

"I don't really dance" Stefan said.

"Don't lie brother, out of us three, your the best dancer" Brayden said, loving Stefan's agitated expression.

"Yeah, the waltz, the jitterbug, the moonwalk, he does it all" Damon said.

"You wouldn't mind, would you, Elena?" Caroline asked.

"It's up to Stefan" Elena replied, clearly not happy.

"Well, sorry, but I'm not gonna take no for an answer" Caroline said, grabbing Stefan's hand and dragging him to the dance floor.

"You owe me" Caroline mouthed to Brayden.

"Thank you" Brayden mouthed back to Caroline.

After Caroline and Stefan left, Damon turned to Elena, "Hey, Brayden told me what happened between you two at the football game and I just wanted to apologise on his behalf, he has a tendency of being a world class jerk sometimes".

"Why are you apologising, you didn't do anything wrong" Elena said.

Brayden rolled his eyes, "I don't do apologises".

"Are you this rude with Caroline as well?" Elena asked.

"Don't bring Caroline into this Elena" Brayden replied, glaring at the doppelganger, "There's a difference between you and Caroline, and I don't think you want me to start telling you the difference, because you're not going to like it".

"Brayden's therapist says his acting out, trying to punish Stefan" Damon interrupted, before Brayden could say anything else.

Brayden looked at his brother, he suddenly had an urge to punch him.

Elena scoffed, "For what?".

"Stefan didn't tell you?" Brayden asked, a small smirk on his face, "I mean I thought he would have told you by now, I told Caroline, it was actually the first thing I told her".

"Caroline knows why you and Stefan don't get along?" Elena asked shocked.

"Of course she does" Brayden replied, "I made sure to tell her everything, she needed to know who she was getting into a relationship with, it was the right thing to do".

"Let's just say that the men in the Salvatore family have been cursed with sibling rivalry" Damon informed, "And it all started with the original Salvatore brothers".

***

"Damon and Brayden told you to ask me to dance, didn't they?" Stefan asked Caroline, as they danced on the dance floor.

"And why would they do that?" Caroline asked, pretending to be oblivious.

"Champagne, sir?" A waiter asked.

"Would you like one?" Stefan asked, grabbing a drink for Caroline.

"Just tell me if you see my mom" Caroline replied, taking the drink from Stefan and taking a small sip.

***

"The Salvatore name was practically royalty in this town until the war" Damon informed, "There was a battle here--".

"The Battle of Willow Creek" Elena finished.

"Right" Damon said.

"I know, we talked about it in class" Elena informed, "Confederate soldiers fired on a church with civilians inside".

"Except that's not all" Brayden said, "What your history books decide to leave out was that the people that were killed in that church, they weren't there by accident, they were believed to be union sympathizers, so the founders on the confederacy side back then, rounded all of them up and burned them all alive", Brayden walked over to the replica of Fell's church, just looking at the replica bought back horrible memories for him.

"Stefan, Damon and Brayden had someone they loved very much in that church" Damon said, feeling the same way as Brayden, "And when they went to rescue them, they were shot".

"Murdered in cold blood" Brayden said, a bitter tone in his voice.

"Who was in the church that they wanted to save?" Elena asked curiously.

"A women, I guess" Damon replied.

"At the end of the day, it always comes down to love" Brayden said.

Elena sighed, "Look I'm sorry that you both and Stefan have this thing between you guys, but it's not because of me Brayden, you can't take Stefan's frustration out on me" Elena said, "I just, I hope you three can work it out".

"We hope so too" Damon said, while Brayden stayed quiet.

***

Stefan and Caroline were standing to the side, when suddenly, someone grabbed Caroline's hand and span her around, causing her to bang into that persons chest.

"Brayden" Caroline laughed, while Damon smirked seeing the two, Stefan looked at the two curiously, and Elena frowned seeing Brayden act so differently when it came to Caroline.

"So, aside from taking my breath away, what else do you do for a living?" Brayden asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Caroline laughed, "Seriously?".

"Please tell me my brother didn't bore you" Brayden asked, turning to his brother, his hands staying on Caroline's waist.

"No he didn't" Caroline assured.

"We were just chatting" Stefan said, "Drink, brothers?".

"Pass" Brayden replied.

"Same" Damon said.

Caroline saw the three brothers glaring at each other, "So, Damon and Brayden, who am I dancing with first?" she asked, breaking the tension.

"I don't dance Caroline" Damon repeated.

"None of that" Caroline said, she turned to Brayden, "Do you mind if I dance with your brother first, I'm scared his going to run away if I dance with you first".

