Faith, her fists clenched, turned sharply on her heel and stomped off, her anger radiating through the air.
Stefan watched her go, then turned to Damon with a hard look.
Stefan: Do you really mean that apology?
Damon sighed, running a hand through his hair.
Damon: Of course I do. Why else would I be here in person? If I didn't mean it, I would've just sent her a thought.
Stefan shook his head, his frustration evident.
Stefan: You have no idea how much pain you've caused her over the years.
Damon's expression faltered.
Damon: Last night, when she told you everything, I could feel it. That's what made me come here—to apologize to her in person.
Enzo, who had been watching the exchange, finally spoke.
Enzo: Where did she go?
Stefan exhaled.
Stefan: I'll talk to her. But I need both of you back at the house. And, Damon
Damon met his brother's gaze.
Stefan: You better mean this apology. If she finds out you didn't, we lose her for good.
Damon's smirk faltered, replaced by something more serious.
Damon: You really think she'd shut it off?
Stefan nodded grimly.
Stefan: Yeah. She was close to it the night she told me everything.
Damon frowned.
Damon: Yikes.
Stefan: Now is not the time for that to happen. We let it happen once before, and that was bad enough. The aftermath... was even worse.
A heavy silence settled between them.
Damon swallowed hard, his usual arrogance gone.
Damon: Stefan... I'm truly sorry, okay?
Stefan studied his brother for a moment before nodding slightly.
Stefan: Then prove it.
Stefan left to go after faith
At Crystal Cove
Faith sat near the shoreline, staring at the waves rolling in and out. The cool ocean breeze helped calm her, but her thoughts were still tangled. She knew one of her brothers would show up eventually—she just hoped it wouldn't be Damon.
Soft footsteps crunched in the sand behind her. She felt the presence immediately and knew which brother it was.
She remained still.
Stefan: Faith?
Faith: What?
Stefan approached carefully, sitting beside her.
Stefan: Maybe it's time to hear Damon out—to at least listen to what he has to say.
Faith scoffed, still staring at the ocean.
Faith: Do you trust him?
Stefan hesitated before answering.
Stefan: Faith, he came all this way after feeling your sadness last night. That means something. I think we can trust him this time.
Faith let out a slow breath.
Stefan: I know he hasn't been the best to you. But he's finally seeing that, and he wants to make up for it.
Faith finally turned to face her brother.
Faith: Stefan, you didn't answer my question.
Stefan met her gaze, unwavering.
Stefan: Yes. I trust him.
Faith shook her head, looking away again.
Faith: This isn't an easy fix.
Stefan: He knows that. He's willing to put in the effort to make things right. He finally sees how badly he broke you.
Faith ran a hand through her hair, processing.
Faith: I need a bit of time.
Stefan: Yeah. Take all the time you need.
A moment of silence passed between them, the waves filling the space where words failed.
Faith: Is he back at my house?
Stefan: I told him to go there, but he's not there right now.
Faith let out a breath of relief.
Faith: Good thing you finished the extra rooms then?
Stefan let out a small laugh.
Stefan: Yeah.
Faith hugged her knees to her chest.
Faith: I'm scared, Stefan. This is a whole new Damon I'm seeing, and I don't know what to make of it.
Stefan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Stefan: I get it. But I say give him a chance—he might just surprise you.
They left the beach and headed back to the house
AT FAITH'S HOUSE
Stefan opened the door.
Faith: Thanks.
She walked inside, and Stefan closed the door behind them.
Damon stepped out of his room.
Damon: Faith, I'm truly sorry for what I did to you. I know it's going to take time for you to see that I want to be a part of your life again.
Faith crossed her arms, her expression unreadable.
Faith: Damon, why? Why did you get mad at me and decide to treat me like crap?
Damon sighed, running a hand through his hair.
Damon: Honestly? The night after we lost Aunt Edith, I wanted to protect you from getting hurt again. That's why I was so pushy about you talking to Valerie that night. I guess when we turned, that instinct got amplified, and it took me a while to realize that was the issue.
Faith listened in silence as he continued.
