Elowen woke up to Stefan drawing shapes on her shoulder. She smiled and rolled over in his bed to face him.

"Good morning," she said, her voice thick with sleep.

"Good morning," Stefan said back. Elowen leaned over and gave Stefan a quick peck, then sat up. Stefan grabbed her arm and pulled her back down onto the bed to kiss her properly. She smiled again and placed her hand on Stefan's bare chest to push him away.

"I need to get up, Stefan."

"Says who?"

"Says me."

Stefan huffed, but allowed Elowen to get out of bed and started dressing in her clothes from the night before. She'd just pulled her jeans on when Damon entered the bedroom.

"So, Ric's under the impression that Rebekah got the stake-" Damon stopped dead in the room at the sight of Elowen. His eyes flickered from her to Stefan, who was resting his weight on his elbow, then back to Elowen. He was quiet for a long moment.

"... Wen?" Damon asked softly. "Is that you? Are you back?"

Elowen nodded. "Yeah, it's me."

In a flash, Damon was in front of her. His eyes searched hers before he pulled her into a hug.

"God, you don't even know how much I missed you," he whispered into her neck. He pulled back. "When did you get back?"

"Late last night," Elowen replied. "Only Stefan was home."

Damon looked over at Stefan, who had pulled on his boxers and jeans as Damon and Elowen spoke. He walked over to his closet to grab a fresh shirt, as the one from last night was down in the living room.

"I see that. Why wasn't I invited to the party?"

Elowen shrugged. "You weren't home. That's not my fault. What were we supposed to do? Call you and wait for you to get here before we had sex?"

Damon pouted. "Oh, come on, Wen! It's been what? A year? And we still haven't gotten the chance to have that hot, steamy threesome I've been talking about."

"Sharing me platonically and romantically is one thing, but sexually? I don't think you have it in you, Damon."

"Oh, of course I do! It's not like I've never had a threesome before."

"Yeah, but a threesome with your brother and a girl you're both in love with?"

"Okay, okay, fine. There's some kinks we need to work out, but I still think we can pull it off. Stef?"

Stefan threw his hands up and shook his head. "I'm not getting into this."

"This threesome includes you, y'know."

"Oh, I'm well aware, but I also agreed that Elowen calls the shots. Whatever she says, goes, brother."

Damon grumbled as Elowen beamed. She patted Damon's shoulder.

"Don't worry. It's not completely off the table. Now, what were you saying about my dad a few minutes ago?"

"Quick rundown: we had multiple weapons to kill Klaus, Alaric's evil alter ego hid the last one and we had to beat it out of him. Rebekah went with him to the hiding spot to get it back, but Ric said he woke up alone this morning and that there was no sign of it, so we're under the impression that Rebekah got it and that it's gone. He also said that he thinks he needs to get out of town for a couple of days."

Elowen shook her head. "That's the worst possible thing he could do right now. Do you know what my mom said about all this?"

"He's not even gonna tell her. He's just gonna pack his things, leave a note and then hightail it out of Mystic Falls."

Elowen sighed. "Well, I guess we just have to let him do what he thinks he needs to do. Maybe this'll be good for him."

"You mean you're okay with your evil dad being let loose on the world?"

Elowen shrugged. "I'm trying to be optimistic." She looked around the room. "Where's my bra?"

Damon smirked. "I don't know, I'm kind of enjoying the view."

Elowen rolled her eyes as Stefan walked over to the edge of the bed and picked up both her shirt and her bra.

"Here." He handed them over and Elowen took them.

"Thank you." She leaned up and kissed him. "I knew you were my favorite for a reason."

"Oh, come on!" Damon looked down at Elowen in disbelief. "We're playing this game now?"

"Oh, don't act jealous. You know I love you." Elowen got on her tiptoes and kissed the corner of Damon's mouth. "Now, if you'll excuse me."

Elowen started leaving the room as she clasped her bra and threw her shirt on. Stefan and Damon watched her leave.