Brayden chuckled, "Go for it".

"Great" Caroline turned to Damon, and grabbed his hand, "Let's go".

"Caroline--".

"Not hearing it" Caroline said, dragging Damon to the dance floor, while an amused Brayden watched on.

"Stefan, do you have another dance in you?" Elena asked.

"Absolutely" Stefan replied, going to the dance floor with Elena.

"So, did you and Brayden create enough trouble?" Caroline asked, dancing with Damon.

"Yes we did" Damon replied, "Caroline, why are you dancing with me and not Brayden?".

Caroline sighed, she looked towards Brayden but saw him too busy drinking, "I'm trying not to spend all my time with Brayden".

Damon looks at Caroline in confusion, "And why's that?".

"Because he makes me feel things, that he shouldn't make me feel" Caroline admitted, "And I know his in love with someone else, so I'm trying not to get too attached, but that's proving harder with all his cheesy pickup lines".

"Want my opinion?" Damon asked, Caroline nodded, "My brother likes you Caroline, in the last century, he hasn't let anyone but me in, sometimes he doesn't even let me in, but he let you in the day he met you, personally I think Brayden only wants to free Kaitlynn because he feels guilty, he feels like his the reason she's been suffering for this long, if you have feelings for Brayden, then don't give up on him, give him some time, I really do think you might be the thing my brother needs to mend his heart".

Caroline gave Damon a small smile, "You know, when you want to be, you can be a good brother".

"Don't let Brayden and Stefan hear that" Damon teased.

"Don't worry, none of them heard that, ones too busy dancing with Elena, the other is too busy drinking" Caroline said.

"Typical Brayden" Damon commented, making Caroline laugh.

Damon and Caroline danced for a few more minutes, when someone tapped Damon's shoulder.

"Mind if I cut in?" Brayden asked.

"Not at all" Damon replied, stepping away from Caroline, "Enjoy you two".

"Do you have energy for another dance?" Brayden asked.

"Always" Caroline replied.

Brayden smiled, he wrapped one of his hand around Caroline's waist, and the other intertwined with Caroline's hand.

 "So, what were you and my brother talking about?" Brayden asked, as both of them swayed to the music.

"Nothing serious" Caroline replied, "Just talking about how much you love alcohol but hate parties".

Brayden chuckled, "I don't hate parties--".

"You just hate the people" Caroline finished.

"Exactly" Brayden said.

"You're a great dancer" Caroline commented.

"The perk of being alive for so long" Brayden replied, spinning Caroline around, then dipping her down, making her laugh out and the other people on the dance floor to look at them, including Stefan and Elena.

"They seem happy together" Elena commented, a slight frown on her face.

"They do" Stefan whispered, confused with the relationship his brother had with Caroline.

"What was that for?" Caroline asked, laughing, as Brayden pulled her back up.

"Just making sure your having a good time" Brayden replied.

"I think this is the first Mystic Falls event that the people I came with, haven't ditched me" Caroline said, "So yeah, I am having a great time, are you?".

"I am now" Brayden replied.

"What about before?" Caroline asked curiously.

"Damon told Elena that the reason I don't like her, is because according to my therapist, I'm acting out to get back at Stefan" Brayden replied.

"And let me guess, you didn't appericate that comment" Caroline said amused.

"Of course I didn't, I was this close to punching him" Brayden said, "I also might have bragged to Elena, that I told you everything about my strained relationship with Stefan, while Stefan told her nothing".

"Oh god, Elena's going to try to get information out of me now" Caroline complained.

"If you want, I can compel her to not ask any questions" Brayden suggested.

"I thought Stefan gave her vervain" Caroline said confused.

"He did, but it's in the necklace, a necklace I can very easily remove from her neck" Brayden said.

"As much as I appericate it, I don't want you to compel her, I know people think I can't keep a secret, but I can, I promise I won't tell Elena anything, no matter how much she asks me" Caroline said.

"I know" Brayden said simply, "If I didn't trust you, then I would have never told you anything".

"Can I ask you something?" Caroline asked suddenly.

"Anything" Brayden replied.

"Do you--", Caroline hesitated, she didn't know if what she was about to ask Brayden was appropriate or not, but she needed to know the answer.

"Caroline, what is it?" Brayden asked, suddenly worried seeing Caroline's hesitation.

"Do you think you will ever love or even care about anyone as much as you love and care about Kaitlynn?" Caroline asked.

Brayden froze, he wasn't excepting this question from Caroline, the question whose answer Brayden didn't have, not right now anyways.