Damon: The nightmares and everything else I did to you... It was because I was mad. Mad that you waited so long for us to turn. We had normal lives, things were going okay for us. But a part of me was angry at myself for hurting you, and instead of dealing with it, I just thought it was easier to mess with you.
Damon looked down, guilt evident in his features.
Damon: Faith, I'm truly sorry for my actions—the night before we turned, and everything after.
A sudden knock at the door made them all freeze.
Faith shot Damon a look.
Faith: Damon, go to your room.
Damon hesitated but obeyed, disappearing into his room.
Stefan listened for a moment.
Stefan: It's a human.
Faith exhaled sharply.
Faith: Yikes.
The knock came again.
Stefan: Open it.
Faith opened the door.
Bob: Stefan, some of the guys are leaving town to help nearby towns rebuild. Are you interested in helping us?
Stefan: I'd love to, but my wife won't let me leave this town.
Bob nodded.
Bob: Oh, okay then.
Bob turned and left. Stefan closed the door behind him, turning to look at Faith.
Damon reappeared from his room, his gaze sharp as it landed on Faith's neck.
Damon: Faith... what happened?
Faith: I'm fine, Damon.
Stefan stepped in.
Stefan: Damon, it was me. I got hurt helping the crew build something in town, and Faith bailed me out of the hospital. I was acting up, and it was her idea.
Damon raised a brow.
Damon: Woah. But... you two didn't feel anything?
Faith: No, Damon. That's only with soulmates.
Damon blinked in surprise.
Damon: But I thought—
Faith: No. That would be gross.
Stefan chuckled slightly before shifting the conversation.
Stefan: Back to what you were saying, Damon?
Damon straightened.
Damon: Right.
Faith met his gaze, her voice calmer now.
Faith: Damon... It's going to take time for me to see if you genuinely mean what you said. I need time to process it.
Damon nodded without hesitation.
Damon: Take all the time you need.
Faith turned and walked into her room, closing the door behind her.
IN FAITH'S ROOM
Faith sat on her bed, letting out a shaky breath. as soon as she closed her eyes, her mind was pulled into the past—the night she made the decision that changed everything.
LONDON, 1726 – AUNT EDITH'S HOUSE
Faith stood in the dimly lit living room, waiting. The officers and paramedics had finally left. The silence felt suffocating.
Stefan had already gone up to his room.
Damon lingered nearby, watching her.
Damon: Faith?
Faith turned to him, her expression unreadable.
Faith: I have an idea.
Damon: What?
Faith took a deep breath.
Faith: I still have the drink. We can do it tonight.
Damon frowned.
Damon: Why?
Faith met his gaze.
Faith: Let's see... we've got no one left to take care of us. We don't even know if we have any other living family members. I figured it's the safest option we have, Damon.
Damon let out a heavy sigh.
Faith: Come on. You bugged me about this before, but you said it was my choice when we do it. And I'm choosing now.
Damon hesitated, then nodded.
Damon: Fine. But did the witch tell you exactly what to do?
Faith: Yeah. It's easy—we drink the potion, then we have to die with it in our system. After that, we need to feed on a human to complete the transition.
Damon scoffed.
Damon: Sounds easy enough.
Stefan suddenly came down the stairs.
Stefan: We're doing it tonight?
Faith: Yes.
Stefan looked between them, processing.
Stefan: But... how do the three of us die?
Damon: Easy. We walk into traffic.
Faith shot him a deadpan look.
Faith: Not that idea.
Stefan thought for a moment.
Stefan: What about stabbing ourselves with knives?
Faith nodded.
Faith: That works.
Damon headed to the kitchen while Faith went to retrieve the drink from her room. When she came back downstairs, Damon was waiting with three knives.
She took the first sip of the drink, then passed it to Stefan. Stefan took his sip, then handed it to Damon, who downed the last bit.
Then, without hesitation, they each took a knife, plunging the blades into their own chests.
The world faded to black.
Hours later, they awoke.
Their bodies felt... different.
The hunger gnawed at them immediately, undeniable and overwhelming.
Without another word, they stepped outside—into the night—to complete their transformation. To feed.
BACK TO THE PRESENT
Faith snapped out of her thoughts, blinking as she looked around her room. It felt like only moments had passed, but she had clearly lost track of time.
