08|162 CANDLES

Gemma lies on the couch, her feet kicked up onto the back of it. Her eyes flutter as she stares at the ceiling, the quiet breathing of Stefan sleeping upstairs fueling her own exhaustion. Her head jerks up as the front door slams closed, a whisk of air causing her to scramble into a sitting position. "Please," she begs aloud. "I've done enough villainous deeds this week, I can't take anymore."

"Oh, my," a familiar voice faux pouts from behind Gemma. The Salvatore whips around but not faster than Lexi can pounce, both girls rolling off of the couch in a heap. Lexi gets the upper hand, pinning Gemma by her wrists, smirking down at the wide eyed girl. "And exactly how naughty have you been, miss Salvatore?"

Gemma gazes up at Lexi, her lips quirked. "Not nearly as much as you."

Lexi laughs, getting off of the girl and hovering over her, offering the dark haired vampire a hand up. "So," Lexi raises her eyebrows. "How are things?"

Gemma huffs, brushing herself off. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you," she mutters.

Lexi hums, studying the girl. "Stefan's asleep?" Gemma gives the blonde a nod and she smiles, excitement glistening in her orbs.

The man in question ambles down the stairs, knuckling at his eyes as he gives his sister a questioning look. "Who were you talking to?"

"Myself," Gemma shrugs. "I have a lot on my mind."

"Right," he stares at her. His head snaps over to the bookshelf when a book falls off of it, thumping to the ground. "Gem..." He trails off.

Gemma crosses her arms, giving her brother a wry smile. "Maybe it's the ghost of Christmas past, Stefan, I don't know."

One of the doors on the side of the house crawl open and Stefan shakes his head, trudging over to close it. Lexi rushes across the room in a blur, tackling Stefan to the ground when he turns from closing the doors.

"Lexi?" He gapes, his eyes darting between his sister and the blonde. "Gem, did you know—"

"Hi," Lexi cuts him off. "Hello, I'm right here." She grabs his hands and hauls him up, grinning up at him.

"What are you doing here?" He laughs.

Lexi pulls him into a hug, "How could you even ask that?"

"I missed you," he expresses to her.

Lexi pulls back from the hug, leaving her hands on Stefan's shoulder. "Happy Birthday,"

"Happy 162nd birthday," Gemma emphasizes, her face screwing up into a grimace. "God, I never thought I'd have to say that to you."

Stefan rolls his eyes, "it's just because it makes you feel older."

"Right, well," Gemma glares. "Let's get this party started."

•••

Gemma lets her head loll back as she watches Lexi and her brother, the two vampires playfully slapping at each other as they converse about the recent events around Mystic Falls.

"Stop," the blonde giggles. "I don't know, some freak shot at me with wooden bullets. I'd bail in under sixty. And why is a news reporter hunting vampires?"

"I don't know who knows about us," Stefan replies. "That guy did. There could be others. Do me a favor, while you're here, please be careful."

"Why stay?" She hops off of the bed, tugging a strand of Gemma's hair as she shuffles last. "I'm headed to New York for the weekend. Bon Jovi in the Garden." She turns and grins at Stefan, "Wanted dead or alive, it's our theme song. It'll be a blast."

"Do you think he would actually remember us?" The youngest Salvatore questions, letting his legs hang off the bed as he slips his shoes on. "That was a pretty crazy weekend huh?"

Gemma shakes her head, smirking at the flustered look her brother gains on his face.

"We can make him remember us, and Gemma can even tag along this time!" Lexi cheers, "Come on! Let's go. I mean, what's keeping you here?" Her eyes narrow as she turns to Gemma, "and what's keeping you here, for that matter?"

"I don't know about Gemma but I told you, her name is Elena." Stefan informs his friend.

"Let's hope she's better than the last girl you got all sprung over," Lexi holds up the small portrait of Katherine, her nose wrinkled in distaste.

Stefan takes the photo from Lexi, wordlessly giving it to Gemma, "You didn't even know Katherine."

Gemma hums, tapping the picture with her thumb before softly laying it on the table beside her chair.

