Lucy's eyes darted around the dark when she emerged from the bar. Stefan came to a stop in front of her, his brow furrowed. "What are you doing out here? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I just need some time to myself," she assured him without fully meeting his gaze.

"Okay," he agreed after a moment. "Be careful."

"Of course," she said. He moved past her into the bar and her gaze found Damon. He was looking at her over the top of a car down the street. She watched him lean inside to talk to someone else before he headed in her direction. She met him halfway.

"You okay?" he asked, looking her over.

She shrugged one shoulder. "It will take more than a temperamental hybrid to hurt me, Damon."

"Yeah," he said. His voice was low and heavy with sorrow.

Lucy reached out and took his hand in hers. "Are you okay?"

His eyes searched hers and he swallowed. "I miss you, Lucy."

"I miss you, too." The words came without thought. Almost as a reflex. She realized instantly that she meant them, however.

"Come home with me," he begged.

Lucy took a step back and pulled her hand from his. "I don't think that's a good idea."

He dropped his head forward and took a deep breath. "Okay, Luce. It's fine. I-I need to go. Call me if you need anything, okay?"

She gave a little nod. "Sure, Damon."

He kept looking over his shoulder as he made his way back to the car, giving her one last wave before he slid inside. Lucy frowned. Why did it hurt so much to watch him drive away? What was she missing?

***

Lucy didn't return to the others that night. Instead, she kept her distance and watched from afar as Klaus raved at Stefan for letting her leave. She watched as they reunited with the Mikaelson sister. She wasn't sure what to make of the woman. The next day she trailed them as they went shopping and watched from across the street. Before long, Stefan headed for the door, undoubtedly needing a break. His eyes met Lucy's through the glass and she gave him a little wave. She stepped out of sight and waited for him to join her.

"Where have you been? Are you all right?" he asked as he found her.

"I'm fine, Stefan. I just..." She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "I'm unsettled. Something's wrong with me."

He hummed in understanding and pulled out an envelope before handing it to her. She grabbed at it, but he kept hold of the other end. "You can't tell Klaus I gave this to you or he'll kill Damon."

She felt slightly nauseous at his words. "I won't I swear."

"And I can't believe I'm saying this, but maybe text Klaus and let him know you're all right. He's freaking out."

Lucy nodded and pulled out her phone. When she turned it on, she ignored her notifications.

Stefan pressed a soft kiss to her head. "I should go. I'll see you later."

I'm fine. I'll find you later, she texted before immediately turning the phone back off. She didn't want to deal with Klaus right now. The truth was, she'd already forgiven him for the night before. It hadn't really hurt her when he pushed her aside, but it had shocked her. Her issue now was this unsettled feeling that still filled her. The idea that she was missing something from her life.

Recalling a coffee shop she passed down the street, Lucy made her way to it. After getting herself a large mocha, she settled at a table in the back and opened the letter. She smiled when she saw Damon's familiar handwriting.

Lucy,

I'm dying and I don't know where you are. Okay, that's a little dramatic. Lockwood bit me. All I need is a little blood from our resident hybrid and all will be fine. But Elijah ran off and took both of you with him. It's killing me that I can't find you, baby girl. And in case I don't find you before my time is up, I need to tell you some things.

The moment I first saw you, you took my breath away. Not just your looks. Don't get me wrong, you were are stunning, but it was your sassy attitude that sucked me in. I knew that I was in for a hell of a ride with you and I wasn't wrong. And I wouldn't trade a minute of it for anything.

I love you, Lucy, with every part of my being. I don't deserve you, I never have and I never will, but I'm keeping you just the same. If this is it for me, baby, just know that you were everything I always wanted. Every miserable moment of my existence was worth it because it brought me to you.

I will love you for all of my life and beyond.

Damon

Lucy read through the letter twice and was reading it for a third time when a voice interrupted. "Are you all right?"

Lucy jerked her gaze up to find an old man with a concerned frown on his face. "I'm sorry?" she asked.

"I asked if you were okay. You're crying."

Lucy hadn't noticed until the stranger pointed it out. She hastily wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Yes, I'm fine. Just some unexpected news."

She hastily gathered her things and left before any more questions could be asked. She wasn't sure where she was heading, letting her feet take her where they would while her mind was still on the letter that was now folded and in her pocket. Why would Damon write something like that if they were only friends? And why did she remember so much of their past and so little of her time with Klaus? When she found herself in front of Gloria's, she wasn't entirely surprised. After glancing at her reflection in the window to make certain there was no further sign of tears, she opened the door and stepped inside.

"We're closed," Klaus's sister said as Lucy stepped into view.

Klaus glanced up from his drink and his eyes widened. In a flash, he was standing in front of her. His hand cradled the side of her face and she resisted the urge to move away from his touch. His eyes ran over her and a sheen came to them as if he were trying not to cry. "I thought you left me." His voice broke on the last word.

Lucy's heart ached for this man in front of her. Surely she truly loved him if she couldn't stand to see him hurt like this. If she couldn't stand for him to sound so uncertain. "I just needed a bit of a breather, Nik."

"I am truly sorry for what happened." His gaze studied hers as if trying to determine if she believed him or not.

She shrugged one shoulder and forced a small smile. "It was an accident. I know you didn't mean it."

He pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her to hold her there. He pressed kiss after kiss against the top of her head.

"I feel as though I've missed something, brother. Are you going to introduce me to your little friend?"

Klaus sighed and pulled back so Lucy could see the woman in question. "Lucy, this is my sister, Rebekah. Rebekah, this is Lucy. Be nice."

"When am I not nice, Nik?" Rebekah asked as her gaze ran over Lucy.

She could almost hear Klaus's eyes roll.

"And how long have you known my brother?" the female Original asked.

"Long enough," he answered for her. "Gloria have you found anything?"

"It's hard to find something when you don't have anything to go on," the witch snapped back.

"So use me." Rebekah moved toward the other woman, Lucy forgotten. "I only wore it for a thousand years."

"Now see, this one offers a solution." Gloria took the vampire's hand in her own.

"What are they looking for?" Lucy asked Klaus.

"A necklace my darling sister seems to have misplaced." Irritation hung heavy in his words. But that wasn't what captured Lucy's attention. No, that would be the slightly panicked look on Stefan's face. He tried to mask it, but she knew him too well. Whatever this necklace was for, he certainly didn't want them to find it.