"Remind me again why we fell in love with her?" Damon asked after she was gone.

"Because she was a challenge," Stefan replied. "And a hothead with an attitude. It was sexy."

"That's one thing we can agree on, brother." Damon glanced at Stefan. "Welcome back."

Stefan rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Get out of my room, Damon."

"Whatever you say, boss."

Damon left the room, leaving Stefan by himself.

xxxx

Veronica and Adriana entered The Grill. Sofia and Angel opted for eating the breakfast at the B&B they were staying at, but the younger of the two siblings wanted something else, so they walked over. They took a seat at one of the booths and waited for a waiter to come to them. Veronica spotted Jeremy bussing tables across The Grill and she smirked.

"Yummy," she said to herself, but Adriana heard. She looked over and felt herself start to blush at just the sight of Jeremy. Veronica groaned and rolled her eyes.

"God, Adri, can you be anymore obvious? You're like a puppy."

Adriana sank down in her seat and stayed quiet. Veronica stood up and confidently walked over to Jeremy.

"Hey," she greeted when she reached him. She took a seat on the edge of the table he was cleaning to prevent him from doing his job. "I'm Veronica, and you are?"

Jeremy smiled politely and started working around Veronica. "A guy just trying to do his job."

"Oh, come on, I'm not gonna bite. When's your break? A little conversation never hurt anybody."

Jeremy sighed. "Look, you're pretty and everything, but I just got out of something. Sorry."

Veronica's flirty expression dropped into a sour one and she got off of the table. "Whatever."

As Veronica walked back towards her table, Adriana stood up and switched places with her sister.

"I'm sorry about her," Adriana said as she approached Jeremy. "She's sort of used to getting what she wants."

Jeremy laughed a little. "It's okay. Getting hit on can be a compliment when it's done right."

"And was it done right?"

Jeremy glanced over at Veronica and found her eyeing him and Adriana intensely. He shrugged. "It could've been smoother, but her attempt wasn't too bad."

"I guess she's a tough act to follow then, isn't she?"

Jeremy looked from the table he was working on to Adriana. A smile creeped onto his face. "Are you trying to flirt with me?"

Adriana's face immediately turned red. "U-uh… um… I don't know. Am I?"

Whoever this girl was, Jeremy decided that she was endearing. Certainly very different from the blonde who had tried and failed to ask Jeremy out on a date. He assumed they were sisters, judging from the similar features they shared. The smile stayed on Jeremy's face as he stuck a hand out for Adriana to shake.

"I'm Jeremy."

Adriana took Jeremy's hand. "Adriana, but you can call me Adri."

"Adri. I don't think I've ever seen you around before."

"Oh, that's because I don't live here. My family is just passing through."

"Well, uh, look. There's this dance that's happening at the high school tonight. Do you maybe want to go with me?"

Adriana didn't give an immediate answer. She wasn't used to being asked out. That was usually reserved for Veronica. Hell, Adri didn't even think she was pretty enough compared to her sister, especially for someone as cute as Jeremy.

"Um… you know what? Sure," Adriana answered. "I'd love to."

"Great! So, it's a decades dance and the theme is the 20s. I'll meet you there?"

Adriana smiled and nodded. "Yeah, totally."

"It's a date."

Adriana's heart just about jumped out of her chest at Jeremy labeling this as a date. She recovered quickly and pointed behind her at her table.

"I should get going. I'll see you tonight."

"Yeah. Tonight."

Adriana turned around with a wide, goofy grin on her face. She slid back into the booth, completely ignoring Veronica's scrutinizing look.

"What's got you so happy?" She asked.

Adriana looked up. "I have a date tonight. Do you think any of the shops around here will have flapper dresses?"

Veronica didn't answer, instead turning to glare at Jeremy, who had his back turned.

Of course he chose his sister over her. Adriana, completely unaware, picked up her menu.

