As the sun raises Gwen races down the stairs only to stop inches from the door by Damon "And where are you going?"

She answers honestly "Back to my family's farm."

"Why?"

"The journals tracking spell led to the farm but past the fence," Gwen shrugs "wanted to check it out."

"Let's go then."

"Sorry I think you misheard, there is no us." She points to Damon then herself "just me."

"sure go waltzing right back where another attacker could be waiting," Damon walks closer placing his hands on Gwen's shoulders "Just think of me as backup." his eyes squint "Please Gwen, you will save me from boredom."

With a roll of her eyes Gwen caves "Fine."

They arrive at her old home in comfortable silence. Both enjoying the warm air as we while stepping past the broken backyard fence. Past lush trees, plants and wildlife.

"Well this is disappointing," Damon commits sarcastically.

Gwen smiles "You're face probably scared all the evil monsters away."

"Here is a idea, you do some witch stuff near a pot while dancing around it naked," Damon winks.

"No thanks," Gwen slaps his arm "Pervert," A gust of wind ruffles her hair "Though you are free to let everything hang out. Bet it would stop anyone from attacking," No response, Gwen turns to the side finding no one "Damon," Her eyes look around frantically "Damon! Where are you " Gwen halts "This isn't funny! Dam-"

"Boo," Damon whispers in her ear.

Gwen jumps in surprise and turns around to find a cocky smile on his face.

"Jerk," Matching it with her own cocky smile. Hand smacking onto his chest. Sending a wave of power at him, Damon falls on his ass "Remember Pay back is.."

In a blink of an eye Damon sweeps his leg under Gwen's. Knocking her to the ground.

Damon grins above her, taunting "What was that?"

Ignoring the question gets Gwen up. His grin sparks her reckless side. Gwen presses her body into his. Damon's grin falls. As Gwen touches her nose to the tip of his, biting my lower lip. Watching Damon's expression turn to confusion. While his own heart beats a little faster.

Gwen leans in, her breath creasing his ear "Catch me."

Gwen turns quickly taking off. Swept back to the past when Damon and her would get lost in silly games. Always trying to out do each other and forget the world. Her laughter is loud and unrestrained for all to hear.

Damon stands there watching Gwen disappear into the woods. A little shocked by her boldness. Her laughter calls to him like a undeniable enchantress. Chuckling Damon takes off after the blonde.

Damon pops out from a tree wrapping a arm around her waist "Gotcha"

Gently pushing her back against the tree. While using the other hand to lean on the tree. It's the look of affection in those ice blue eyes.

That makes Gwen catch her breath but not from excitement. Something she can't place claws at her heart. While a memory of him leaning in close face inches from Gwen's.

Pulse racing as he runs a thumb across her cheek. only for him to wish Gwen goodnight. Plays across her mind. Leaving Gwen realizing Damon's rejection is still a deep scar.
Uncomfortable Gwen pushes off the tree putting distance between them.

"Guess we better head back since this was a bust."

Her heel hits a rock sending Gwen backwards through vines. Damon, thanks to vampire speed, catches Gwen. Before her head can hit the ground.

"Thanks," Gwen whispers as he lets her up.

"Any time," He replies.

Their eyes sweep over what appears to be a small hidden cave. Walking further in Gwen's finger tips grazing the cold stone. Stopping when hitting a bump. Gwen turns her head sideways. Finding two rows of six square slabs.

Damon voices what Gwen is thinking "It's a tomb."

"But who's?" She asks, trying in vain to read the badly damaged names.

"Your ancestors," Damon answers "Judging from what names I can read. Do you think this is why your mother didn't allow anyone in these woods?"

"Perhaps," A sudden idea strikes Gwen "Maybe there is something in the journal....if this is more then some old tomb."

Wasting no time they leave. Back at the boarding house Damon retreats to another room. Gwen buries her face in the family's journal.

It's words belong to guardian after guardian of the crystal. Most talk about the burden of being a guardian. Where they kept it and how often it had to be moved.

A few mentioning a war breaking out for the crystal. Causing the Necromancers to be almost wiped out until her ancestors hid it, putting a stop to the war.

After the filth page. Gwen notices what appears to be evidence of torn out pages. With a sigh, she sets it down as her phone beeps.

Elena: can we talk? In person

Gwen: sure, I'll come now. Where are you

Elena: Lockwood residents

Gwen puts the journal away in her dresser. Then heads for the front door.

Opening it to find a lean teenage boy with dark hair and eyes. Before Gwen can ask what he wants. Damon appears by her side.

"Jeremy, what do you want?" Damon asks.

"I need to talk to you."

Gwen steps back as Damon places a hand on the door "And why do I need to talk to you?"

"Tyler Lockwood has to kill someone to activate his curse. He's not a werewolf yet."

"Wow, fascinating. Not enough."

