~•⚜️•~

Imogen Avery, Elena Gilbert and Matt Donovan were jogging around the neighborhood. The two invited the Immortal to jog with them and the noirette was reluctant at first. Elena knew why because of the incident with Esther. The doppelgänger assured her along with Matt that they understand her for what she has done because Stefan told the two and the others what she told him the night before.

Imogen and Matt glanced at each other before looking at Elena, who was jogging ahead of them. The noirette felt the doppelgänger's emotions, she was upset and. Elena felt responsible for Abby's vampirism because Damon turned Bonnie's mom to save her life.

"What are we running, a marathon?" Matt asked loudly so Elena would hear..

"If you can't keep up." Elena retorted.

"Elena, you can't outrun your problems." Imogen said as she and Matt stopped running and decided to walk while the brunette continued running.

Matt turned to the noirette. "You're one to talk." he retorted.

Imogen narrowed her eyes at him and playfully smacked him on the shoulder. "Not funny, Matthew."

Matt laughed and took a large step back from her before the beautiful noirette could him again.

"Hey, I'm just kidding." Matt said as he slings an arm around Imogen's shoulders and grinned. "Thanks for healing my hand."

Imogen smiled softly at him. "You're welcome but it's the least thing I could do after what Kol did to you."

Imogen looked at Elena. "She's upset." she said.

She and Matt turned to look at Elena, who continued running. She was already far away from them.

"She blames herself for what happened to Bonnie's mom." The noirette added.

Matt nodded. "Yeah. Hey, Elena! I talked to Bonnie!"

Elena, hearing Matt, stopped running and turned to him and Imogen, who quickly walked over to her.

"What did she say?" Elena asked him.

"They're at her mom's house. Abby is gonna complete the transition." Matt told her.

"She decided to become a vampire?" Elena asked as Matt nodded.

"Yeah. Caroline's gonna help her through it. Teach her to control it and stuff."

Elena looked away for a second. "Did Bonnie say, is there anything I can do?"

"She knows it's not your fault, Elena, she's just upset." Matt assured her.

Elena shakes her head. "Damon turned her mom into a vampire to save my life. It's absolutely my fault."

Elena turned around as Matt and Imogen panted. "You're gonna make us run more, aren't you?" Matt asked.

"I thought we're jogging. No one said about running." Imogen said. "I shouldn't have come."

Matt turned to her and laughed. "You're a little rusty for a powerful Immortal Being."

Imogen playfully glared at him. "I hate you."

"Well, I like you." Matt retorted.

Imogen rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Matthew."

Elena sighed at the two behind her when suddenly her phone rings. Imogen and Matt stopped fooling around and turned to her.

"Who is it?" Matt asked.

"Sheriff Forbes, is everything okay?" Elena asked, holding her phone against her ear.

Imogen and Matt glanced at each other.

"He what?" Elena asked shock.

"Alaric." Imogen said as Matt and Elena turned to her.

~•~•~

Imogen was told by Rebekah that she was at the Mystic Grill with Carol Lockwood, Tyler's mom and the current mayor of Mystic Falls and wanted to know more about the new White Oak Tree. The stunning noirette was worried just like Rebekah about the tree. She told the blonde Original to be careful not to ask too much questions related to the tree or else someone will eventually find out what she wants to know and interfere.

Later that night, she got a call from Matt that he and Elena broke into Meredith Fell's apartment. The same woman who daggered Kol the night Esther did her ritual, which failed. The two told her that Meredith had a secret compartment in her closet, like a true founder she is, Elena said, and found a box full of files about Brian Walter, Meredith's ex boyfriend, Bill Forbes, Caroline's dad and lastly, Alaric Saltzman. Elena and Matt also found an old Gilbert journal and the county coroner's report, which contradicts the medical examiner's, Brian, time of death. She was on her way to the police station to meet the two.

'Hey, Imogen, did you know lover boy hasn't drank blood since he tried to drive Elena off the Wickery Bridge while you were daggered by his truly?'

Imogen abruptly stopped walking as her eyes widen suddenly hearing Rebekah's voice.

'Rebekah Mikaelson, whatever you're planning on doing with Stefan, stop right this instant.' Imogen told her best friend.

"Yeah, yeah. No promises."

