Zoey: I was wondering... what is it like for you to know that you can't die?
The room fell into silence as the three siblings exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.
Zoey: What?
Without saying a word, Faith quickly grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled something down before handing it to Zoey.
Zoey took the paper, scanning the words. When she realized what had happened, her face paled in shock.
She slowly looked up at the brothers.
Zoey: I'm not going to tell anyone.
Stefan sighed in relief but kept a serious expression.
Stefan: We're still trying to keep a low profile, and so far, we've been doing a decent job at it.
Zoey: Yeah, you three are doing a good job at it.
Stefan: Thanks.
Faith: Well, Zoey, if you'd like, you can stay here—even though the house isn't completely finished yet.
Zoey: Thanks for the offer, but I won't be staying long.
Faith narrowed her eyes, sensing something was off.
Faith: What's going on with your mom?
Zoey hesitated for a moment before speaking.
Zoey: She's been doing dark magic lately.
Faith's expression darkened.
Faith: That is not good.
Zoey: It's not just her. The group of witches we met... they're all practicing dark magic.
Faith folded her arms.
Faith: And you're around them? Do you feel safe?
Zoey looked away.
Zoey: Not really...
Faith took a step closer.
Faith: Then why not stay here?
Zoey: I want to be with my mom, but she's trying to get me to do dark magic as well...
Faith: Zoey, just stay here for a bit. Give yourself time to think.
Zoey: I know what it was like for you, Faith. I don't want to go through that—having a family member hate me for a choice I made. But I also don't want to feel like I'm disobeying my mother.
Faith placed a hand on Zoey's shoulder, her voice calm but firm.
Faith: I get it, Zoey. But you're old enough to make your own choices. You don't have to let fear decide for you. And if you choose to go on your own, I can help you.
Zoey: Thanks... Well, I don't know how to tell my mom that I want to leave her.
Faith: Why don't you take your time to think about how to do it here? If you need help, I can help you with it.
Zoey: Thanks, I just need time to sit and think.
Damon: You might want to go outside to think then—it's about to get loud in here soon.
Faith: I've got a spot we can go, Zoey. We'll leave my brothers to do the work.
Stefan: I can't tonight.
Zoey: You okay, Stefan?
Stefan: Yeah, I'm fine.
Faith shot him a knowing look.
Zoey: What's going on?
Faith: Nothing. My brothers just need some rest since they've been working non-stop on the house and helping with the town as well.
Zoey: Oh, okay.
Faith: You want to go to the spot I was talking about?
Zoey: Yeah, sure.
They left, heading towards the treehouse Faith built when she first moved to town.
AT THE TREEHOUSE
Zoey: Whoa, this place is amazing!
Faith: Thanks, I built it.
Zoey stared at Faith in complete shock.
Zoey: Wait, what? You built this?
Faith: Yeah, I wasn't going to wait around for Stefan to get here and do it for me.
Zoey: I had no clue you knew how to build things.
Faith: I do.
Zoey: Are we spending the night here?
Faith: We can if you want to. It's up to you.
Zoey leaned back, looking up at the stars through the tree branches.
Zoey: What's it like having Damon back?
Faith: It's still all new, really. There are things that happened... things that made him act out and treat me differently.
Zoey: Oh... okay.
Faith: Yeah.
Suddenly, Faith heard a sound in the woods nearby. Her body tensed up slightly, her senses sharpening. Zoey noticed the shift in her posture.
Zoey: You okay?
Faith: Yeah... I'm fine.
Zoey: I want to know the real reason why Stefan can't work on the house tonight.
Faith: Oh, he needs animal blood. He and Damon are going to be in the woods all night.
Zoey: Why don't you need it?
Faith: I don't waste my energy like they have been doing.
Zoey: Oh...
Faith: The reason why the house is almost done is that my brothers have been using their super speed to work on it.
Zoey: Whoa.
Faith: Yeah, I'm happy it's almost done, but at the same time, I'm not. Since once it is, I'll have to travel to all my old... sort-of homes I have all over.
Zoey: I'm sure it will be okay.
Faith: There's one place I really don't want to go back to... but I have to.
Zoey: Where's that?
Faith: London.
Zoey: You haven't been there since you turned.