"Okay, what should I get?"

xxxx

At the school, Caroline, Elena and Elowen were all helping prepare for the decade dance. Caroline had a clipboard in her hands, having taken over being in charge since Rebekah wasn't there.

"So, Alaric is trying to pull himself together," Caroline was saying. "Why is that a bad thing?"

Elowen shrugged. "I just… I don't know. I wish there was something I could do."

"By the way, did I say how good it is to have you back?"

"Maybe once or twice."

Elena picked up a chandelier from the table. "Where do you want me to hang this thing?"

"You know what, if Rebekah wanted to hang this monstrosity, she should have shown up to do it herself." Caroline took the chandelier from Elena and handed it off to a student that was passing by. "Just no!"

Caroline looked over at Jeremy, Matt and Josiah, who were hanging up star streamers from the ceiling.

"What are you doing?" She asked. "You can't just hang them! They're supposed to trickle down!"

"Trickle, duh!" Matt replied sarcastically.

Elowen smiled as Caroline crossed her arms.

"Look at them, all bromancy."

"Yeah, I asked Matt and Josiah to help Jeremy readjust," Elena said. "Matt got him his old job back at The Grill."

"That was nice of him."

Over by Matt, Josiah and Jeremy, they were all talking about the girl Jeremy asked to the dance.

"So, her name is Adriana?" Josiah asked. "Was she hot?"

"You literally have a girlfriend that's standing not even 10 feet from you," Matt pointed out with a laugh.

Jeremy shook her head. "To answer your question, yes, she was hot. Drop dead gorgeous. I think she's older than me, too."

"Ooh, an older woman," Josiah teased. "Scandalous."

Jeremy rolled his eyes and knocked Josiah on the shoulder. He turned to Matt.

"So, I have a date, we all know Jo is going with Caroline, what about you?"

"What about me?" Matt questioned.

"Oh, come on, Matt," Josiah said. "We all know Rebekah the Original has the hots for you. Why don't you ask her?"

Matt sighed and shook his head. "I don't know, man. She's not even here. She's been MIA all day."

"But if she was here?"

"Still a no. She's part of the mess we're all currently stuck in and her brother crushed my hand."

"Yeah, but Elowen healed it. Your hand is in perfect condition."

Matt rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Let's just get back to making these stars trickle."

Caroline, Elena and Elowen had all gone over to sit at a nearby table. Caroline was resting her elbows on the table with her face in her hands. She was currently addressing Elena.

"So, who are you bringing to the dance?"

Elena furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you mean? I thought you," she glanced at Elowen, "Bonnie and I were going as girl dates?"

"Bonnie has a date," Caroline informed her.

"What?"

"Jamie called and wanted to see her, so she asked him."

Elena looked at Elowen. "And you?"

Elowen shrugged. "Stefan and I made up."

Caroline smirked. "And by 'made up' you mean hot, vampire sex?"

Elowen rolled her eyes. "Yes, Caroline. Not like it's any of your business. Damon showed up this morning and got upset that he wasn't invited."

"Hmm." Caroline contemplated this. "I mean, if I wasn't dating Josiah, I'd say that a Salvatore brother sex sandwich sounds pretty appealing."

"Caroline!" Elena said with wide eyes.

Caroline shrugged nonchalantly. "What? Threesomes are hot! And with two very attractive vampire brothers? You have to admit that's an offer you can't refuse."

Elowen shook her head and turned to Elena, deciding to change the subject. "You could always take Toby."

Elena shook her head. "That's too risky. Klaus could find him."

"What would Klaus be doing at a high school dance? This is beneath him. I say ask Toby."

"I agree," Caroline added with a nod. "He asked you to wait for him and you did. That's the start of an epic love."

Elena sighed and gave in. "Alright, fine. I'll ask Toby. Happy?"

Caroline and Elowen both smiled.

"Very," Caroline said. "Now, let's get back to work! This dance won't put together itself."

Caroline, Elowen and Elena all stood up and continued their task in preparing for the dance.

xxxx

Esmeralda met up with Damon at the hospital.