Damon attempts to close the door, but Jeremy pushes back.

Gwen voices her opinion "Clearly the kid wants to help Damon. So why not let him?"

He turns to her "Because Elena wants to keep her little brother out of this stuff."

"Wait that's Elena's brother."

"Yup." Damon confirms.

Gwen silently criticizes herself for not connecting it sooner, there could be other Jeremy's in town. She reason mostly to make herself feel better.

Jeremy's voice catches their attention "And I know Mason Lockwood is a werewolf and he's looking for a moonstone, a special rock connected to the werewolf legend. That's why he's here."

Gwen steps forward "why a moonstone?"

Jeremy shrugs "But I know where it is."

Pushing Damon's hand down Gwen steps outside "Well you boys have fun I got my own things to do."

without waiting for a reply she heads over to the Lockwood's home. A large red brick colonel home with white pillars on large property. Gwen finds Elena on a bench in the backyard. A girl about the same age with black hair and dark skin walks away from Elena.

"Who was that?" Gwen asks Elena, sitting down next to her.

"My friend Bonnie." Gwen nods "Thanks for coming."

"No problem what did you want to talk about?"

"Okay," Elena appears nervous but something else lingers in her brown eyes "Gwen is there a chance you could bring my parents back?" Its hope in her eyes.

"Possibly but I won't," Gwen ignores the stab of guilt "Not to be cruel but to bring them back could mean giving up getting my family back."

"I was afraid so," she offers a small smile "one time deal huh."

"Not exactly. You got factors to consider. Like how much power you possess and how long someone has been dead. Similar to curses it requires putting our own energy in it. I don't know if I have enough power for your parents and mine," Gwen squeezes Elena's hand "I'm sorry."

"It's okay I would never ask you to give up the chance to have your family back," Their smiles match each other in genuine appreciation "Come on you get to help now."

Elena leads Gwen to a table inside with boxes full of masks, they start sorting. Enjoying small talk until Damon Salvatore interrupts.

"Ladies," he greets.

"Damon, what are you doing here?" Elena asks.

"Looking for my baby bro. Speaking of, would you tell yours to stop following me around?"

"What's going on?"

Damon smirks "Ask eager beaver."

He walks off as Jeremy walks in. Sensing a possible fight coming on between the Gilbert siblings. Gwen joins Damon and Stefan. Approaching in the middle of the brothers conversation.

"We missed it. He got into town right after she did. It makes perfect sense," Stefan states.

Confused Gwen asks "Missed what?"

It's Stefan who answers "Mason Lockwood is with Katherine."

Damon stops Gwen's reply "Katherine has to be using him. She has to be."

"But why?"

"Mason Lockwood's looking for a moonstone that allegedly can break the full moon werewolf curse. Maybe Katherine wants it as well"

"But what would Katherine want with a moonstone that breaks a werewolf curse?" I ask.

Damon shrugs "Well...no idea. That's the beauty of Katherine; she's always up to something."

Gwen squints at him "I'm assuming you already have a plan."

"Jeremy is getting it from Tyler."

Stefan immediately looks displeased "Why would you involve Jeremy?" Stefan walks past Damon slapping him on the arm.

"He's playing Indiana Jones. He involved himself."

Stefan looks back at him and shakes his head, Damon scoffs. The boys and Gwen stand on the patio. Watching Jeremy talking to Tyler. Gwen patently waits as Damon and Stefan listen.

Tyler Lockwood looks like a miniature Mason. He is a muscular boy with very short black hair and brown skin. Gwen turns to the boys as Tyler walks away.

"Well?" She asks.

Stefan answers "Mason has the moonstone."

"So what now?"

This time it's Damon "We do things my way."

Glancing at Stefan's uncertain face. Gwen quickly follows Damon asking "which is?"

"Simple tie wolf boy up and hurt him until he talks."

"Hold up, there has to be a simpler way."

"Bonnie," both look at Stefan "She touched Mason and saw him with Katherine. Maybe Bonnie can see what he did with the moonstone."

"Worth a shot," Gwen agrees.

It doesn't take long to track Bonnie down. Warmth hits Gwen's skin in waves. With no warning besides "we need to talk," Damon snatches drags Bonnie outside. Stefan and Gwen following behind.

Outside Bonnie rips her arm free "Okay. This is as far as I go. What do you want?"

Damon replies "A favor."

"Like that's gonna happen."

Gwen steps in "Hi I'm Gwen a friend of-"

Bonnie cuts her off "I know who you are, Elena told me."

"Great listen Mason we believe is working with Katherine which means bad news for everyone."

"Why should I trust a witch who helps a vampire like Damon?"

"Okay, one I'm a Necromancer, different deal then being a witch. Two Katherine and anything attached to her most likely puts Elena in danger."