Faith: Nope, not once. Damon has been staying there for a bit, but Stefan and I just kept traveling.
Zoey: Where have you not been to?
Faith: France. Stefan and I were planning on going there, but we never did.
Zoey: I'm sure one day you'll get there.
Faith: Yeah, I'm sure I will.
Zoey: We should head back soon.
Faith: I haven't shown you the best part of this place yet.
Zoey: Oh? What would that be?
Faith: There's enough room in here for two beds.
Faith looked up at the ceiling.
Zoey: You thought about bringing someone else up here?
Faith: Not really, I just wanted to be ready in case I did.
Zoey: Oh, okay.
Faith: Have you thought about what you'll tell your mom?
Zoey: Not yet...
Faith got up, pulled a string, and a bed lowered from the ceiling.
Zoey: A pulley system?
Faith: Yeah, the beds take up a bit of space, so I made them retractable.
Zoey: That's actually cool
Faith: I was thinking, since you're in town for a bit, you could stay here. No worries, I'd make sure you have everything you need. The reason being is that—
A loud crashing sound echoed from the house, cutting Faith off mid-sentence. She tensed, instantly alert.
Faith: Will you excuse me?
She rushed off without another word.
At Faith's House
Faith hurried inside, scanning the room for the source of the noise. Stefan stood nearby, looking just as on edge.
Stefan: You okay?
Faith: I'm fine. But did you go and feed yet?
Stefan: I was about to, but I heard the crash and came straight here.
Faith: Figures. Damon is working with Enzo on the roof tonight, I guess.
Stefan: Seems like it.
Just then, Damon dropped down from the roof, landing smoothly in the living room. His usual smug expression was in place as he dusted off his hands.
Damon: I got Enzo to help me tonight.
Faith: You could've told us, Damon. Tomorrow night, it's just Stefan working on it since you and Enzo need rest.
Damon: Fine, fine. But how much longer do you think this is gonna take?
Stefan: Not much longer.
Faith: Great, then I'm off to travel to my old places.
Stefan shot her a look, instantly wary.
Stefan: You're really going back after all this time?
Faith: I need my things. And I can't go alone—Zoey has a lot on her plate already. I don't want to add to that.
Stefan: I'll go with you.
Faith: I was actually thinking Damon should come with me—he knows England the best.
Stefan: We have a ball to attend by the end of this week.
Faith: Oh, great...
Damon: Then we push it back a bit.
Stefan: By one day only, Damon. It's not a big deal.
Faith: I'd love to stay and chat more, but I need to get back to Zoey.
Both her brothers stared at her.
Faith: I built a treehouse. It's got beds in it, fully enclosed and everything.
Without waiting for a response, she left.
AT THE TREEHOUSE
Faith climbed up the ladder, pulling herself onto the wooden platform. Zoey sat cross-legged on one of the beds, looking relieved when she saw her.
Zoey: There you are! I was getting worried.
Faith: I'm fine. Stefan and I heard a noise from the house, and, well, we knew Damon wasn't going to stop working on the roof. It turns out that he has his friend Enzo to help him.
Zoey: Oh, okay.
Faith: Oh, and one more thing... This Friday, there's a ball. The new mayor wants everyone to attend.
Zoey: Oh... I was thinking of just skipping it.
Faith: No, you're not skipping it.
Zoey: how exactly am I supposed to go?
Faith: We'll have Damon take you.
Zoey: And what makes you think he'll agree to that idea?
Faith: Given that we're not far from the house, I'd say it's worth a shot.
Zoey: Faith, I really don't think this is a good idea...
Faith: Oh, come on. It's bad enough that I have to pretend I'm married to my younger brother. That alone is revolting for me.
Zoey: Fine. But are you 100% sure Damon will be willing?
Faith: I'm sure. And if not, then you'll go with Enzo.
Zoey: Really, Faith?
Faith: Yes. You're going, and I don't care how, but you are going. It'll be way less boring for me if you're there.
Just then, Stefan appeared, climbing up the ladder into the treehouse. He glanced around in surprise.
Stefan: Whoa...
Faith: What are you doing here?
Stefan: I wanted to check on the two of you.
Faith: We're fine. I was just trying to convince Zoey to go to the ball.
Stefan: Oh, really?
Faith: Yeah.