"Because if I did I'd kick her ass," Lexi says. "Little bitch."

Gemma arches an eyebrow, not disagreeing.

"Speaking of...where's Damon?" Lexi looks around.

"Inflicting misery somewhere," Stefan tells her.

"On someone," Gemma murmurs.

"You gonna be okay here alone?" Stefan asks his friends. "Cause I got some things I gotta take care of."

"I'm not gonna be alone," Lexi muses. Her eyes dart to Gemma and she smirks. "I'll have my little Gem-Gem with me."

Gemma stares at the woman, "dont call me that."

Lexi rolls her eyes before facing Stefan again, "It's not exactly like I can go anywhere. And you, Gemma and Damon are the only ones with these nifty little daylight rings." She lifts her hand and wiggles her fingers, "I have a mood ring from '75! Trade you?"

"I'll make that trade," Gemma agrees. She begins to take off her daylight but Stefan stops her, slapping the girl upside the head. "Ow!" Her voice cracks at the high pitch. "You bitch!"

"It doesn't work that way and you two know it." A fond look overtakes Stefan's face and he looks at the two girls, "Hey Lex. I'm really glad that you came here. And— and Gem, I know I haven't exactly proven it, but I'm glad you're here with me."

Gemma swallows dryly, flashing her brother a small smile. "Wouldn't be anywhere else in the world."

"Enough with the sappy stuff," Lexi gripes. "What are we doing for your birthday? It's not everyday a guy turns a hundred and sixty-two years old."

"Really?" Stefan groans.

Lexi smiles, "Oh, yeah."

•••

"So this Elena girl," Lexi starts, rounding the table with a red case. "She'll come around. I'm sure of it. Have you had sex yet?"

Gemma looks up from the book she was reading, watching Stefan as he shakes his head.

"No," he replies.

"Sex always works," Lexi advises. "I mean you'll rock her world so hard with your vamp sex, she'll be yours forever."

"Until she withers away into an old women, that is," Gemma chimes in, giving her brother a snide smile over the top of her book.

Stefan gives Gemma a strange look, "Yeah, but see, this isn't about sex or...or compulsion or any of our other tricks. She has to want to be with me on her own terms."

"Wow," Lexi unzips the case and pulls a blood bag out of it: "That sounded all mature and grown-up."

"For a seventeen year old," the female Salvatore goads.

"I'm not getting any older," Stefan says wryly.

Lexi stabs a straw into the bag, taking a large gulp and sighing wistfully afterward. "Want some?"

"No," Stefan stands from the couch. "Thank you."

"Relax," the blonde exclaims. "I didn't kill anyone for it. This phlebotomist I went out with a few times, he's my supplier." Her expression changes when she sees Stefan's face, "Oh, don't judge, ok? Listen I tried the animal diet; lasted three weeks."

Gemma bites back a snarky remark about the animal diet, shoving her nose farther into the book she was pretending to read.

"It doesn't matter," Stefan shrugs. "Because if I started again...I just don't know if..."

"You could stop," Lexi finishes for him.

"Lexi, I'd never judge you." He says instead of feeding into the conversation.

"I'm just jealous of your restraint," she says. "I have none. I delight in hedonism. Speaking of which, what are we doing tonight?"

"Funny you should ask," Damon chirps, strolling into the room and standing behind Lexi's chair.

"Wel, I wasn't asking you."

"There's a party at the grill," he informs the trio. "You'll love it. Banquettes, tacky wait staff, all of Stefan's friends."

Gemma cocks her head, "you have friends?"

"Elena's friends," Stefan corrects his brother.

"Ah yes," Gemma hums. "Elena...who you're not sure wants to be with you anymore."

Stefan contemplates on his sisters words before pursing his lips, "Yeah, I don't want a birthday party."

"Well, it's not for you." Damon scoffs, "It's a party party. No one's gonna know it's your birthday. Caroline's throwing it."

"Poor girl," Gemma mumbles under her breath.

"Damon, stay away from Caroline," Stefan instructs his brother, his eyebrows brooding again.

