A.N. I wanted to write this, so I am. This chapter is the accident, so past tense. It helps to know before the story begins (I think anyways..) So, I will try my best, it won't be as long as the other chapters, but lets see how it goes. Thanks!

Disclaimer I do not own The Vampire Diaries (I wish though...)

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(John's POV)

John and Alaric were just getting back from there big job from U.S to New Zealand. They were tired, but John wanted to get back to his two kids, Elena, the oldest, and Jeremy who was slightly younger. Their mother had passed giving birth to Jeremy, and from what he could gather Elena never blamed him for the death. He hated leaving them, but this job paid good, and he couldn't move out of the house that his beloved once lived in. A phone started to ring disturbing his thoughts, shaking his head, he answered.

"Hey John, looks like your not going home just yet." He knew immediately who it was, his boss.

"George common, I just want to go see my kids, can't this wait a day or two?" He didn't care if he sounded needed, his kids were his life, everyone knew that, Alaric knew best. Alaric was his friend since school. He knew how much Anna meant to him, and when she passed, he helped see that he still had kids to look after, and he devoted everything to them.

"Sorry John, this client needs the supplies but the end of the week. Which is pushing it."

"Fine, where are we headed?"

"Sorry again, the client said only the ship's captain could know, I don't even know what we are shipping. The faster you get this job done, faster you can get home John." With that he hung up, looking at Alaric, he shook his head, he started to dial the only number he always looked forward to calling.

"Hi dad!"

"Hi sweet heart. How are you holding up?"

"Well, Jeremy got into trouble again, he beat up some kid at the school, got suspended for two weeks! Dad it's almost time for exams, he won't be able to handled another year.."

"I know, but listen, when I get back, all three of us are going out to dinner. It's that time of year again." Tears stung his eyes, but he wasn't going to cry, knowing he had to be strong for his kids.

"Your coming home tonight right?" He could tell she was excited, which only made him feel worse.

"No, we just got called on another job, won't be back until the end of the week hopefully, then we will go, can you hold up until then?" He heard her sigh, he hated doing this to her.

"Of course I can, just gets hard with Jeremy... Anyways, be safe dad ok? Love you."

"Love you to sweet heart." Looking at his friend, they both turned around walking back the ship they just came from.

Few days later (Alaric's POV)

"Where the hell did this storm come from?! We can hardly see a bloody thing!" Another wave swept over the ship.

"There was nothing on the radio about this, must just be a quick one!" Him and John were attempting to tie down a crate that got loose, with very little luck in the process. After what seemed like hours they got the crate tied down and started heading in.

"I think this might the last one I do Alaric, I can't keep doing this to my kids." He understood, but it would be hard doing this job without him, they have been doing this for years, so he was the only one he trusted, they could work without a single word and still know exactly what to do.

"You said that last time and your back again."

"I didn't get time to tell the boss, when I get back, I ain't doing this no more." Patting him on the back he knew he was serious this time.

"So, what are you going to do then, grocery store?" He was just teasing, it was to easy when it came to John.

"Well, I was thinking that I wo-" Before he could finish his sentence the ship lurched forward, making both men lose their balance.

"What the he-" The siren started to blare, meaning they had hit something, and they needed to get off this ship as soon as possible. They glanced at each other and started running towards the life boats. Smoke started to fill the air, they saw the small fire build, only encouraged them to run faster to the small orange boats with the rest of the crew. Everyone started hoping in them and lowering them at the same time. They were in the water when they saw what they had hit. It was an oil tanker, and with the fire getting bigger, they knew they had to row fast, the storm wasn't going to make it easy, but if they all wanted to live, they'd move pretty fast. As they rowed, the fire slowly crept to the tank which was spilling oil, only making them row faster with all the energy they had.

The explosion knocked the men on their backs, debri flying everywhere making them stay down. After a few moments they started to sit up. Alaric wanted to smile, they just survived, in a storm, and out of reach from an explosion, the ship's debri was everywhere, and it was only then when he saw John. He was still laying down, but there was a chunk of metal penetrating from his chest. Moving over he saw how John was struggling to stay awake, he didn't care if it made him less a man, he started to cry anyways.

"Don't do this John. You have to go back to Elena and Jeremy remember? You can't leave them now, common, stay awake." John weakly smiled, nodding his head slightly.

"T-tell them I'm s-sorry. C-call J-Jenna S-Sommers, their aunt. She'll t-take care o-of them."

"John Gilbert you are not dying on me." He wanted to shake his friend but knew he couldn't. But he couldn't lose his best friend, it would devastated not only him, but Elena and Jeremy.

"A-Alaric, just d-do it." He started to lightly laugh which only irritated him.

"What's funny about this!?"

"I did s-say this was m-my last time." Ass, he knew he meant it as a joke, but hated him for it. "T-tell them I'm s-sorry.." With that, he closed his eyes, Alaric started to shake him slightly hoping his eyes would open, or maybe this was a nightmare, he just needed him to pretend it wasn't real. When he didn't open his eyes again, he knew, and he cried for his best friend. He was an ass for leaving him, but he would find Jenna, he would make sure Elena and Jeremy were happy, he knew it was a long shot but he had to try. With that he looked at the men in the boat with him. "Let's go men, we have to get back to land, any one have a radio?!" A younger man held one in his shaking hands, taking it, he turned it on. He had to be strong, it was going to be a long night for everyone.

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I hope it wasn't to bad. Please let me know how this was, I should have the next chapter up by the end of the day, it will be from Elena's POV 5 years after the incident when she is 21. Please let me know what you think, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!