The door creaked open, and Stefan stepped inside.
Noticing her distant expression, he walked over and sat beside her on the bed.
Stefan: You okay?
Faith let out a soft sigh.
Faith: Yeah... I was just thinking, and... well, yikes.
Stefan: What were you thinking about?
Faith glanced at him before looking down at her hands.
Faith: The night our lives changed forever.
Stefan's expression shifted, understanding immediately.
Stefan: Oh... that night.
Faith: Yeah. That night.
A moment of silence stretched between them.
Finally, Stefan spoke gently.
Stefan: I know you might not want to hear this right now... but Damon really means everything he's said to you.
Faith shook her head slightly.
Faith: I'm just in shock by it all. I'm going to need time.
Stefan nodded.
Stefan: I get it.
Faith leaned back slightly, exhaling.
Faith: This week has been nothing but bad news. First, dealing with the fact that my friends left... and now this.
Stefan gave her a reassuring look.
Stefan: I know. But it'll get easier soon, I promise.
Faith gave him a small, hopeful smile.
Faith: I hope so.
Stefan got up and walked into his room, leaving Faith alone with her thoughts.
IN STEAFN'S ROOM
Damon stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
Damon: I owe you an apology as well.
Stefan glanced at him, slightly confused.
Stefan: What for?
Damon sighed, running a hand through his hair.
Damon: When you found me and we started bonding, I never told you what I did to Faith back then. I'm sorry I broke our sister. I even sent her a thought once, telling her not to tell you. Over the years, I know she wanted to, so badly. She knew you would find a way to fix it. But I wasn't ready for that... I wanted to give myself time to own up to my actions.
Stefan studied his brother for a moment before nodding.
Stefan: Damon, I get it. You're finally seeing things clearly. But do you have a plan to fix it?
Damon: Of course I do.
Stefan: Like what?
Damon: Right now, I'm giving Faith time to process my apology. After that, I plan to talk to her more—do sibling-bonding-type things. Try to rebuild what I broke.
Before Stefan could respond, there was a knock at the door again.
AT THE FRONT DOOR
Faith walked over and opened it.
It was Bob again.
Bob: Oh, hi. Is Stefan home?
Stefan came over to the door.
Bob: I forgot to tell you—me and the guys are going to get drinks tomorrow after work. Are you able to join us?
Stefan: Yeah, I'm able to join you guys.
Bob then glanced at Faith, curiosity in his eyes.
Bob: Stefan, you never mentioned your wife's name.
Stefan gave a small smile, gesturing toward Faith.
Stefan: Oh, her name is Faith. She's the one who opened the door.
Faith stood next to Stefan, offering Bob a polite nod.
Stefan: I'll see you tomorrow.
Bob gave a wave before walking off, leaving Stefan and Faith standing in the doorway.
Faith closed the door behind her.
Faith: I hate this, Stefan.
Stefan: We've got to keep it up for a bit longer.
Damon leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
Damon: What would my cover be?
Stefan: I could say you're my cousin from out of town.
Damon smirked.
Damon: me and Stefan could work on this idea I have.
Faith: What idea?
Damon: Me and Stefan slowly build a big house here.
Faith raised an eyebrow.
Faith: Why not just add to this house?
Damon: We could do that.
Stefan: What's the reason behind this idea?
Damon: To make this house a more permanent home. We have houses in other places, but none of them ever really feel like home.
Faith considered it for a moment.
Faith: I do like the idea, especially since Stefan and I are already helping with the town's development.
Stefan: I mean, I've already added three rooms to the house.
Faith: We can come up with the design and go from there.
Damon: I was thinking of making the house three stories or maybe more. The reason for it is that people like us could have a place to stay.
At those words, Faith's expression changed. Without saying a word, she turned and walked outside.
Damon looked at Stefan, confused.
Damon: What just happened?
Stefan sighed.
Stefan: Give her a minute.
OUTBACK OF FATIH'S HOUSE
Faith sat down in the yard, lost in thought.
Inside Faith's Thoughts
MYSITC HOLLOW - TWO YEARS AGO
faith meet up with her friends in the one spot they have
Sophie leaned over a wooden table, a map of the town spread out before her.
