"I have been your spy just like we agreed on," Gwen quickly reminds Elijah.

Voice giving away to her nervousness at his intense gaze. In a blink of an eye, Elijah's hand is around her throat. Gwen's pulse and heart immediately skyrockets into over time. Fear flooding her blue eyes that widen.

Without looking behind him Elijah addresses Trent, "Try anything and I'll snap both your necks," Trent goes still knowing the threat could be carried out faster then he can move. Elijah turns his attention back to Gwen, " You miss Jordan tried to play the middle game. Giving me just enough information to honor our deal, but not everything."

"I tell you what I know."

"Hard to believe when the same night you warn me Damon is up to something I end up with a dagger in my heart."

Gwen's brain scrambles for the right words to cool his anger, "He didn't tell me their plan, just that they had one, I swear."

"Did you even know they found a dagger that could stop me and don't lie."

"I was clueless," In fact as Gwen thinks about the past few days. No one even mentioned a dagger or what made it special. Only sharing not to remove it after the deed was done, "I swear."

"Considering Elena removed the dagger thanks to you. I'm going to give you another chance, but this time," Elijah moves his face closer to Gwen, "You will find out every exact detail of what the Salvatore brothers are up to, or else you will join your family permanently."

Without giving Gwen time to reply Elijah speeds out of the room. Leaving it's two occupants to recover from shock. Trent recovering first rushes to Gwen checking her neck for bruises. I should have known you can't trick a thousand-year-old or more vampire.

Returning to the present Gwen informs Trent, "I got to go."

"Okay, I'll be doing absolutely nothing if you need me," Trent responds.

Gwen leaves, driving back to the boarding house. Somewhat still stuck in a daze over Elijah's heavy threat. Not able to break it until she stands in her temporary room. A room that was starting to feel like home. Elena, her friends, Stefan and Damon were all pulling Gwen further away from why she came back. Filling apart of the hole she carried around for so long. Letting herself get lost in what it felt like to have people care.

Quickly Gwen pulls her duffle bag out of the closet. Digging into its side pocket until her hands latch around her mother's bronze key necklace. Sliding to the floor Gwen stars at the key. Sure Gwen's mother could be strick, but her eyes always shined with love.

Never once did Gwen feel her mother was hiding anything. Maybe she wasn't, maybe mother had nothing to do with anything supernatural related, maybe she was as clues as I was. Yet deep down Gwen got the gut feeling her mother knew something.

With a sigh Gwen brings the key close to her heart, squeezing it tightly. For a moment finding comfort in the small object. She can almost feel her mother holding her.

Until Damon's voice interrupts Gwen's moment, "Hey, you okay?"

Sighing Gwen stands, "Yeah."

Damon's eyes land on the key in her hands, "What is that?"

"Nothing," Gwen quickly shoves it into her duffle bag pocket.

Damon lets it go, after all, he came for a different reason, "Gwen, about last night."

"No," Gwen cuts him off not ready to face anything concerning him, "I don't want to talk about it."

"So, you are going to ignore last night instead."

"That's not what I said."

"But it was what you are doing."

Gwen releases a heavy breath before storming to the dresser, grabbing clothes. Throwing them into her duf4bag without a care for neatness. Damon watches torn between wanting to hold her close or force her to listen.

Knowing they are already on rocky terrain, Damon settles for a question, "Are you leaving?"

Gwen pauses, keeping her eyes forward, "I just need some space,' a small chuckle escapes her, "I told you I don't love you, isn't that enough reason to give up?"

"Sure, if I believed you," Her eyes snap to his searching for doubt, but Damon keeps it hidden, "I don't believe that spark, feeling whole and beyond happy was just all me. You held on to me just as much as I did to you, like a lifeline."

Damon's words are almost worse than a kiss. Tempting Gwen with promises of love she always longed for, promises of acceptance instead of denial. Making her heart leap for joy over and over again. Gwen stares into his eyes. Into unrestrained love swimming in them like she has never seen. Making her catch her breath for a moment. Yet Gwen still couldn't shake her free it will all disappear.

Once Klaus is gone, our lives not in danger anymore. Will he still feel the same?

Gwen closes her duffle bag throwing it over her arms, "I'm going to spend a few nights at Elena's."

If she agrees otherwise it's a hotel room of my own.

Gwen pushes past Damon's eyes straight ahead. Grabbing her purse off the dresser holding it. Having heard their voices Stefan enters the room, planning to get his brother away from Gwen. In the same moment, Damon's hand latches onto Gwen's arm. Quickly spinning her around to face him. Gwen's purse slips from her loose grip, falling to the ground, spilling its contents everywhere.

Including pictures from the brown envelope that was left on her car. Heart beating faster and guilt blooming in it. Gwen watches Stefan bend down, picking up a picture. Damon's hand lets go as his eyes take in the pictures around them. Some revealing familiar faces. Others flipped to reveal the Karayan symbol.

