[Kei Ochima]

Diana and Mason continued to rest on the couch together and watch the flames in the fireplace, though Diana's attention then shifted to the window as snow began to fall down from the sky once again. Mason followed her gaze as well and saw the snow, bringing him to smile as he lightly ran his fingers through Diana's curly hair.

"Looks like we'll be having a white Christmas again this year." Mason commented.

"Good. It makes Christmas so much better." Diana responded with a smile.

"Are you doing anything special for Christmas? Like going to see other family or anything?" Mason asked as he looked down to Diana.

"Normally we fly out to Florida to see my grandparents on Christmas but with baby April just being born my parents said that we're staying home this year. April is way too young to be traveling." Diana said.

"That makes sense." Mason lightly chuckled.

"Why don't you spend Christmas with us? Or are you going on your annual Christmas trip to the mountains with your friends?" Diana asked.

"Well Todd broke his ankle so we decided to skip the trip this year." Mason said with a sigh, always looking forward to going to the mountains.

"Have Christmas with us then." Diana smiled as she finally looked up at him, the slight frown Mason had from not going on the trip this year turning into a smile, the Werewolf nodding.

"I might need your help with something during the holiday break from college though." Diana sighed at Mason's words, knowing what he meant.

"Homework from class?" Diana asked.

"Yup. I have to do two reports that have to be at least two-thousand words long for each report."

"That's easy."

"Yeah, maybe for you. You're the smart one who likes schoolwork." Diana, Kotomi and Caroline laughed at Mason's words, Stefan, Isobel and Lexi being in the kitchen.

"When do you want to work on the assignments? We could do them together since I have homework too." Diana said.

"I guess as soon as possible. You know how long it takes me to get homework done." Mason sighed.

"Well then let's go to the Mystic Grill now and work on our homework. Since it's not opened because of the weather then it will be quiet there." Diana said as she stood up from the couch, looking at her friends. "If I tried to do my homework here then I wouldn't be able to get anything done since I would want to hang out with you." Diana laughed as Caroline and Kotomi chuckled, knowing it was true. They had tried to let Diana do homework there before but it never worked.

"I'll go drive back to the apartment and get my stuff then." Mason said as he stood up as well, handing Diana the keys to the Mystic Grill. Mason was now the manager of the restaurant, so he could basically do whatever he wanted now.

"Okay. Just be careful driving in the snow." Diana said as she watched Mason place back on his boots and jacket.

"I will." Mason smiled and gave Diana a kiss, saying goodbye to his friends and then leaving the house. Diana walked back upstairs to Damon's room and retrieved her own winter belongings, though she paused for a few moments as her gaze fell to the endless documents of Damon's victims...


Back downstairs Kotomi rested her head on Aiden's shoulder while Caroline rubbed the top of Kiseki's hand, the curly blonde giving Kiseki a kiss as Ashley came walking down the stairs. After taking her children's minds off of Damon they had fallen asleep from both the cough medicine and the tea, Abigail and Scarlet finally having the chance to sleep since their coughing has been keeping them up. Ashley placed the two mugs in the sink and walked into the living room with Lexi, Stefan and Isobel following, Kol standing by the living room window as he watched the snow fall.

"Where's Diana and Mason?" Ashley asked as she sat on the couch.

"They're going to do homework at the Grill. Mason left to go get his homework while Diana went upstairs to get her coat." Kotomi responded with a small yawn, Kol turning around and giving her a chuckle.

"Tired?" Kol asked.

"A bit. The aura training always tires me out." Kotomi responded.

"At least you've gotten a lot better at controlling it." Kol pointed out as Kotomi nodded in agreement, closing her eyes as she continued to rest her head on Aiden's shoulder. Diana then walked down the stairs in her boots, jacket, scarf and hat and headed towards the door, saying goodbye to her friends as well and left the house.

The young Witch decided to walk to the restaurant instead of taking her car so she could enjoy the winter scenery, everything being covered in snow. She only stopped by her house real quick to get her shoulder-bag with some school books and her laptop and then was outside again, the curly brunette thinking she was alone, only she wasn't. Behind the edge of the woods stood Klaus and Damon, watching as Diana made each footstep. When Damon had woken up yesterday he was in Fells Church, though he made Klaus swore that he wouldn't hurt anyone. Even though Damon turned off his humanity, his friends and family still somehow had a foothold on him. After looking at Diana now, his feelings for her began to creep their way back to the surface, the Vampire then quickly pushing them back.

"What's the plan?" Damon asked Klaus as Diana turned a street corner.

"We stalk her for a little while." Klaus smirked.

After about twenty more minutes of walking Diana finally reached the Mystic Grill and unlocked the door, stepping inside as she was greeted by the warmth of the heater that heated the room at a perfect temperature. Right after she was done taking off her jacket, hat and scarf the front door opened, Mason walking in with his laptop.

"Did you walk all the way here?" Mason asked since he didn't see Diana's new car and saw her taking off her jacket when he walked in the building.

"Maybe..." Mason sighed at Diana's response as he took off his jacket and placed his laptop on the table, walking over to Diana. As the months passed by there was the physical tension between the two that continued to build up, though they did their best to stay in control with each other. Mason didn't want to hold back anymore and neither did Diana apparently, putting her shoulder-bag on the ground as the two passionately kissed.

From outside Damon saw Diana and Mason kiss, the two disappearing behind the bar counter on the floor as something triggered in Damon. He wanted to go behind the bar and rip Mason apart, the Vampire beginning to walk across the street to enter the building until Klaus placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping the Vampire in his tracks as the two looked at each other.

"Now now Damon, let them have their fun." Klaus smirked, sensing the anger coming off of Damon. Klaus wanted to see a good show between Damon and Mason, which he knew was going to come in the matter of time. Damon gave a small growl as the two Vampires walked away from the Mystic Grill for now, planning on returning in a little while.