Imogen sighed, troubled at the thought about Stefan with Rebekah. She was worried something might happen to him. Trying to brush it off, she arrived at the police station and noticed Elena and Matt standing outside.

"Elena! Matt!"

Elena Gilbert and Matt Donovan turned and saw the beautiful Immortal running towards them.

"Imogen!" Elena said and smiled, along with Matt.

"What did Caroline's mom say?" Imogen asked.

"She already knows the time of death of the medical examiner was wrong. Meredith brought her a letter from the coroner several hours ago." Matt said.

"And she apologized for accusing Alaric. He'll be released as soon as the coroner's letter is authenticated." Elena added.

"I'm not against Alaric or anything but if he's innocent then who is responsible for killing Brian Walters and Caroline's dad?" Imogen questioned.

Elena and Matt glanced at each other, also wanting to know who is the murderer.

Imogen sighed. "Come on. Let's go."

~•~•~

Imogen, Elena and Matt were walking past the alleyway, where Stefan and Damon were currently are. The three stopped and saw the Salvatore brothers and a blonde girl lying on the ground drinking Damon's blood from his wrist.

"What are you doing?" Imogen asked and took a step forward but Matt stopped her.

Stefan turns around and saw her, Elena and Matt, staring at him with wide eyes. Imogen and Elena noticed the blood on Stefan's face.

"Stefan?" Imogen murmured as Stefan wipes the blood off of his mouth.

"Imogen."

"What are you two doing?" Elena asked loudly at the Salvatore brothers.

Imogen pushed Matt's hand away and approached the younger Salvatore. "Oh, Stefan."

Damon stood up and stood beside his brother. "Relax, Elena. Just a little experiment. There's no need to make this more dramatic than it needs to be."

Elena stared at the two vampires she loves in aghast, especially Stefan. But the green eyed Salvatore wasn't even looking at her but at the noirette, which even made her even upset.

"Elena, let's just go."

Elena continued to stare at Stefan and Imogen in jealousy

"Elena!"

Matt forced the doppelgänger to move and she eventually does. As the two walked away, Imogen remained and continued staring worriedly at Stefan. She quietly approached him as she took out a handkerchief from her pocket and gently wiped the blood on his face.

"Rebekah told me you haven't had blood for a long time because of guilt." Imogen said softly.

Damon stared at Imogen, who continued wiping off the blood from his brother's face.

"I'm sorry for what Rebekah did."

Stefan looked away from Imogen, his guilt consuming him.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Stefan mumbled.

Imogen smiled as she finished cleaning the blood on his mouth. "What's to be sorry about? Nothing."

"So, that's gonna take a little time." Damon said as Stefan turned to him and walked off. "Stefan, hey wait, Stefan. Wait!"

Damon turned to the noirette, who sighed sadly. "What? Are you gonna walk away too?"

"I just wanted to tell you that Stefan's lucky to have you in his life. His older brother. His family. I know you wanted to help him but you provoked him, Damon. You know his sensitive when it comes to drinking human blood." Imogen told the blue eyed Salvatore, who frowned as he looked away from her.

"Be the older brother you always have been to Stefan. He needs you."

~•~•~

Elena invited Imogen to her house for tonight as soon as the noirette entered the Gilbert Residence, after talking with Damon. The doppelgänger wanted to be alone and went straight to her room after saying goodbye to Matt while the Immortal walked Matt to the door.

"When you said, Once you fall in love with someone, you don't know if you can ever shake them? That someone, is it Elena? You two were ex lovers before her nonbiological parents died, right?" Imogen asked then her eyes widen after realizing what she just said. "Oh, that was personal. I'm sorry."

Matt smiled at her. "It's fine."

Imogen smiled. "Forget what I said but I agree with what you said about once you fall in love with someone, you don't know if you can ever shake them, especially in your heart."

"Who's the lucky guy?" Matt asked, smiling teasingly at her.

Imogen chuckled and shakes her head. "No, Matthew. No one."

Matt nudged her shoulder. "Come on, tell me."

Imogen laughed. "I don't know, really."

Matt nodded. "When you do, tell me, alright?"

"And why would I?" Imogen asked. "I am not oblige to tell you anything."

Matt shrugged. "Oh, nothing. Just wanted to tease you." he said, grinning. "But if you do, then I'm all ears."

Imogen chuckled in amusement with Matt. "Goodbye Matthew. Stay safe."