"What are we doing here?" She asked him as they walked down the hall.

"Looking for Meredith."

"Why?"

"I'll explain when we find her."

They found her down another hallway and pulled her inside one of the empty hospital rooms.

"I need medical advice," Damon said to Meredith. "For a friend. Alaric. You remember him, right? About six foot two, tried to hack you into pieces."

"How is he?" Meredith questioned. "Are those herbs you guys made for him working?"

"I don't know." Damon took a jar of herbs out of his jacket pocket. "Can they work if he doesn't take them? I found these in his loft, untouched."

Esmeralda and Meredith stared at the jar and then at Damon in disbelief.

xxxx

Elowen was adjusting the black headband that she was wearing in the mirror of her bathroom when the doorbell rang. She assumed it was Stefan and quickly headed downstairs to answer the door.

"Wow, you look very dapper," she said when she opened the door and saw Stefan standing there in a black suit.

"You look, um… very beautiful."

Elowen was wearing a teal flapper dress with black fringe designs covering the front. She left her short hair to their natural curls and had put her contacts in. Stefan pulled out a white rose from behind his back.

"Here, I got this for you."

He reached out and pinned the small flower to her dress. Elowen smiled.

"Thank you."

"So, given our dangerous dance karma, are you sure you're up for this?"

"Getting out of bed is dangerous these days, but we have to live our lives."

"Hmm. Who gave you that horrible advice?"

"I don't know, some guy I dated said it once or twice."

Stefan laughed. "Right."

Elowen stepped out of the house and closed the door behind her. She held her hand out. "Shall we?"

Stefan took her hand and interlaced their fingers. "We shall."

xxxx

Caroline and Josiah were out on the dance floor, dancing together. Elena and Toby and Bonnie and Jamie were out there as well, as well as Jeremy and Adriana. Elowen and Stefan entered and Elowen immediately started pulling Stefan towards the floor.

"Teach me some moves."

Stefan shook his head. "Oh, no, no, no, no. I blacked out for most of this decade, remember?"

"Don't start making excuses. Just because good Stefan is coming back doesn't mean fun Stefan has to leave."

Stefan allowed Elowen to drag him onto the dance floor and they started dancing together. The current song ended and a slow song came on. Stefan took hold of Elowen's waist and they started slow dancing together. Stefan looked over Elowen's shoulder and saw Bonnie and Jamie.

"Bonnie seems happy," he observed.

"She's working on it. I haven't really had the chance to talk to her since I've been back, but Elena and Caroline filled me in."

"I've been meaning to talk to her. Apologize."

"Yeah, you probably should, although I wouldn't expect her to forgive you, or Damon, for that matter."

Stefan and Elowen continued to dance and Stefan dipped her down and then spun her around. Damon appeared behind them a second later, dressed in normal clothes.

"We three need to talk," he told them. Elowen and Stefan looked at each other before walking off with Damon. Jeremy saw this and looked down at Adriana.

"Hey, would it be okay if I stepped away to use the bathroom? I'll be back soon."

Adriana nodded her head. "Yeah, of course."

Jeremy let go of her and started to follow Damon, Elowen and Stefan. On the way, he bumped into Bonnie and Jamie.

"Sorry, uh… Hey, Bonnie," Jeremy awkwardly said.

"Why are you still wearing your ring?" Bonnie asked. "Didn't Elena tell you?"

"Yeah, I know all about Alaric. When everyone around me stops hanging out with vampires, I'll take it off."

Jeremy left Bonnie and Jamie alone. They watched him leave.

"Ex boyfriend?" Jamie questioned.

"Yep," Bonnie replied.

"That's not awkward at all." Jamie glanced over at Adriana, who was standing over by the punch bowl. "At least you know he's not still pining after you."

Bonnie followed his line of sight and did her best not to be jealous. "Yeah. I guess you're right."

Out in the hallway, Stefan, Damon and Elowen were all talking.