Zoey: Faith wants me to go with either Damon or Enzo.
Stefan: It'll work.
Faith: We can ask in the morning before you three leave.
Stefan: About that...
Faith: What?
Zoey: What's wrong?
Stefan: We need to wear real-looking rings, though.
Faith: I have rings that'll work for me.
Stefan: I left mine in New York.
Faith: Of course, you left it somewhere.
Zoey: Stefan, why do you even have a wedding band just lying around?
Stefan sighed, hesitating.
Faith: Wait... Stefan... You took Dad's ring?
Stefan: Umm...
Faith: Wait—does he know?!
Stefan: He's the one who gave it to me. He told me to keep it for when I found the one.
Faith's expression softened for a moment before realization hit.
Faith: You... haven't found the one since...
Stefan looked down at the ground, avoiding her gaze.
Faith: Sorry... I forgot we still can't talk about her.
Stefan: It's fine.
Faith: So how do we get it?
Stefan: I'd need to drain a human to speed up and back in time to get it.
Faith: But—
Zoey: Whoa...
Faith: Sorry, Zoey. I know you're feeling uneasy about this.
Zoey: Yeah... yikes.
Faith: I'll explain everything to you another time.
Zoey: Okay...
Stefan: Faith, I'll be back Friday morning.
Faith: Okay, but please don't do anything stupid between now and then.
Stefan: Got it.
With that, Stefan climbed back down the ladder, disappearing into the night.
Zoey: I have never felt that much sadness from one person...
Faith: I know. You want to know who and what happened to them.
Zoey: Let me guess—some girlfriend before he turned, and after he turned, he left her?
Faith: One part is right, the other part is not.
Zoey: I'm guessing the first part is right and the last part is wrong?
Faith: Yeah, the first part is right.
Zoey: Did he... hurt her?
Faith: Umm... he—
Zoey: he What?
Faith: How about I just show you the memory of what happened that night?
Faith moved closer to Zoey and concentrated, bringing the memory of that night to the surface. She let Zoey see what she had seen back then...
Faith's Memory – The Night After They Turned
Faith had been searching for Stefan when she finally found him, sitting on the ground, shaking. His face was stained with blood, and his eyes were filled with anguish. He was crying—completely broken.
Faith hesitated for only a moment before stepping closer.
Faith: Stefan...
Stefan looked up at her, his face twisted in pain. He didn't say anything, but she could feel the guilt radiating off him.
Without another word, she knelt down and wrapped her arms around him. He didn't resist. He just clung to her as if she was the only thing holding him together.
Stefan: I... I killed her...
Faith: Shh... it's okay...
Stefan: No, it's not, Faith!
Faith: Come on. Why don't we go somewhere else for a bit?
Stefan looked up at her, his expression hollow. Faith glanced at the lifeless body nearby, swallowing hard before standing up and offering him her hand.
Stefan: Where are we going?
Faith: I say we go to Germany for a bit.
Stefan: ...Okay.
BACK TO THE PRESENT
Zoey: Wait... she was his girlfriend? And after he turned, he—
Faith: After that night, he gave up on love entirely. He's been completely broken since then.
Zoey: Whoa...
Faith: Yeah. I get it—it's a lot to take in.
Zoey: But you never found Damon after that?
Faith: I helped Stefan for a while. Once he got better, he left me and went with Damon... then eventually went off on his own. I did the same. Sometimes, Stefan and I would meet up and pretend to be married when it was necessary, but we haven't done that since New York.
Zoey: Why didn't you ever go looking for Damon?
Faith: We have this... sense thing. Like right now, both of my brothers are at the house. They can sense where I am, just like I can sense where they are. Damon barely ever left England. I'm still scared to go back there because... the night we turned, I got Stefan to leave with me. Damon... he did things to me.
Zoey: I think I'm better off going with Enzo...
Faith: I'll try my best to talk to him for you. If I can't, I'll have Damon do it.
Zoey: Thanks.
Just then, Damon climbed up the ladder into the treehouse, his usual smirk in place.
Faith: Yes, Damon? What do you want?
Damon: Whoa there...
Faith: I know you're shocked I did this.
Damon: Yeah, a little. But about your idea—I can talk to Enzo. I just need someone to go with him.