Sophie: I was thinking we could build a big house for people like us. Somewhere near Faith's house in the woods. I doubt anyone would want to develop that part of town anyway.
Zoey grinned.
Zoey: I'm on board with this idea!
Faith nodded.
Faith: I like it. The three of us could help the people who come through.
Zoey: It would be amazing if we could pull this off.
Sophie tapped her chin thoughtfully.
Sophie: Yeah, but we'd need husbands who are good with their hands to make it happen.
Faith smirked.
Faith: I know someone who could help.
Both girls looked at her, curious.
Zoey: Faith, you don't have any family.
Faith's smirk faded slightly.
Faith: Not family, but I do have friends outside of town.
Sophie raised an eyebrow.
Sophie: Really?
Zoey scoffed.
Zoey: I highly doubt that.
BACK TO THE PRESENT
Faith blinked, coming out of her thoughts.
Damon had come outside and was now standing nearby, watching her.
Damon: You okay?
Faith jumped slightly, startled by his voice.
Damon held up his hands.
Damon: Whoa, I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to check on you. I'm sorry if it was something I said.
Faith looked up at him, her emotions unreadable.
Faith walked past Damon without a word and went into the house.
Damon stood there for a moment, watching her disappear inside.
INSIDE THE HOUSE
Stefan looked up as Faith entered.
Stefan: You okay?
Faith: Yeah... I was just thinking about something.
Damon quietly stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
Faith headed straight into her room without another word.
Damon glanced at Stefan.
Damon: What happened?
Stefan: I have no clue what's going on with her this time.
Damon sighed, running a hand through his hair.
Stefan: She's all for your idea, though. We can start working on it.
Damon: I want to make sure she's truly up for it before we do anything.
At that moment, Faith came out of her room.
Faith: I'm all for your idea, Damon. I just had a moment—something me and my friends once talked about came back to me.
Stefan tilted his head.
Stefan: Something you, Zoey, and Sophie talked about?
Faith sighed, crossing her arms.
Faith: Yeah. The three of us talked about building a big house for people like us to have a place here. When Damon was explaining his idea, that memory just came rushing back to me.
Stefan: Maybe if they write you a letter, they'll change their minds and come back.
Faith: I highly doubt it. Zoey is stuck with her mom, and Sophie is on her own for now.
Stefan: You never know, though.
Faith: True.
Damon: Stefan and I can start working on the idea tomorrow.
Faith: Do it at night so you two can use speed.
Stefan smirked.
Stefan: That's actually smart thinking.
Damon: We just need to work on the blueprints first, then go from there.
Faith: Once it's done, we can gather our things that are scattered all over the place.
Stefan: Yeah, but we can go one at a time.
Faith: I'm going first—I have the most places to check.
Stefan: Alright, then.
Damon: Most of my things are still in London, but they're spread out.
Stefan: Mine and Faith's are scattered all over.
Faith nodded and then went back into her room.
A FEW DAY'S LATER
Stefan and Damon got to work on the house, slowly building it piece by piece under the cover of night.
One evening, Faith received a letter in the mail. The handwriting on the envelope made her heart skip a beat. She rushed into her room to read it in private.
She unfolded the letter, eyes scanning the words eagerly.
Dear Faith, I finally made it somewhere safe with my mom. I really miss you and Sophie.We found a group of people like us and decided to settle in a small house in the woods, away from town so we don't draw attention to ourselves.I might come to visit soon—I just need to talk to my mom and see if she's okay with it. I really want to see you.I know we talked about building the house... Maybe you can talk to Stefan and see if he can help make it happen.—Zoey
Faith set the letter down, her mind racing.
Just then, Stefan and Damon walked into her room.
Stefan approached her, concern in his eyes.
Damon leaned against the doorframe.
Stefan: Faith?
Faith rushed over to her desk, grabbing a pen and paper, immediately beginning to draft her reply.
Stefan: Did you get a letter from Zoey?
Faith: Yeah... and it's good news.
Stefan: Really?
Faith: She might be able to come back. Maybe just her, but possibly her mom too.
Damon crossed his arms.