"We're friends, it's cool."

"Caroline, and correct me if I'm wrong—" Gemma sits up straighter. "—the girl who you compelled to sleep with you and be your personal blood bag for weeks? You're friends?"

Lexi glares at Damon, "you're repulsive."

"Truly," Gemma adds on.

Damon waves off their comments, "It's important for the town to see us out and about like normal folk. We need to blend." His eyes dart down to Lexi's blood bags. "I prefer mine at 98.6." He makes his exit.

"Let's go," Lexi refers to the party. "Please?"

Stefan grins, causing Lexi to stand up and cheer, putting on a dramatic show of it. The blonde catches Gemma's eyes, squinting at the girl. "Don't think this doesn't mean you're not in my clutches, Salvatore. I'll have you looking like the snack by the time we're done."

Gemma laughs loudly as Stefan stalks off, muttering curses under his breath at Lexi's behavior.

"Well," the blonde holds out a hand. "Let's get this show on the road."

•••

Gemma towel dries her hair, her shirt hanging off of her pantless form as she rushes around her room.

"Gem—Gem," Lexi sings.

"I really wish you'd stop calling me that," the said girl replies as she glances up from her makeup bag.

"You're actually getting ready?" Lexi asks, surprised.

"No shit," Gemma snarks. "Hence the half nakedness and wet hair."

"I can never be too sure with you," Lexi leans against the doorframe. "You're known to keep a girl waiting."

Gemma looks up at that, a grin rising on her lips. "It was one time," she says.

Lexi walks further into the room, surveying Gemma's form. "You look good, Gem. Better than the last time I saw you, that is."

Gemma nods slowly, zipping up her makeup bag and handing it to Lexi. "I'm not sure what to do with this,"

"Good thing I do." Lexi turns and looks at Gemma over her shoulder, "hop on."

The female Salvatore's eyebrows shoot up, "you're serious?"

"Deadly."

Gemma lets out a breathy laugh, hopping onto Lexi's back for a piggy back ride of all things. Her arms wrap around the blonde, practically keeping her towel up as Lexi trails through the house.

"So," the blonde hesitates. "What's going on with you and Elena?"

Gemma pauses, gathering her thoughts. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"You're a good liar, Gems, but not that good."

"There's nothing going on," Gemma admits. "She's just a human that I didn't know I'd end up caring for."

"Caring for?" Lexi presses.

"I care for her, Lexi...like I care for you, and for Stefan, and for Damon."

Lexi approaches the staircase, trudging down it while tightening her grip on one of Gemma's thighs. "You cared for me differently than you do now, once upon a time ago."

"What is this, a bedtime story? I've cared for a lot of people in my lifetime, Lexi. Elena's my friend."

"Alright, alright," the blonde relents. "I still don't believe you."

The doorbell rings, causing Lexi to come to a quick stop in the corridor. "It's open!" She calls, "Come on in."

Gemma tenses when Elena rounds the corner, the human's eyes going wide at the sight of she and Lexi. Gemma quickly slips off of Lexi's back, awkwardly tugging her shirt down to cover her naked thighs. "Son of a bitch," she whines.

"Oh my God!" Lexi gasps, "How...uh—who?"

"I'm Elena," the girl in question introduces herself. Her eyes flick to Gemma and down to her legs before she glances back at the blonde, her eyes hard. "Who are you?"

"Lexi, a friend of Stefan and Gemma."

"Is he here?"

"He just got in the shower," Lexi informs her. "Do you want to wait?"

Elena swallows thickly, looking at Gemma when she says, "No."

"I'll tell him you stopped by," Lexi says.

"That's okay," Elena mutters before rushing out of the house, the door slamming behind her.

Gemma winces when Lexi turns to her, her eyes set in realization.

"You don't care for her like you care for me," Lexi softens her voice. "You care for her like you cared for Katherine."

Gemma shakes her head, "that's not it at all—"

"Don't try to lie your way out of this one," Lexi snaps. "That girl is a walking Katherine Pierce, Gemma!"