Faith: Why can't you?
Damon: He'll get mad at me.
Faith: I doubt that.
Damon: Faith, please...
Faith: I have to act like I'm taking care of the house. I can't just leave to go with him.
Damon: Fine, but—
Faith: I'm sure he won't be mad at you, okay? He knows why... hopefully.
Damon: We might lose him after this idea.
Faith: It's just one person, and he hasn't seen her since...
Damon: What?
Faith: He's been surviving on animal blood ever since he hurt her.
Damon: That's not what he told me.
Faith: Damon, we know he says things just to please you sometimes. You're his older brother—he still looks up to you in some ways.
Damon: He told me he fed in Germany when he was there alone.
Faith: Damon, we would have felt the energy surge if he did.
Damon: Faith, that hasn't worked in who knows how long for the three of us.
Faith: It still works for me.
Damon: Even with me?
Faith: Yeah, even with you.
Before Damon could respond, Stefan climbed up the ladder and joined them.
Stefan: Before you two jump the gun, let's settle this. Since you're scared I might do something reckless, Damon is going with me. Faith made a good point—we're trying to keep a low profile.
Damon: Wait—so you admit you've lied about this to me before?
Stefan: Sometimes... yes. And don't forget, I can sense when you two decide to have a moment and kill a human.
Faith: Oops... Is that why you showed up when you did?
Stefan: Partly, yes. Partly, no.
Damon: Wait, so why does the sense thing still work for the two of you, but not for me?
Stefan: Damon, when was the last time yours worked?
Damon: No clue.
Faith: Yikes... the anger must have messed with it. Eventually, it'll come back.
Damon: Great.
Stefan: Anyway—Faith, if Veronica comes to the house looking for Bob, please play dumb.
Damon: Whoa there, brother. What did Bob do to you?
Zoey: It's not what he did—it's what he said that's making Stefan mad at him.
Faith: Bob said something about me and you?
Stefan: Maybe...
Faith: Stefan?
Stefan: Yeah, he did. And you can probably guess what.
Faith: Let me guess... he suggested we should have kids?
Damon shook his head no, but Stefan sighed heavily.
Stefan: He's insisting that we have kids. that he wants to take care of them.
Zoey: Yikes... That's just creepy. Now we get why you're mad.
Faith: I can play stupid, but why wait to say something? I could have talked to Veronica.
Stefan: It's easier if you don't have to deal with it.
Damon: Well, in that case, we figured out who, but how do we get it to work?
Faith: Invite him over for drinks?
Zoey: Sounds like you've done this before, Faith...
Faith: Here and there.
Stefan: That might work.
Damon: We've got only two days to figure this out.
Faith: That's on you, Damon. I have to help Zoey. But I'll handle the Veronica part.
Stefan: Fine.
Faith: If you really need my help, just send a thought.
Damon: One last thing—when we come back, will Veronica show up?
Faith: Most likely. But by the time she makes her way here, you three will already be gone.
THURSDAY NIGHT – FAITH'S HOUSE
Stefan invited Bob over for drinks, while Damon helped prepare.
Stefan: Bob, why don't you and your wife have kids? You two seem like a young couple.
Bob: Oh, Veronica refuses to have kids. She has a medical condition that makes it difficult...
Damon: That's got to be hard to process.
Bob: It's gotten easier over the years, but not by much.
Stefan: That must have been hard to deal with in the beginning?
Bob sighed, rubbing his hands together as he thought back.
Bob: It was super hard in the beginning. I knew about it before we got married, but her family forced us into it. Most of the women in this town can't have kids. It's... weird.
Damon exchanged a look with Stefan, silently signaling him to move toward the couch.
Bob suddenly got up and headed toward the door.
Stefan: Bob, why are you leaving?
Bob: It's getting late, and my wife has no clue where I am.
Stefan: My wife, Faith, is with Veronica. They're discussing some changes the mayor should consider for the town.
Bob: Oh... okay.
Bob hesitated, then made his way over to the couch again.
Damon: So, Bob, are you from here originally?
Bob: I've been in this town my whole life.
Stefan: Oh wow.
Damon: Are you always so welcoming to the new people in town, like me and my cousin?
Bob: We're all welcoming.