Damon: How?
Faith: The house idea.
Stefan raised an eyebrow.
Stefan: You really think she'd come back for that?
Faith: Well, in the letter, she told me to ask you, Stefan, to work on the house. She might stop by, but her mom really likes the town they're in now.
Damon: Still nothing from your other friend?
Faith's shoulders slumped slightly.
Faith: Unfortunately, nothing yet.
A FEW MONRTH'S LATER
Faith's brothers were finally close to finishing the house.
There was a knock at the door.
Faith opened it and froze.
Zoey: Hi.
Faith: Long time no see.
Zoey stepped inside, looking around.
Zoey: Woah.
Faith: It's almost done. There are just a few more things that need to be finished, but it's coming together.
Zoey glanced around again, then turned back to Faith.
Zoey: Is Damon back? After he left?
Faith: Yeah, he's back. He's been trying to make amends with me, but... it's been a slow process.
Zoey raised an eyebrow.
Zoey: Woah. That's big news.
Faith: Yeah, it all happened after you and Sophie left.
Suddenly, Faith received a thought from Damon.
Damon Get your butt to the hospital to bail out Stefan. They won't let me do it.
Faith sighed.
Faith: Zoey, I'll be right back—I have to go help my brother.
Zoey: I can come with you, then.
Faith: Let's go, then.
AT THE HOSPITAL
Faith approached the reception desk to find out what room Stefan was in.
Inside the room, Stefan was sitting on the hospital bed, looking slightly frustrated.
Stefan: Sorry, I know... but the crew thinks I hurt my hand.
Faith: It's fine.
Stefan: I'm sorry.
Faith: Let's go now.
They walked out of the room.
Damon was waiting outside and saw them.
Zoey, who had been following behind, saw Damon as well.
AT FAITH'S HOUSE
Faith: Well, Zoey came to visit and, well...
Damon smirked slightly.
Damon: I'm Damon, the older brother. I'm sure you've heard a bit about me.
Zoey: Hi, I'm Zoey. I'm a witch. I know what you are, Damon. Faith hasn't said a whole lot about you, though.
Damon raised an eyebrow.
Damon: Oh, really?
Faith crossed her arms.
Faith: Zoey doesn't know much about the two of you. She's only met Stefan. The only thing she knows about you is that she heard you knocking on the door that night. She knows how we died—that's it.
Zoey's expression hardened slightly.
Zoey: I came back because my mom has started to change... and I needed to get away from her.
Faith sighed.
Faith: It's a good thing my brothers are almost done with the house.
Zoey: Have you heard from Sophie?
Faith: No... have you?
Zoey hesitated, looking unsure.
Zoey: Umm...
Before she could finish, Stefan stepped out of his room, followed by Damon.
Both brothers looked at Zoey and Faith, sensing the tension in the air.
Zoey hesitated before speaking.
Zoey: In my travels, I saw her... but her mate treated her badly, and he, umm...
Faith: He what?
Stefan could see Faith's hands clenching into fists.
Stefan: Faith, why don't you sit down to hear the rest of what Zoey has to say?
Faith shot Stefan a death glare, her body tense with anxiety.
Zoey: Umm... he saw me, and he harmed her really bad.
Zoey reached into her bag and pulled out a letter, her hands slightly trembling.
Zoey: She wrote this for you before... before it happened.
Faith took the letter, her fingers ghosting over Sophie's handwriting. As realization sank in, she sank to the floor, breaking down in tears.
Stefan and Damon rushed to her side.
Zoey: Faith, I'm so sorry... we had no clue that was going to happen.
Faith wiped at her tears, trying to steady her breathing.
Faith: Zoey, I'm sorry you had to see that happen, but... do we know why he killed her?
Zoey swallowed hard.
Zoey: Something about her not being strong...
Faith's breath hitched, and her face paled.
Faith: Oh no...
Zoey: What?
Faith looked at her with haunted eyes.
Faith: Sophie didn't have a strong Luna.
Zoey frowned, confused.
Zoey: How do you know so much about wolves and witches?
Faith sighed, rubbing at her eyes.
Faith: I've met some over the years... and I've read a lot of books about them.