"Look, if my dad is sick, then we need to find a cure," Elowen was saying. "Something."

"We tried medicine," Damon replied. "We tried magic."

"Why don't we get him off vervain?" Stefan suggested. "Compel him?"

"What? To pretend to be Alaric? The guy that we know is gone. We're talking about someone who not only hates vampires, but vampire sympathizers, which makes one of his most obvious targets, I don't know, you!" Damon pointed at Elowen.

"What, you think he'd go after Elowen?" Stefan asked.

"What do you suppose we should do then?" Elowen asked. "Because we're not killing him. I know that's what you're thinking."

"No! No way in hell!"

Stefan, Damon and Elowen all turned at the sound of the voice and found Jeremy walking up to them.

"Oh, come on, it's what he would want," Damon said. "It's a mercy killing."

"You are out of your mind!"

"Jeremy…" Elowen trailed off, but Jeremy turned around and stormed off. She quickly followed after him. "Jeremy, wait up!"

Jeremy turned around to face Elowen. "This is Alaric we're talking about! Him and your mom looked out for us, now we need to do the same for him."

"Look, nothing is going to happen to my dad. Not if I have a say in it."

Elena came walking out because she saw Elowen and Jeremy leave and wanted to know what was going on. Just as she reached them, Esther showed up.

"Elena," she called. Elena, Elowen and Jeremy all turned around to face her. "If you wish to help your friend, Alaric, I suggest you come with me."

"Jeremy, go inside and get Stefan and Damon." Elowen pushed Jeremy back towards the school. "Now!"

Jeremy turned around and ran back into the dance.

"I mean you no harm," Esther told Elena. "But willingly or not, you will come."

Elena glanced at Elowen.

"She does not need to come," Esther said. "Only you."

"This concerns her father, Esther," Elena replied through clenched teeth. "She deserves to come with."

Esther look at Elowen. "Very well. Let's go."

Esther turned around and Elowen and Elena shared a look before following after her.

A moment later, Jeremy, Stefan and Damon came walking out of the school. They were trying to hurry after Esther, Elena and Elowen when Stefan and Damon suddenly stopped. Jeremy continued on his way until he realized Stefan and Damon weren't behind him. He turned around and looked down at what Stefan and Damon were looking at. There was a line of salt circling the school.

"Salt," Stefan said. "It's the binding agent for her spell."

"We're trapped here," Damon spoke.

xxxx

Esther was leading Elena and Elowen towards the Salvatore tomb.

"You'll forgive me for taking you from the dance this evening," Esther was saying. "That's the burden of being the doppelganger, I'm afraid. Your blood is a potent binding agent for a witch's spell."

"Just please don't hurt Alaric," Elena begged.

"She's not hurting me," Alaric said as he exited the tomb.

"Ric!"

Elena tried to move towards him, but Elowen quickly grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"That's not Ric."

Elena furrowed her eyebrows and looked between Alaric and Esther. "What's going on? What are you doing with him?"

"I'm going to remake him," Esther answered.

"Remake him?"

"Make him strong, fast, like my children. Indestructible. For one final time, I'm going to tap into the dark magic I used a thousand years ago. Like my husband, Mikael, before him, I will make Alaric into a true hunter. A vampire to end all vampires."

Elena shook her head. "You can't create another Original. What if he turns out to be an even bigger monster than your children?"

"He won't now that he has embraced his darkest aspect. His hatred for them will become more pure and uncompromising. In death, that hatred will be magnified."

"You don't know the first thing about him," Elowen finally spoke up venomously.

Esther turned her attention for Elena to Elowen. "That is where you're wrong. Each time he died with that ring, during his brief journey into death, I was there on the other side. I spoke to him. I nurtured him, knowing that every death brought him closer to his true self. Vampires took everything from him. Now, he's getting his vengeance."

xxxx

Toby was walking through the dance, trying to find Elena. He noticed that Elowen, Stefan, Damon and Bonnie were gone, too, and a sinking feeling filled the pit of his stomach. He stopped dead when he saw Klaus enter the dance. What the hell was he doing here? Before he could duck down and hide, Klaus spotted him. He walked over and stopped in front of him.