"I--".

Caroline frowned seeing Brayden's hesitation, by now both of them had stopped dancing, "I've made things awkward haven't I? God, I'm so sorry Brayden, I didn't mean to, I should go".

Caroline tried walking away from Brayden, but Brayden held her wrist and pulled her back in.

"Stop, don't run away from me, please" Brayden pleaded.

Caroline looked into Brayden's eyes, "Brayden--".

"I don't have an answer to your question Caroline, I know I should, I'm not an idiot, I know my behavior is confusing you, hell it's confusing me" Brayden said, "But I can tell you one thing, I care about you Princess, more then I should".

"But you care about Kaitlynn more", Caroline really didn't want to sound like a jealous girlfriend, but she couldn't help it.

"I don't know" Brayden admitted, "I know there's something between us Caroline, but Kaitlynn is that tomb because of me, I can't just abandon her".

Caroline gave Brayden a small smile, "Thank you for being honest with me".

"Do you hate me?" Brayden asked worried.

"No" Caroline replied honestly, "I wanted to know what I feel for you wasn't one sided, and now I know, I can wait Brayden, I can wait till you have Kaitlynn out, just promise me something".

"What?" Brayden asked.

"When you have decided, about who you want to be with, Kaitlynn or me, tell me straight away" Caroline replied, "Please".

Brayden nodded, "I promise".

"Good" Caroline whispered.

***

After their talk on the dance floor, Brayden and Caroline made their way to Damon, and the three of them proceeded to walk upstairs so the twins could retrieve the crystal that will free Katherine and Kaitlynn from the tomb.

"So what do I do?" Caroline asked confused.

"Stand guard" Damon replied, "Tell us if anyone walks upstairs".

Caroline nodded, while Brayden grabbed a box and put it on the table, opening the box, Brayden retrieved the crystal from the secret compartment and handed it to Damon.

"Isn't that technically stealing?" Caroline asked, still keeping guard.

"It's not stealing if your just grabbing the thing that belongs to you, princess" Brayden replied, putting the box back in it's place.

"What do you mean?" Caroline asked confused.

"Before we left town, me and Brayden placed the crystal here, a long time ago" Damon replied, "Tonight, we are taking it back, thanks to you".

"That's going to free them?" Caroline asked.

"Yeap" Brayden said, grabbing Caroline's hand, "Come on, let's get out of here before someone sees us".

***

After helping Brayden and Damon, Caroline decided to use the restroom, she was fixing her earrings when Elena entered.

"Hey" Elena greeted.

"Hey" Caroline greeted, feeling a bit awkward, "So how are things with Stefan?".

"Great, just great" Elena replied, but it was obvious to Caroline that she was lying.

"Really?" Caroline asked, "Well, my radar must be off because I was getting all sorts of other vibes", Caroline leaned forward and started retouching her lipstick.

Elena frowned, and suddenly her eyes landed on a burnt bruise that was peeking through Caroline's scarf, "What is that?".

"What?" Caroline asked confused.

Elena removed Caroline's scarf and saw Caroline's bruise, "Oh my god Caroline, has Brayden been hurting you?".

"What?" Caroline asked shocked, "Have you lost your mind Elena? Brayden didn't hurt me".

"So did Damon?" Elena asked.

"No!" Caroline yelled, getting furious, "None of them hurt me, I burnt myself with my straighter, I hid it because I didn't want Brayden and Damon to find out".

"You're lying" Elena stated.

"I'm not lying" Caroline snapped.

"I can't believe this" Elena mumbled, refusing to listen to Caroline.

"Elena, wait!" Caroline yelled, running after Elena who had gone to confront the twins.

***

Elena stepped outside and started looking for Brayden, she finally found him with Damon, she walked over to him and shoved him.

"What the hell" Brayden snapped.

"There is something seriously wrong with you" Elena snapped, confusing both the twins, "You stay away from Caroline or I will go straight to her mother, the sheriff".

"What?" Brayden asked, not knowing what Elena was on about.

"Elena!" Caroline yelled, running over to the trio.

"Caroline, don't worry, he won't hurt you anymore, let's go" Elena said, grabbing Caroline's wrist.

"Elena, stop!" Caroline yelled, pulling her wrist away from the doppelganger, "I told you Brayden didn't hurt me, why won't you believe me?".

"That's a huge bruise on your neck Caroline" Elena said, confused with Caroline's behavior.

"I burnt myself Elena" Caroline snapped, "For the first time I have something good, don't ruin it for me, just stay away from my life!".