Matt nodded and quickly kissed the noirette on the cheek before running off. "Bye!"

Imogen furrowed her eyebrows at her friend and shakes her head in disbelief. "That guy, seriously."

The noirette was about to enter the house when she noticed someone from afar. "Alaric?!" she exclaimed.

Alaric Saltzman looked surprised when he saw the Immortal noirette. "Imogen?"

Imogen smiled and quickly walked over to her History teacher. "Are you okay?"

Alaric nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Elena's in her room. She invited me over and as her friend, I don't want her to be alone." Imogen stated and Alaric smiled at the kind noirette. "Now let's get you inside."

Imogen and Alaric entered the Gilbert residence and found Elena standing in front of them.

"Are you okay?" Elena asked Alaric.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm alright." Alarice replied as the doppelgänger embraced him.

Imogen smiled fondly at the two. "Glad to have you back, Alaric."

~•~•~

Imogen and Elena were sitting on the couch in the living room, reading the Gilbert journal

"Hey, I was gonna make some coffee." Alaric said as he descended the stairs.

"I'm good. Imogen and I are gonna head to bed in a few." Elena told him.

Imogen smiled at him. "Thanks Alaric but I don't drink coffee."

"Hey, listen, Elena." Alarice approached the doppelgänger. "The, uh, the Sheriff told me about everything you did today and while I appreciate it, I don't want you getting in trouble because of me. Okay?"

"If not for you, for who?" Elena asked.

"Well, still, I'm the one who's supposed to look after you, even if I suck at it." Alaric told her.

"Okay, well, how about we just agree to take care of each other then?" Elena suggested.

Alaric smiled. "Deal." he noticed the journal in Elena's hand. "What are you two reading there?"

"Old family journal." Elena answered.

"Any juicy family secrets?" Alaric asked.

"It's hard to tell. I mean, at first I thought it was Jonathan Gilbert's journal." Elena said.

"Actually it's Jonathan Gilbert's granddaughter's journal. Samantha Gilbert. Apparently she went just as crazy as her grandfather did." Imogen turned to Elena. "Great genes." she said sarcastically.

Elena chuckled as she got up from the couch, Imogen following.

"Well, at least you have something to look forward to." Alaric said as the two girls walked past him.

"Good night, Ric." Elena and Imogen said and smiled at him.

"Good night, girls." Alaric smiled and watched the two climbed the stairs, chatting with each other.

Imogen was sitting on Elena's bed, reading Samantha Gilbert's journal as she waited for Elena, who was changing her clothes.

"I don't feel like myself. I'm losing time. As though I'm going mad." Imogen read and looks up from the journal to see Elena in her pajamas.

"I have a theory, Elena." Imogen told the brunette. "Or I have my suspicion."

"What is it?" Elena asked, confused.

Imogen sighed quietly. "The Gilbert ring Alaric possessed, it's an enchanted object that protects its non-supernatural wearer from death and resurrects them but how many times can Alaric cheat death until it changes him? What happened a long time ago to Samantha, is also happening to Alaric."

Elena's eyes widen as she stared at Imogen. "We have to tell Ric."

She and the noirette quickly descended the stairs and heard Meredith and Alaric's conversation.

"Like the Sheriff said, the victims were killed with your weapons." Meredith told Alaric.

"Yeah, but I was attacked." Alaric argued.

"With your own knife. A wound that could have been self-inflicted." Meredith countered.

Alaric shakes his head. "It's impossible! I would know if I were killing people."

"Would you? Have you had any blackouts, instances of lost time?" Meredith asked.

"You're insane." Alaric told her.

Imogen and Elena glanced at each other then to Samantha Gilbert's journal in the noirette's hand.

"No, but I think you might be. You wear a ring that lets you cheat death, Ric. How many times can you die before it changes you?"

Imogen grabbed Elena's hand and approached the two.

Alaric sits down, Meredith sits down with him. "I think you're sick and I want to help you. This has happened before, almost 100 years ago."

Meredith noticed the two girls. Alaric turned and saw Imogen and Elena standing in the doorway.

"Elena. Imogen."

"Ric, I think she's right." Elena told him.

"Let me rephrase that." Imogen said and held up the Gilbert journal in her hands. "Meredith is right, Alaric."