"Where've you been, mate?" He asked.

"I just got back in town," Toby replied.

"That's funny. I don't recall giving you permission to leave in the first place."

"You didn't say I couldn't not leave, either. There's a loophole in this stupid sire bond if you aren't specific enough."

"Hm. You wouldn't happen to know where Tyler is, would you?"

"Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you."

Klaus stepped closer to Toby and towered over him. "Where's Tyler? You know that you can't lie to me."

Toby clenched his jaw, but knew that he had to pretend to still be sired, so he answered the question. "He's at his mom's place."

"Thank you. Now, where are you hiding out?"

"Elena's."

Klaus raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize you and the doppelganger were close."

"I'd hope so, considering she's sort of my girlfriend."

"Sort of?"

"We haven't exactly worked everything out yet."

"Huh. And here I thought you were in love with Elowen."

"I am."

"Hm. How does Elena feel about that?"

"She's helping me move on." Toby glanced over at Josiah and Caroline, who were dancing on the dance floor. "There's your new obsession. Why don't you go bother her instead?"

Klaus turned to look at Caroline and when he glanced back at Toby, he was gone. He decided to approach Caroline anyway. Josiah saw him first and tightened his grip on Caroline's hands. She furrowed her eyebrows and followed his line of sight. She saw Klaus and sighed.

"What do you want?" She asked, disinterested.

"Just wanted to know if you minded me cutting in."

"We actually do mind," Josiah spoke, his voice short. Without meaning to, he zapped Caroline's hands and she drew them back with a gasp.

"Ow!"

Klaus raised an eyebrow. "I thought I told you to get that under control, mate."

Josiah clenched his teeth and he turned towards Klaus, getting ready to tell him off when Caroline gently grabbed his arm.

"It's okay, Jo. I can handle this."

Josiah glanced at Caroline and, with a glare to Klaus, backed off. Klaus offered Caroline his hand and she reluctantly took it. He gently took her waist and led her back onto the dance floor.

"You would've loved the 20s, Caroline," Klaus said into Caroline's ear. "The girls were reckless, sexy, fun. They literally used to dance until they dropped."

"I don't suppose that ever happened to their dance partners."

"You should be nicer to me. I'm leaving town tomorrow. I'd invite you to come with me, but we both know you're not ready to accept my offer. Perhaps one day, in a year, or even a century, you'll turn up at my door and let me show you what the world has to offer."

Caroline looked away and didn't say anything. She stuck her nose up and chose to ignore Klaus instead.

"You mark my words. A small town boy, a small town life, it won't be enough for you."

Klaus let go of Caroline and left. She watched him leave in confusion as Josiah came back over and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"What was that about?" He asked.

"Nothing to worry about," Caroline replied. "Come on. Let's just forget that he was here."

Elsewhere, Jeremy found Adriana. He'd completely abandoned her earlier and he felt bad about it.

"Hey, I'm sorry, but I need to cut the night short," he told her as he came up to her. "Some stuff just came up with my sister that I can't ignore."

Adriana blinked. "Oh. Okay. Is everything okay?"

"I don't know yet, but… maybe I can make it up to you. How long are you gonna be in town?"

"Um, I'm not sure."

"Okay, um… well, you know where to find me."

"Yeah."

An awkward silence fell over the two of them. Just as Jeremy was about to leave, Adriana got on her tiptoes and quickly pecked Jeremy on the lips. He stopped in surprise. She smiled slightly.

"I'll see you later."

Without waiting for him to reply, Adriana turned and left.

xxxx

Author's Note: So this chapter we get a little more insight of the new characters! I'm hoping they go over better than Marisol, except Veronica is supposed to not be likable in the beginning, so her I expect it with. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I haven't gotten a review in awhile, so leaving one would be nice! That's it for this one :)