Gemma folds her arms, clenching her fists tightly as her hands begin to shake. "I don't know what to say,"

"Maybe Stefan will," Lexi storms off.

Gemma follows the girl up the stairs, a pit in her stomach as Stefan looks up, startled.

"Are you out of your freaking mind?"

"What are you talking about?" Stefan asks, concerned.

Lexi goes over to Stefan's desk and picks up the picture of Katherine, "I just met Elena. You have some serious explaining to do."

•••

Gemma sits uncomfortably at Stefan's desk, feeling like a scolded child as Lexi stares at she and her brother.

"You have some serious emotional damage," the blonde accuses.

"In my defense," Gemma pipes up. "I'm not the one who's dating her."

"It's not what you think," Stefan tries. "She's not Katherine."

"Then they're related, because they can be twins."

"I don't know,"

"You don't know or you didn't find out?"

"Take your pick," Gemma tells her.

"No. Maybe. I don't want to know. I have no desire to tie Elena to Katherine." Stefan sees his friends expression and sighs, "Okay yes, the resemblance is what drew me in. But that's it. Katherine and Elena may look the same on the outside but on the inside they are completely different."

"So Elena's not a raging bitch then, huh?"

"No. Elena is...Elena's warm and she's...she's kind, and she's caring, and she's selfless, and it's real. And honestly when I'm around her, I—I completely forget what I am."

Gemma looks up at her brother, her breath caught in her throat as her stomach fills with lead. "You're—"

"You're in love with her!" Lexi blurts out.

Stefan pauses and then smiles, shy and gentle. "Yeah. Yeah, I am."

Gemma folds her hands in her lap, forcing herself to smile. "Congratulations, little brother. Guess you should start with those wedding invitations, huh?" She can see Lexi's knowing stare on the side of her face as she stands, but she ignores it for the sake of Stefan. "I'll meet you guys at the party. I have things to take care of."

"Like what?" Lexi questions.

"Things to do, people to eat," Gemma calls over her shoulder.

•••

Gemma throws back another shot of whiskey, grinning lazily at her brother when he shoots her an amused look.

"Competing with your personal record?" He asks.

"Damon," she sighs heavily. "I'm competing with life itself, my friend."

"You're wasted," he states.

"No," she replies. "Not yet, but I'm working my way up to that."

Damon rolls his eyes, wrapping an arm around her waist and leading her away from the bar.

"Hey!" Gemma calls over her shoulder, holding up her hand to the bartender. "A tray, over here! Please, sir." She stumbles in her brothers grasp, her hair falling in her face. "Damn these shoes," she whines.

Damon looks down, "they're just heeled boots."

"I'm drunk," the dark haired girl reminds him.

"You just said you were fine."

"I'm a pathological liar," she admits. "Sue me."

He drags her over to lean against one of the posts in the middle of The Grill, huffing when Gemma almost crumbles to the ground. "Someone really did a number on you, huh?"

Gemma blinks up at him, clutching onto his shoulders. "Yeah," she whispers. "Yeah, they really did."

Damon's hold on Gemma tightens and he smiles down at her, his eyes soft. "I know, Gem. I— I know."

Gemma looks over Damon's shoulder, her eyes meeting Elena's. She straightens up, putting on a mocking smile. "Look at little ole' Stefan over there," she nods to her brother and Lexi. "Turns out, he can smile."

"Damon hasn't given him a lot of reasons to be happy lately," Elena snides, approaching the two siblings.

"Oh, you're right," Damon starts, pouting. "Poor Stefan persecuted throughout eternity by his depraved brother; does it get tiring being so righteous?"

"I tried the whole mother Theresa thing too," Gemma pipes up, smirking at Elena's offended look. "It proved to fail the first time I fed on someone and enjoyed it."

Elena looks at Damon and Gemma, horrified. "It flares up in the presence of psychopaths."

"Ouch!" Damon holds his hand over his chest, "Well, consider this psychopath's feelings get hurt."

Gemma smiles widely as the bartender brings the tray of shots, the girl balancing them on the post and sending Elena a dark look when the brunette dares to look worried.