Gwen can feel the storm circling around d her. Brushing her skin ready to blow her over. Stefan's eyes meet Gwen's. A storm of disappointment, anger and hurt swirl around in his forest green eyes. He steps closer allowing her to see the picture in his hand, a picture of Elena.

"How long?" Stefan's voice brings Gwen's eyes back to his. Guilt immediately stealing her voice like a cold thief. He repeats the question, expanding it, "How long have you had theses?"

"The same day Elijah was dragged and locked down in your basement."

"Do you know what this is?"

"A threat."

"To all of us," For the first time,  Stefan holds a hint of anger in his tone towards her "And you kept it to yourself for five days. Were you even going to tell us?"

"Yes, but then Klaus showed up, shit is going down hill and no one else has tried killing me. I forgot about the pictures," Gwen admits on the edge of breaking down, "Besides I'm not the only one keeping secrets around here. Like the plan on taking Elijah down or if Elena is related to Katherine and how."

Stefan doesn't bite into changing topic, "What about giving the crystal up, finding another way."

"I have spent years looking and the crystal is it."

"Then move on, accept they are gone and let go."

"No."

Stefan lets the picture fall from his hands, "Never took you for a selfish person. Guess I was wrong."

His words push her over the edge. Eyes leaking as he walks away leaving the room. For the first time, she has disappointed Stefan. The Gwen who cared for others first isn't the one who walked back into his life. For the first time, he questions if she can still see reason, or stuck obsessing over getting her family back. Gwen can't fight off the waves of guilt crashing into her. Breaking down any armor she had left inside.

Like a broken dam, tears flow down her cheek unchecked. Everything from Damon to helping Elijah becoming too much. Damon grabs her hand squeezing it gently. The simple comforting gesture gets Gwen's attention. Unable to control the tears Gwen looks at him.

"Go to Elena's," Damon's tone is gentle.

Yet the weight on her shoulders lifts just a little. Maybe it the genuine pure sympathy mixed with love in his eyes. That lets Gwen know she isn't Completely alone, that Damon will be there for her. Squeezing Damon's hand back she dries her tears. Leaving and hoping to find a chance to calm down, find clarity amongst the confusion. Alone Damon collects the forgotten pictures. Wishing he could haunt down every person threating Gwen.

It doesn't take long to arrive at Elena's house. A cute white two story house with a wrap around porch. Walking up the steps Gwen spots a wicker bench to the left, in front of a window. Taking a breath Gwen knocks twice on their brown door, Jeremy answers.

Gwen quickly asks "Is Elena here?"

"Yeah," Jeremy turns away, shouting for his sister "Elena! Gwen is here!"

Jeremy leaves as Elena joins Gwen on the porch wearing a friendly smile, asking "What's going on?"

"The boys are being overbearing, can I stay a night or two here?"

"Sure you can stay with me. Don't think my Aunt will mind."

"Thanks"

Elena smile widens, "You know what we need, a girls night with friends."

"But I don't know any girls who are friends."

"Of course you do aka Caroline, Bonnie and of course me," Both share a laugh that ends with Gwen smiling, Elena opens the door, "Come on."

Ushered inside to a small entryway she finds a cozy home. Living room to the left, a kitchen straight ahead and a staircase to her right. Jeremy sits on a blue couch playing a video game. A woman with medium blonder hair and hazel eyes walks out of the kitchen.

"Gwen this my aunt Jenna," Elena introduces them, "Can she stay a few nights with us?"

"Sure assuming her parents are okay with it."

"Totally got the go ahead already."

Jenna beams, "Great, welcome to our home. It's always nice to meet Elena's new friends."

Gwen can't help but smile again at Jenna 's enthusiastic personality. After getting another okay Elena calls Bonnie and Caroline. While Gwen takes her bag up to Elena's room. A decent sized space with the usual furniture plus a vanity and white bedding. Jenna orders pizza just as Bonnie and Caroline arrive. Gwen gets lost in being surrounded by friends. Sharing dreams of futures, embarrassing moments and favorite celebrity crushes. Even Jeremy joins in a few times. While Jenna proves to be a blast.

And when everyone goes to bed, the girls managing to squeeze in Elena's bed. Gwen doesn't fill so empty inside despite the day's events. Instead, she feels comfort, love and a sense that's things will be alright fill her heart.

A feeling that would evaporate if she had looked outside. To where a tall copper-skinned woman stands under a street light. A tight brown perm on her head, brown eyes watching Elena's house, phone pressed to an ear. If one was to lift her shirt they would find a dark tattoo under her belly button, the Karayan symbol.

Happy Friday everyone, hope it's a good one. Would love to hear what you thought about this chapter.