Stefan takes over "I know how you feel about helping us out, but since you're the one that linked Mason with Katherine, we finally have an opportunity to get an upper hand on both of them so, just hear us out."

"I'm listening."

Stefan's phone rings "Hold on I got to fill Elena in, Gwen keep my brother in check."

Gwen nods as he walks away.

Damon tries to reason with Bonnie "All you have to do is touch Mason Lockwood again to see if he gave Katherine the moonstone."

"My visions don't work like that. I don't get to ask questions."

Damon sighs "How inconvenient."

"Bonnie please," Gwen steps closer "All we are asking is for you to try, maybe you will get lucky."

Stefan joins again as Bonnie nods her consent. Gwen waits by a van full of things for the masquerade ball. Minutes pass until her eyes spot Mason.

Heading to a slick black Jeep nearby, quickly she speeds walks to him. Mason gives her a friendly smile. About to speak when her hand latches onto his wrist.

Mason immediately drops, eyes wide, hand clutching chest. Where red jagged lines slowly spreads across his chest. Damon walks past Gwen and knees Mason in the face.

Gwen releases his wrist stopping her curse. Mason falls to the ground, unconscious. Bonnie comes to Gwen's side as Stefan kneels next to Mason. Pulling keys out of Mason's pocket throwing them to Damon.

With a whistle Damon singles for them to get in. Stefan loads Mason in the trunk. Gwen sends Bonnie a encouraging smile "Good luck."

"You're not coming?"

"I think you two got it handled."

Bonnie gets in the passenger side. While Gwen retreats inside with Stefan and split up. Wondering around and helping anywhere needed. Until Stefan shows up tugging her away by the elbow.

Whispering "Bonnie just texted. It's in a well on old Lockwood property. Stay behind me."

Stefan places a flashlight in her hand.They walk in silence through a large wooded area. Until finding a well made of grey rocks and covered.Stefan easily tosses the cover aside. Gwen hands him the flashlight. Stefan shines it in the well, revealing a long drop down to murky water.

Gwen volunteers "I'll go."

"No," Stefan shoots it down 'Safer for me to do it."

"Says who, I mean there could be a trap."

Elena's voice stops further argument "What's going on?"

"We believe the moonstone is down there well Bonnie does," Gwen informs her while Stefan jumps onto the edge of the well.

Elena speaks softly "Hey. Be careful," With a nod he jumps into the well "Stefan is the carefully one right?"

Gwen's reassuring words are cut off by Stefan's shouting. Without though she jumps in immediately. Landing on her right ankle the wrong way, twisting it. Ignoring the pain flaring up. Gwen focuses on the reason she jumped down. Finding Stefan floating on his back. Her eyes take in the vapor rising off his deteriorating skin, her heart drops.

"Stefan talk to me." She pleads, getting closer.

He manages one word "Vervain," his eyelids shut.

"Gwen! Is Stefan okay?" Elena's voice echoes off the stone.

Gwen wraps her arms under his armpits. Shouting back "It's filled with Vervain." his breathing slows "We need to get him out, Fast!"

"Okay, Caroline and Bonnie are here. We Found a chain, watch out."

Gwen moves her and Stefan to the side. Whispering while touching his face "You're going to be okay."

The chain drops with a large splash. Hands steady Gwen quickly ties it around Stefan. Once done she yells back at Elena "Pull!"

Water drips from his body as they raise him up. Moonstone, the thought is sudden. Frantically Gwen searches running her hands along stone. Then dives beneath the water. Blindly reaching out until she needs air. The chain missing Gwen by an inch as she resurfaces

"Gwen grab the chain," Caroline demands "I'll pull you up."

"Hold up got to get the moonstone,"

Taking a deep breath Gwen dives again. This time her hands find something solid. She pulls it to her chest, resurfacing again. Eyes falling on the small wooden box in her arms, ropes tying it shut. Gwen drops it in surprise and shouting as a snake a snake lunges. Gwen jumps back its fangs catching her necklace, ripping it off.

"Are you okay?" This time its Bonnie's voice Gwen hears.

Thoroughly freaked out Gwen snatches the wooden box. Wraps the chain around her.

Shouting "Get me out!" She is relieved to see light and faces of people Gwen barely knows "Thank you."

Bonnie helps her out. Gwen hand the box over to Caroline.

Dropping next to Elena who has her wrist to Stefan's mouth, feeding him "Stefan, it's gonna be okay, everything's gonna be okay."

Gwen informs them both "I got the stone."

After a few minutes Stefan recovers and embraces Elena. Caroline hands Gwen back the box. Ropes now gone she opens it.

A translucent, milky-colored, flat oval gemstone lays on a black cushion. Gwen picks it up. Heat pulsing off the stone resting in her hand. Spreading across her skin.

"It's enchanted," Gwen announces.

"How do you know?" Bonnie asks.