Elena looks away from Gemma and asks Damon, "What did you do to my brother?"

"Fixed him," Gemma mutters before taking a shot.

"I'm gonna need a less vague question," Damon says.

"When you did what you did to Jeremy's memory of Vicki—"

"Compulsion," Gemma adds.

"—what else did you do to him?"

"You asked me to take away his memory of fangs and all the bad stuff. You wanted me to take away his suffering."

"But he's acting different. He seems okay with everything and a little too okay. I mean he's studying; he's not doing drugs; he's not drinking; are you sure you didn't do something else?"

"Elena," Damon looks at the girl. "I took away the suffering."

"Take away mine while you're at it," Gemma tells her brother.

Damon forcibly tugs the gray of shots out of Gemma's hands, giving her a hard look when she tries to get them back. "I'm going to get you a glass of water," he tells her. "Can I trust you to stay with Elena while I'm gone?"

Gemma squints, looking at the brunette.

"Yes, yeah," Elena nods, grabbing onto Gemma's arm. "I'll keep her right here."

Damon nods once and disappears into the crowd, leaving Gemma alone with the Gilbert girl.

"Gemma," Elena squeezes the girl's arm. "Gemma, can you look at me?"

"I'm not incapable," the girl snaps. "Yes, I can look at you, Elena. What can I help you with today? Compulsion, murder? Anything at all?"

"Why are you acting like this?" Elena questions, her eyes watering. "You're never like this. You're sarcastic, sure, but you're not— you're not cold."

Gemma levels the girl with a look, standing up straight and towering over the human. "I'm a murderer, Elena. A monster who enjoys killing people. I'm just living up to the title you decided I've earned."

Understanding dawns on the girl, "I never called you a monster, or a murderer, Gemma. I was just asking a question."

"It's the way you looked at me," Gemma shuffles back from the girl. "You— the way you looked at me, Elena."

Elena forces the vampire down into a chair, pulling one up right in front of her. "You know," she begins. "If you didn't hold things in all of the time, you probably wouldn't be such an emotional drunk."

"I'm not emotional," Gemma looks at the girl, scandalized.

Elena laughs, "you are the epitome of emotional right now, Gemma."

Gemma leans down, putting her head into her hands as her vision swims. "I'm tired," she admits.

"Do you want to go home? Get some rest?"

A bitter feeling sinks in Gemma's chest. I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm—

"Maybe," the vampire croaks. "Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow."

Elena smiles gently, nodding. "I'm sure you will."

Damon pushes his way past Elena's chair, shoving a glass of water into Gemma's hands. "Drink that, please. I have things to do tonight and I can't have your drunkenness ruining them."

"Of course," Gemma says quietly. Her shaking fingers grab the glass of water and she takes a few sips, leaning back in her chair.

"Damon," Elena frowns. "Don't talk to her like that, she's—"

"She's my sister," Damon shoots back, his eyes fierce. "Compared to me, you've known her all of five minutes." He pauses and looks at the human girl, shaking his head. "Your boyfriend is waiting for you, Elena. Go take care of him. I'll worry about Gemma."

"But—"

"Go," Gemma rasps. "Please, just...go."

Elena sends the pair a wary look before standing from her chair and shuffling away, her form becoming less and less visible the more she pushes past people.

"Come on," Damon hauls Gemma up. He holds her face between his hands, searching her eyes. "You're my baby sister," he brushes her hair out of her face. "And I'll always take care of you, alright? But you can't keep doing this to yourself."

"What do you mean?" Her voice comes out small.

"Let it go, Gemma. Let the pain go."

Gemma tries to jerk out of his hold, "don't—"

"I'm bringing you home," he says. "I'm bringing you home and then I'm coming back here to take care of some things, but I'll be back. Okay? I'll be back, and we'll talk."

Gemma pauses before nodding, her bottom lip wobbling. "Okay,"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," she lets herself sink into Damon's embrace. "Yeah, take me home."

•••

not edited.

not the best chapter i've written. my phone's almost dead, it's currently 102 with no ac where i live, hurricane laura— what a BITCH