~•~•~

The following day, Imogen Avery accompanied Elena and Alaric with Meredith at the Mystic Falls hospital. The three females were in the control room, preparing to scan Alaric and watched as the vampire hunter lied down on an MRI couch, to go into the MRI scanner.

"What are you looking for?" Elena asked Meredith.

Meredith turned to her. "I don't know. A tumor, vascular anomalies, anything physical that might explain his behavior. If it's medical, I can treat it."

"And if it's not?"

Meredith shrugged. "Well, then we'll deal with that too." she said as she watched a technician slides Alaric inside the machine.

"When did you suspect him?" Imogen asked. "That Alaric was the murderer?"

Meredith glanced at the beautiful noirette beside Elena. "It was after he told me about his ring. I remembered a story my grandmother had told me about Samantha Gilbert and her secret journal. I don't know if you know this, but we Fells are notorious busy-bodies." she said and smiled as the brunette and noirette smiled back.

"But then, why did you protect him?" Elena asked.

"Because I'm a doctor, I don't like to see someone hurt by something they have no control over." Meredith answered.

Imogen smiled knowingly at her. "There's more to that, isn't it?"

Meredith smiled shyly. "And because when he and I first met I felt like, I don't know, I-I just kind of want to help him."

Imogen smiled. "I know the feeling." she agreed then turned and stared ahead as she narrowed her eyes suspiciously to where Alaric was as Meredith leaned towards the microphone in front of her and talks to him over a speaker.

"Everything alright in there?" Meredith asked.

"Yeah. Yeah, everything's okay."

After the scan, Alaric was in a regular hospital room getting ready to leave when Imogen and Elena came in.

"Meredith says that everything is normal." Elena informed him.

"Yeah, well, everything is normal, because there is nothing wrong with me. I didn't kill Brian Walters, I didn't kill Bill Forbes, and I sure as hell didn't shove a hunting knife into my stomach." Alaric denied.

"Alaric." Imogen sighed and looks down at the ring on the table. Alaric followed the noirette's gaze and looks down at the ring.

"Or I did and I've gone insane, just like your ancestor who wore that ring." Alaric said.

"Look, I'm gonna call Bonnie, the rings were made by a Bennett witch so maybe a witch can reverse the damage." Elena said.

Alaric pushed the ring towards the doppelgänger. "Take it. I don't want it any more."

As Elena takes the ring, Damon entered the room.

"You ready to ditch this House of Horrors? Oof, you look terrible." Damon told his friend.

Imogen turned to the blue eyed vampire and smirked playfully. "And you look good?" she asked.

Damon winked at her. "You know I am."

As Imogen and Alaric chuckled at Damon, Elena glared at him.

"Let me, let me check outta here." Alaric said and left the room.

Elena gave Damon a hateful look and left too. Imogen sighed, looking at him.

"You really know how to piss the girl you love." Imogen told him.

Damon shrugged. "Is that an insult or a compliment?"

Imogen stared at the blue eyed vampire in disbelief. "You, you are really cocky, aren't you?"

"I know you love it." Damon teased and blew a kiss towards the noirette.

Imogen chuckled at Damon's antics. "You baboon looking vampire."

Damon gasped, fake hurt. "How dare you? A stunning girl like you, telling a handsome guy like me that I look like a baboon? That hurts."

~•~•~

When Imogen saw Caroline in the hospital with an ice chest of blood, the blonde vampire told her about Bonnie and her mom and decided to come with her and visit the Bennets, knowing it was her fault why they are currently suffering. Caroline assured her that it wasn't but Imogen explained to her what had happened to her. The blonde vampire was silent at first but then smiled reassuring her that Bonnie and her mom will understand.

Imogen Avery and Caroline Forbes arrived at the Bennet-Wilson farm house. Caroline smiled at the pretty noirette before going out of her car, getting the ice chest from the back. The noirette stared at the farm house, guilty for what she has done to her Mystic Fall friends.

She took a deep breath before getting out of Caroline's car as Bonnie came out of the farm house and saw Caroline walking up with an ice chest then to Imogen, who smiled slightly at her.

"Hey." Caroline said as glanced at Imogen. "Look who came to visit."

"And apologize." Imogen added as she stood behind Caroline as the two face Bonnie.

Bonnie forced out a smile. Imogen can clearly see the wariness of the Bennet witch. "Hey."

"Look, I know you won't forgive me that easily but I wanted to explain myself."