Author's Note: This is an AU story so the characters may be out of character. Also, Jeremy never got into drugs or the anti-social behavior he exhibited in the early part of the show. This story is dedicated to all those readers (and they know who they are) who took the time to review each chapter of my last story. Thank you!

The Salvatore brothers lose their memories but find themselves drawn to Mystic Falls by instinct. What happens when they come to town with no knowledge of their past? And which one will love Elena without knowing she is Katherine's doppelganger?

CHAPTER 1

Elena glanced around the Grill and smiled slightly. It was exactly the same and that was kind of comforting. The only things that had changed about the place were the faces of those in it.

"So, you need to catch up on all the gossip!" Caroline squealed. She beamed at her friend across the table while Bonnie rolled her eyes but a smile played across her lips.

"Okay, hit me with it," Elena said.

"Well, the biggest news is the new guys," Caroline said. "See the two sitting at the bar on the end?"

Elena nodded and Caroline said, "Those are the Salvatore brothers. They got here about six weeks ago."

"Salvatore? As in Zach Salvatore?" Elena questioned.

"Yep," Caroline said. "He's their uncle or something. They're staying with him out at the boarding house. Aren't they hot?"

Elena chuckled slightly at that and said, "I can't tell, Caroline. All I'm seeing are their backs."

"Well, trust me, they're yummy looking," Carline assured her.

"So which one are you dating?" Elena asked with a laugh.

Caroline pouted. "Neither," she said. "But give me time."

Bonnie rolled her eyes at her friend and said, "They keep to themselves mostly. Don't really talk to anyone except Zach and don't get involved in all the activities. Though we haven't had many since they came to town."

Elena nodded and said, "Yeah, it gets pretty slow here after the fourth of July until school starts up. But they're Salvatores. Surely Zach explained they have to be involved as Founding Family members?"

Bonnie shrugged and said, "I don't know. I just know they haven't been involved in any of the few town events that have happened since they arrived. Zach has, of course, but not the brothers."

"Someone should warn them that Carol Lockwood will be at their door hounding them to participate if they don't start showing up," Elena said. "That woman is scary when she wants something."

Bonnie and Caroline both laughed at that and nodded. They all knew that Mrs. Lockwood was a force to be reckoned with when it came to getting people involved in her causes.

Elena leaned her head back and a small smile settled on her face. She closed her eyes and let out a sigh. Bonnie and Caroline exchanged a worried look but before either could say anything, Elena opened her eyes and looked around again.

"This is nice," Elena said quietly. "Being able to relax, to laugh again. Being home."

Bonnie leaned over and hugged her friend with one arm while Caroline squeezed Elena's hand across the table.

"Elena," Matt said appearing at their table. "I didn't know you were home."

"I just got back this afternoon," Elena said.

"Well, if you need anything…" Matt said after an awkward pause.

"Thanks, Matt," Elena said quietly, her guilt clear on her face.

Matt walked away and Caroline said, "So…you and Matt aren't getting back together?"

Elena let out another sigh. "No," Elena said. "I…nothing is the same for me anymore and I can't pretend it is. I don't want to hurt him but..."

"He does understand, Elena," Bonnie said gently.

"I know," Elena said her face a mask of sadness.

Bonnie and Caroline quickly changed the subject and talked about the things that had happened over the summer keeping everything light and funny.

"I better get home," Elena said after while. "I haven't even thought about unpacking or anything yet."

The three girls rose and Bonnie noticed Matt watching them from behind the bar.

"We should go say goodbye to Matt," Bonnie whispered. "We'll all go so it's not awkward."

Elena nodded and the trio walked up to the bar.

"We're heading out, Matt," Caroline said brightly. "Just wanted to say bye."

"Where did you park?" Matt asked.

When Caroline told him, Matt's frown was instant and fierce.

"Give me just a second," Matt said. "I'll walk you over there. It's not well lit at night."

"I got this, man," Tyler said walking up behind the girls. "I'm heading that way."

Matt nodded at that and the girls smiled at Tyler. Tyler wrapped one arm around Elena's shoulders and dropped a kiss on the top of her head before holding an elbow out to Caroline in mock chivalry. Caroline giggled and dramatically took it as if she were Scarlett O'Hara. Bonnie and Elena grinned at the pair's antics and followed them out of the restaurant.

The next afternoon, Elena sat in the cemetery, her back leaning against her parents' headstone and her journal in her lap. She had written about her return to Mystic Falls and the conflicting emotions she was feeling. Elena's emotions were not timid, shallow feelings. She felt things deeply and passionately. This meant she loved deeply and could feel great joy and happiness. But it was also easy for negative emotions like guilt, sadness, and anger to overwhelm any good feelings she might have just as they had after her parents' death.

Elena closed her eyes and let her mind wander. She didn't notice the fog roll in and surround her or the crow land on the headstone in front of her. But she heard the footsteps and her eyes flew open to see one of the Salvatore brothers just steps away from her.

"I didn't mean to disturb you," the younger brother said.

Elena shook her head and said, "No, it's okay. I just wasn't expecting to see anyone."

"Who were they?" he asked indicating the headstone she was leaning on.

The crow squawked in irritation causing Elena to smile at it though it was tinged with sadness. The crow stood perfectly still and watched Elena so Elena continued to stare at it until the man cleared his throat.

"Oh, sorry," Elena said blinking and looking up at him. "My parents. The headstone belongs to my parents."

"I'm sorry," he said simply and Elena nodded. "I'm being incredibly rude, aren't I? I'm Stefan, Stefan Salvatore."

Elena smiled and reached up to shake the hand he held out. "Elena Gilbert," she said. "Caroline told me two Salvatores had returned to Mystic Falls and were staying with Zach."

"You know Zach?" Stefan asked.

"It's a small town," Elena said. "I know everyone."

Elena looked around and then rose gracefully from the ground. She noticed the crow giving Stefan the beady eye and she smiled again.

"I think he's unhappy with you," Elena said indicating the crow, which squawked in what sounded suspiciously like agreement.

"Wouldn't be the first time," Stefan murmured. Louder he said, "How do you know it's a he?"

Elena shrugged and gathered up her bag. "Just a feeling," she said. "I need to head home. It was nice to meet you, Stefan Salvatore."

"Nice to meet you too, Elena Gilbert," Stefan said and watched as she walked away and the crow flew after her.

Several moments later, Damon walked up behind Stefan in the cemetery.

"You didn't ask her anything," Damon growled.

"Look at the date on the headstone, Damon," Stefan said.

Damon did and flinched. "Okay, fine, you didn't want to interrogate her while she's sitting next to her recently deceased parents' grave," he said. "But you could have asked something."

"It's a small town," Stefan said. "We'll see her again."

"You're the one who is sure Zach is keeping something from us," Damon pointed out. "And the ones who would know would likely be the Founding Family descendents."

"I know," Stefan said. "And if we don't get the chance soon, I'll find a way to do it when school starts. I can't believe I have to go to high school."

"Look on the bright side," Damon said with a grin. "It's not like you remember going the first time."

"Very funny, big brother," Stefan said shoving him playfully. "Why can't you go to school instead of me?"

"Because I'm not the one who looks like a teenager," Damon retorted. "I'm the older, responsible brother."

Stefan rolled his eyes. It was a conversation they'd been having since they lost their memories and had been drawn to Mystic Falls. The histories of the family that Zach had shown them in the library had been helpful as it had pinpointed when they'd been born and when they'd turned vampire but Stefan was sure Zach was keeping information from them. Stefan didn't like it and was determined to find out what the man was hiding from his ancestors.