Midnight Rising

Finish It

"This doesn't make any sense. Why don't I remember you?" Stefan continues to stare down at the faces smiling back up at him. He's lucky he's not human; all that pondering would give him terrible wrinkles.

Klaus plucks the image away from Stefan, replacing it on one of the shelves of memorabilia from a time long ago, "You said it yourself, that time had a lot of dark holes."

"No, if you knew me, then why haven't you said something? And you?" Stefan turns toward me, "I've spent the last six months talking about this guy." He takes a step towards me, walking me backward until I hit a wall. "Not once did you ever mention we knew each other. I sat on the couch next to you and said the only person who knew him was you. You didn't even try to correct me. You—"

Klaus curls his fingers around Stefan's shoulder, giving him a harsh stare, "Don't you dare take this out on her."

"I'm gonna need some answers here."

Klaus gives Stefan a shrug, leading us out of the bar and back up the street towards the carport we started at, "I'm a little busy right now. Memory lane will have to wait."

Unable to accept this simple brush off of his inquiry, Stefan reaches out, grabbing Klaus by the arm, "What the hell is going on? Answer me."

"Let's just say we didn't get off to a brilliant start," Klaus answers, pushing Stefan's hand away from him, it swings limply down to the vampire's side. "To be honest, I hated you."

Stefan spins, walking backward as he talks to me, "What's he talking about?"

"Neither one of you was very good at sharing."

1922

As the winter draws to an end, flying into the summer, the speakeasy becomes more crowded. Every one kept away by the Chicago chill now flocks to a good time. People drink harder. I'm growing tired of the city, of the people. I spend more time holed up in the lush apartment I've rented, curtains drawn, lost in conversation with Damon. I leave him only when required. An appearance here and there keeps Stefan's questions at bay.

Rebekah and Stefan grow closer as the nights fly by. She's enthralled by him. Rebekah loves a good mystery and Stefan's got plenty of secrets to uncover. He drinks in the attention, going out of his way to keep the girl entertained. Their latest toy sits between them, the two giggling as they feed.

"It's late, Rebekah," Klaus swoops in, tugging at his sister's arm as he attempts to get her up out of the booth. "We're leaving."

Rebekah claws at her brother's hand, trying to fight him off, "Get off of me!"

"Who is this?" Klaus spits towards Stefan who has started to protest to the taking of Rebekah.

Clearing my throat, I pull Klaus' attention. I knew this would happen eventually. Stefan and Rebekah have hardly been discrete. While I've kept my mouth shut about their budding romance, they've been shoving it down everyone's throat. I'm surprised Klaus hasn't caught wind of it before tonight. "He's mine. Well—" I shoot a sideways glance at Rebekah who has a fire growing behind her eyes "—at least my responsibility." This seems to tame my friend's rage.

"Who is this guy?" Stefan interjects, throwing his arms out along the top of the booth, trying to make himself bigger, more present. He needs to settle before I'm forced to break up a cockfight.

Rebekah presses a palm into Stefan's chest, preventing him from getting up, "Stefan don't, he'll kill you. He's a lot stronger than he looks."

"So," Klaus lets out a snort, plastering on a smile. "This is the famous Stefan Salvatore I've been hearing so much about. You're right. He does have funny hair." The sandy-haired vampire turns to me, resting his palms on the tabletop as he leans in. "You should keep a closer eye on your playthings, Diana."