After she was out of the shower, Lucy wrapped one of Damon's large towels around her. She turned her head to the side to examine the bite. It would heal in a couple of days but it would annoy her until it did. A light knock came at the door.

"Are you decent?" Damon asked.

"Yep."

He opened the door with a smirk. "Damn it. I was hoping for a show."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Come on, dude. Doctor me up." She hopped up to sit on the counter, her feet swinging while she watched him gather what he needed.

"Dude?"

"Are you or are you not a dude?"

He shook his head while he dabbed at her neck with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol. "That's not the point. Call me something else."

"Fine. What would you suggest?"

"Sexy."

"Taken by Lexi."

Damon grunted. "Stud muffin."

Lucy burst into laughter. "I sincerely hope you aren't serious."

He didn't answer but his lips tipped up just a bit higher as he smirked. He put a large bandage over her wound. "There."

"Thank you, Day," Lucy said as she hopped off the counter. She kissed his cheek with a grin.

***

Damon talked Lucy into sleeping in his room but she still didn't expect to be awoken by him leaning over her and staring.

"Jesus, Damon," she complained when she opened her eyes to find him scowling down at her. "What the hell?"

"Why didn't you tell me about Elena?" he asked.

Lucy frowned. "What exactly was it I was supposed to have told you?"

"That she was the reason you got called in for questioning." If she'd thought Stefan had been angry with that little revelation, he didn't hold a candle to Damon. It wasn't often she saw the older brother at his full ire and, again, she could only be glad it wasn't directed at her.

"Honestly, it slipped my mind." Lucy groaned and ran a hand down her face. "Why are you waking me up for this?"

"I'm not." He pushed himself off the bed making sure to put more force into it than necessary so Lucy bounced with the movement. "I'm waking you up because Lexi made breakfast."

"Oooo...breakfast."

"Yeah, I thought that might get you moving."

Lucy quickly put herself together then made her way to the kitchen. "Mornin."

A round of good mornings answered her. A second later, Stefan was in front of her. He grasped her chin and turned her head to the side. She hissed as it pulled on the bandage. "What happened to you?"

Lucy pulled away from him and took the plate of food Lexi held out for her. "Damon bit me," she answered with a shrug. She watched wide-eyed as the blonde vampire slammed Damon into the wall and held him there by his throat.

"A little help here?" he croaked out while grasping at the wrist of the hand holding him.

Lucy took a bite of her food. "That's what you get for not telling Stefan anything." She shifted her gaze to Lexi. "Thank you for the righteous anger on my behalf, but you can let him go. It was part of the plan."

"What the hell kind of plan involves you getting bitten?" Stefan asked as he sat a cup of coffee in front of Lucy. It was made just the way she liked it. "And why didn't he heal you after?"

Damon cleared his throat and took the seat beside the only human in the room with a glare in her direction. She grinned and ate more of her food. While she ate, Damon filled the other two in on the events of the night before.

"Thanks for breakfast, sexy Lexi," she said as she pushed the plate away. A pounding came at the door and Lucy jumped to her feet. "I'll get it. I'm expecting a package."

A man in a blue jacket stood at the door when she opened it. "Lucy Williams?"

"That's me." She signed the tablet he held out then took the small package from him. She shut the door and locked it before hurrying back to the kitchen. Ripping the end off, she dumped the small box inside into her hand before pulling out the envelope. Her name was scrawled across the front of it and she sat it aside to read later. The box, she tossed to Lexi. "Got you a present for Stefan's birthday."

Lexi frowned in confusion and turned the box in her hands. "Aren't you supposed to get him the presents?"

"It's kind of for both of you. Open it."

The vampire snapped open the box. Inside was a delicate ring with a bright blue stone. "It's beautiful." She slid it onto her finger. "Thank you."

Lucy hummed in response and turned her back to pour another cup of coffee. "You should take a walk around the grounds. It must be what, hundreds of years, since you've felt the sun?"

The silence stretched until a croaked "What?" broke it.

She turned to find the vampires staring at her. "What?"

Lexi flashed in front of her. "This is a daylight ring?"

Lucy smiled and nodded her head. She gestured toward the window with her mug. "I know people. Give it a try."

The vampire hesitantly made her way to the window. She stood to the side and opened the blinds. After a long moment, she held her hand out and moved it into the bars of light. When nothing happened, she squealed and opened the blinds all the way to stand in the light. A moment later she was in front of Lucy again grabbing her arms and hopping in glee. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

She zoomed away, shouting over her shoulder as she went. "I love your friend, Stefan."

The vampire in question chuckled before giving Lucy a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for this."

Lexi squealed again and they all looked in the direction the sound came from. Stefan pressed his lips together. "I should go keep her out of trouble."

Lucy nodded. "Good thinking, Salvatore."

He followed after his friend and Damon came over to lean against the counter beside his best friend. "You're good people, Lucy Williams."

She hummed in agreement. "So, I've heard."

He sipped his coffee and glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "You know people that make daylight rings?"

"I know people that know people that make daylight rings," she corrected. She smiled at his annoyed expression as she sipped her coffee. He wanted more information but she wasn't about to give it to him. He didn't need to know everything about her. Not yet anyway.

***

It was late in the day before Lucy had a chance to curl up with the letter that had come with Lexi's present. She tore open the envelope eagerly and smiled as she ran her eyes over the familiar elegant handwriting of her uncle.

Dearest Lucy,

As surprised as I was to receive your text requesting a daylight ring for a "friend", I was even more shocked to see the address you wished it sent to. My life on this continent began in a small settlement that stood where your Mystic Falls does now.

You know I abhor coincidence and find it unlikely you would have arrived in that particular location without the guidance of some larger force. Perhaps it is time that I pay you a visit. We are well overdue in any case. As much as I enjoy our various communications with one another, nothing is as satisfying as an in person meeting.

Unfortunately, I am a bit distracted at the moment attempting to locate my brother Niklaus. I'm sure you remember my many stories of him. He has done something unforgiveable this time and I aim to make him pay for it one way or another.

I miss you, little one. We will make plans to see one another soon. Until then, be careful, especially if you insist on befriending vampires. We are a dangerous lot, which you well know.

All my love,

Elijah

P.S. Though you indicated otherwise, you owe nothing for the ring. You know it brings me joy to see to your needs, even if they aren't exactly your needs. I hope your friend is worthy of the gift you give them.

Lucy read through the letter three times, gaining comfort with each read through. Her uncle was correct. It had been far too long since they'd seen one another. See missed him. A knock sounded at her door and Lucy folded the letter and slipped it back into the envelope.

"Come in."

Damon opened her door and leaned in the opening. "So, Stefan got a call from Miss Elena."

She groaned. "And what did the teenager have to say?"

"Well, that was interesting. Apparently, her friend Bonnie is a witch. Said witch was possessed by one of her ancestors and led to the old church to destroy an amulet."

Lucy blinked several times. "What now?"

Damon made a sound of agreement. "It gets better. The amulet was the one used to cast the spell that trapped all the vampires below the church. She said, and I quote, 'I must destroy it. I can't let them get it.'"

"Who is them?"

He crossed his arms over his chest. "That is the question of the hour. If I was a betting man, I'd put money on it being our vampire."

"That doesn't help us much, Salvatore. We're no closer to figuring out who they are then when we started."

"We'll find them, Luce. We have to."