Stefan: We just noticed... out of everyone, you seem to be more welcoming than most. Not a lot of people have noticed me or my wife.
Bob: How is your wife, by the way?
Stefan: She's good.
Bob: Does she have any medical conditions?
Stefan: No.
Damon knew immediately—Stefan was getting mad.
AT THE TREEHOUSE
Zoey: What's wrong?
Faith: Stefan is about to snap. I guess his plan is to get mad enough, then kill Bob. Damon is there, so I'm not too worried.
Zoey: I've been thinking about what I'd say to my mother.
Faith: Great.
Zoey: I'd say: 'Mom, look, I'm 18 now. I need to do things on my own, and I know how to take care of myself. I know you want what's best for me, and I'll do my best to make that happen.'
Faith: That is exactly what you need to tell her.
Just then, Enzo found them and climbed up into the treehouse.
Enzo: They told me you built this, Faith.
Faith: I did.
She suddenly froze, her body tensing.
Faith: Well, Enzo... I may need some help.
A thought from Damon came through to her mind.
"We're off now. Deal with the body and take care of the other part, please."
Zoey: Faith?
Enzo: Stefan killed Bob?
Faith: Actually... they both did. They figured Damon was going to need a bit to catch up to my brother.
Enzo: Okay... I'm off to hide the body then.
Faith: I want to check something before you do, though.
She turned to Zoey.
Faith: Zoey, we can stay in the house tonight. No one else will be there—Enzo's got a place of his own in town.
The three of them made their way down from the treehouse and into Faith's house.
INSIDE FAITH'S HOUSE
Faith moved toward the couch, her expression unreadable.
Enzo: What's wrong?
Faith lightly tapped Bob's head to make sure it was still intact.
Enzo and Zoey exchanged confused looks. Then, Zoey remembered what Faith had shown her earlier.
Enzo: Faith, what's wrong?
Faith: Nothing. I just wanted to make sure Stefan didn't get too carried away.
Zoey: Is he going to be okay?
Faith: Yeah. They'll be back soon anyway.
Zoey: I thought you said they wouldn't be back until morning?
Faith: Not really.
Enzo: Wait... are they speeding up and back?
Faith: Stefan knows exactly where he's going and what he's looking for.
Zoey: So vampire speed is like... super speed?
Faith: Yeah, pretty much.
A sudden poof sound echoed through the house.
Faith: See? Told you it wouldn't take long.
Damon: Why is the body still here?
Stefan turned to look at Faith, his expression tense.
Faith: Stefan, it's okay.
Damon: Am I missing something?
Faith: Damon, since you're back, you deal with it.
Damon sighed heavily.
Faith: Please?
Stefan, looking guilty, quietly stepped out the back door. Faith immediately followed after him.
Faith: Stefan?
Stefan stopped but didn't turn around.
Faith carefully walked up to him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Stefan: I can't believe I did that...
Faith gave his shoulder a light tap, trying to bring him back to the moment.
Faith: Stefan?
Stefan: What?
Faith: Whoa there...
Stefan: Sorry, still recovering from being that mad.
Faith: We should tell or show Damon what happened that night.
Stefan: No, Faith. He can't know that. There's something else he doesn't know.
Faith: I know... but Stefan, if he knew, he could find a way to help you when you're like this.
INSIDE THE HOUSE
Enzo: What's going on?
Damon: Not sure. I just know something's not right with Stefan.
Zoey quietly slipped into one of the rooms, giving them space.
Damon: I'll deal with the body later.
Damon started making his way toward the door when Faith sent him a thought.
Faith, Stay in the house, please.
Damon, Faith, he's not doing okay.
Faith, I know. I got this.
Damon, I still need to deal with the body.
Faith, I'll take him to the treehouse then.
Damon What can't I know?
Faith, Later, okay?
Damon, Fine...
BACK OUTSIDE
Faith: Why don't we head to the treehouse?
Stefan silently made his way to the treehouse, his steps heavy with lingering frustration.
Meanwhile, Damon dragged Bob's lifeless body outside, grabbing a shovel. With practiced efficiency, he started digging, the rhythmic sound of the shovel cutting through the earth the only noise in the quiet night.
Enzo, seeing that his part in this was done, gave a brief nod and headed back to his own place, disappearing into the darkness.