"Items containing magic give off heat," Gwen places it back on the cushion, shutting the box "You just have to learn how to become sensitive enough to feel it."

Stefan takes it "Let's go show Damon," he helps her stand "Are you hurt?"

Gwen nods and leans on him. No longer able to ignore her throbbing ankle now. Stefan lifts Gwen bridal style. Using Vampire speed to return to the boarding house. They find Damon rolling Mason's body up in a carpet.

"Any luck?" He asks, blue eyes taking in their wet clothes and Gwen in his brothers arms "What happened?"

"Hurt my ankle saving him," Gwen answers while Stefan sets her on the couch "Thought the plan was to hurt not kill."

"He is more helpful dead," Stefan tosses Damon the stone before switching his attention to Gwen's ankle "So much trouble for a small stone," Damon comments studying the stone.

"You're lucky I think its sprained," Gwen releases a sarcastic chuckle at Stefan's words "Stay put I'll get some bandages and Ice."

Gwen only gets to relax for a moment. Damon speeds to her, shoving his bleeding wrist over her lips. Stefan returns shouting at his brother. Gwen gags on the warm liquid. Scowling when Damon removes his wrist.

"How about next time ask," Gwen growls at him.

"Just helping because that is what friends do."

Gwen stands, ankle healed "Friends also respect boundaries, I'm going to take a shower."

Maybe trying to be friends again was a bad idea. Hot water and soap take Gwen from feeling dirty to clean. Her sense of raw vulnerability comes from her missing necklace. Gwen's armor against hauntings and compulsion. I will have to get it back when things settle down.

After getting out and dressed in fresh clothes she heads downstairs. Elena storms out of the library. Peeking inside Gwen finds Stefan rooted to the spot, crying. Immediately she trails after Elena.

"Wait," Elena whips around revealing her own tears "What happened?"

"My aunt is in the hospital from stabbing her own stomach. Katherine compelled her to because Stefan and I. Refused to stop seeing each other," Elena's voice is shaking "I have to let Stefan go."

She takes off again, Gwen following behind.

"Elena," Gwen calls her name forcefully. Elena hand freezes on the doorknob "You can't just give up on someone you love. Especially someone who treats you well and is willing to fight for you."

"It's my fault," Damon's voice catches their attentions "I riled Katherine up. I - I wasn't thinking. I didn't think."

Elena turns the knob "It doesn't matter, Katherine won."

Pity swells in Gwen's heart as Elena walks out the door and away from Stefan. Needing a break from all the drama. She turns to Damon "How about getting a drink?"

Damon nodes grabbing his black leather jacket off a chair "I know a place., but I'm driving."

He takes them to the Mystic Grill, a warm inviting bar and restaurant. Gwen orders a daiquiri while he settles on a Scotch.

"Can I give you some advice," She takes his silence as a yes "Might want to start consulting others before killing someone."

Damon scoffs "Wolf boy was helping Katherine our enemy," he takes a drink "It had to be done. Let me guess if you had to call the shot we would stick Mason in our basement for about a month then weighed down by guilt let him go."

"Once when I believed evil could always be defeated before I realized sometimes you just can't win," Gwen takes a small sip "No, maybe you are right and it had to be done. At least now we only have Katherine to worry about."

Damon switches topics "Where is your necklace?"

"Oh when I was in the well a snake tried attacking me, it took my necklace instead."

"It was really idiotic of you to jump in that well."

Gwen scoffs at his words "Yeah and let your brother, my friend die."

"You could have let someone else jump in"

"Please we all know I'm the expendable one."

Damon blurts out his first thought "You're not expendable, not to me."
Confused Gwen tries to read his eyes, but fails.

She restores to a silly question "Are you drunk?"

Damon starts laughing earning a punch his arm from Gwen "Where did your sense of humor go?"

"Really, me asking if you are drunk is funny."

He takes a drink "yup."

"Your crazy," in a second Gwen releases her own laugh. Damon just sits there watching "What?"

"I missed your laugh."

Again Gwen is caught off guard by his words. A familiar voice interrupts calls out to her.

"Gwen, Gwen Jordan," She spins around to find her tall friend. Light blonde hair a stylized mess. Brown eyes filled with warmth "Miss me?" He holds out his tan arms.

"Trent!" Gwen jumps up engulfing Trent in a hug. His chin resting on the top of her head "When did you get in town?" She asks as they part.

"Last night, been trying to catch you."

Damon appears by her side "Hi I'm Gwen's friend. Who are you?"

"Excuse him, Damon lacks manors," Gwen winks "Anyway Damon this is my friend and fellow wiccan, Trent Williams. Relative to my second teacher George."

Damon looks confused "Wait, you had a second teacher?"

"More like a friend who helped out, protected me and answered anything I didn't already know," Gwen explains.

"Gwen," Her attention goes back to Trent "George is dead."