"Caroline--".

"You're hurt?" Brayden interrupted Elena.

"I--".

"Where?" Brayden asked.

Caroline sighed, she removed her scarf and showed Brayden the burnt mark, "I was straightening my hair, and I got distracted and I ended up burning myself, Elena thought you hurt me, I tried telling her you didn't, but she didn't believe me, I'm so sorry Brayden".

"Did you put anything on it?" Brayden asked.

"No" Caroline mumbled.

"Does it hurt?" Brayden asked.

"Brayden--".

"Does it hurt Caroline?" Brayden repeated.

"A little bit, but--".

"And you still wore a scarf over it?" Brayden snapped, "Dammit Caroline, come on, we need put something on that, it's a pretty bad burn".

"Brayden, I'm fine" Caroline said.

"Come on" Brayden said, grabbing Caroline's hand, "I'll take you home and put something on that".

Brayden left with Caroline, leaving behind a shocked Elena.

Elena turned to leave, when Damon grabbed her wrist.

"Don't ever, accuse my brother of something like that" Damon snapped.

"Damon I--".

"You don't know anything about him" Damon interrupted, "He will never hurt Caroline, just cause your jealous that you and Stefan can't be like them, doesn't mean you accuse him of anything".

Elena opened her mouth to defend herself, but Damon wanted to hear nothing, so he simply walked away.

***

"I found the antiseptic cream" Brayden said, entering Caroline's room.

"Brayden, I'm fine" Caroline said, but Brayden ignored her and forced her to sit on the bed, "Brayden--".

"Caroline, please be quiet and let me take care of your bruise" Brayden said, putting a small amount of cream on his finger, "This might sting a bit".

As soon as the cream touched her wound, Caroline hissed in pain and grabbed Brayden's free hand, Brayden slowly started blowing on it while applying the cream, causing shivers to go down Caroline's spine.

"Are you cold?" Brayden asked, seeing Caroline shiver.

"No" Caroline replied, a bit embarrassed.

"I think the scarf you wore caused irritation around the wound" Brayden said.

"It's not that bad Brayden, I'm fine" Caroline insisted.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Brayden asked.

"There wasn't much you could have done about it" Caroline replied.

"I would have stopped you from putting a scarf around it" Brayden snapped.

"You're mad" Caroline realised.

"Of course I'm mad Caroline, I tell you everything, and I thought you told me everything" Brayden said, "How could you not tell me you were hurt?".

"I didn't think it matter" Caroline mumbled.

"Of course it matters Caroline" Brayden snapped.

"I'm sorry" Caroline whispered.

Brayden sighed, "I need to go find Damon".

Brayden stood up but Caroline held his hand, "Please don't go".

"I have to Caroline, I'll see you tomorrow" Brayden said, walking away.

"I'm not used to people caring about me" Caroline whispered, making Brayden stop midway, "I didn't tell you because I didn't think you cared".

Brayden turned to face Caroline, "That's were your wrong Caroline, I told you I care, I care immensely".

After stating his point, Brayden walked out of Caroline's room, leaving behind a slightly overwhelmed Caroline.

***

Brayden entered his room, he walked straight over to the bourbon in his room, he was frustrated after the events of tonight, he quickly made himself a drink and downed it, in his anger and frustration Brayden didn't smell the vervain in his drink, by the time he realised it was too late, as he fell on the floor in a coughing fit.

Without wasting anytime, Stefan speeded into Brayden's room, and before he could recover, snapped Brayden's neck.

Stefan had seen the interaction between Caroline, Elena and Brayden, and he knew his brother was angry and frustrated, he also knew when Brayden was angry or frustrated he became blind to the world around him, only focusing on his rage, so spiking his drink became easier.

***

Bonnie walked in the backyard of the Lockwood's property, she wanted to get away from the party after she manged to light all the candles on the dinning room, with just looking at them.

As she was walking, Bonnie suddenly stepped on something, looking down, she realised it was a crystal, the same crystal that Damon and Brayden had retrieved, the crystal that fell out of Damon's pocket when Stefan jumped him when he was busy feeding.

Bonnie picked the crystal in her hand, and without thinking much of it, put it in her purse.

***

Presenting 1x04 of The Vampire Diaries . . .

How was the chapter?

Thoughts on Brayden hating on twilight?

Thoughts on Brayden and Caroline's talk on the dance floor?

Thoughts on Elena accusing Brayden of hurting Caroline?

Thoughts on Stefan trapping both Damon and Brayden?