One:

Elena

Yellow. The colour that symbolises hope and it was the colour of the sun that we rarely saw. When I was little, I thought life would be like a perfect summer holiday and it actually did start out that way. We were four children loved by all, but I was soon to discover that those who can love you can also destroy you. I lost my innocence, my belief in love and instead I came to know guilt, greed and fear from those who should protect me. Our yellow petals began to die as we were locked away from the world, just like flowers in the attic.

My body moved to the music as I danced around my bedroom, visualising I was standing on a stage in front of a crowded audience staring up at me with love and adoration as I portrayed the tragic heroine Juliet. I wasn't a naïve girl who married a man she just met, I had found my soul mate that I was destined to be with this man forever or die without him. I turned and jumped slightly, seeing a tall dark-haired figure leaning on my doorframe and sniggering at me. I glared at Damon, brushing my dark brown hair behind my ear and wished my brother would learn to knock.

"Don't tell me you do that in public?" Damon chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest and laughed as I grabbed my pillow off my bed and threw it at his immature head.

"Out!" I snapped, storming over to him and slammed the door in his face. My audition was this Sunday and I had to be prepared. Turning up the music, I closed my eyes and lost myself in the music. Unfortunately, the door flew open again and this time Caroline and Matt rushed into my room giggling with happiness. Matt and Caroline were my younger five year old twins, both blonde hair and blue eyed and adorable. My family did not exactly resemble each other in looks - my mother was beautiful with blonde hair and blue eyes like the twins, Damon was two years older than me with jet black her and light blue eyes, whereas I had long brown hair and darker brown eyes.

"I got you!" Caroline yelled triumphantly, tackling Matt and giggling as they both fell to the floor. Their loud laughter completely drowned out the orchestra playing on my radio and I reluctantly turned it off, turning to the twins and picking them up and dropping them gently on my bed to tickle them

"Elena, stop it!" Matt yelled through his shouts of laughter.

"Say sorry for coming into my room without asking nicely," I said firmly, unable to stop grinning.

"NEVER!" screamed Caroline like she was a soldier being interrogating, which only made her giggling with a furious expression more hilarious.

I smiled down at their way too cute faces as they laughed, Matt trying to wriggle free and Caroline valiantly kicking her legs out in the hopes of hitting my arms away - ha, no chance of that. I let them go and Caroline leapt off the bed and bolted for the chest of drawers, grabbing my audition programme and threw it at the doorway - landing in the hands of Damon. He looked at the paper with an interested smirked, turning to me.

"What time is your audition?" Damon asked, sprinting from the room before I could answer and down the hallway. My breath blew out an exasperated sigh as I hurried after my stupid brother, taking the steps two at a time and darted into the living room with Damon only a few steps in front of me.

"Give them back, Damon!" I told him angrily as I made a grab for my papers and just like the childish idiot he was, Damon held them higher over his head "Damon!"

"Only when you quit playing that stupid music!" Damon smirked as the twins ran around us excitedly, throwing my papers over his shoulder and sending them flying into a tall man as he opened the front door. We all turned to see Dad, frowning at us as he held his suitcase. Uh oh…

"What are you kids playing at?" Dad demanded, but after a moment of silence he opened up his arms with a huge smile "don't I get a hug?"

This was our routine every Friday when Dad returned from working all week, we would all rush to him and he'd hug us like he had spent several years travelling Europe. We weren't spoilt, but Dad always brought us gives that were more thoughtful than expensive. I looked over to see Mum standing in the doorway waiting patiently. Rebekah and Alaric Gilbert were the most beautiful and envied couple in all of Mystic Falls, both for their kindness and attractive looks. We were considered a perfect family, but it never went to our heads and Mum always told us that looks were nothing without generosity, talent and good values. I was aspiring to dance in the Royal Ballet in New York, Damon was hoping to go to Medical school when he graduates high school and Matt and Caroline were too young for anyone to figure out their gifts just yet.

Even wearing a dressing gown, Mum still looked beautiful and smiled as we were all wrapped in hugs and kisses from our dad. After a few moments, Dad turned his attention to Mum as she stepped closer and he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Did you forget about me?" Mum asked wryly, smiling at her husband as he pulled away and pulled a box from his pocket.

"I could never forget you, Rebekah." Dad said as he placed a gold ring on her finger, its diamond almost as bright as my mother's smile.

"It's so beautiful!" Mum breathed, wrapping her arms around Dad's neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss. That was true love and one day when I was older, I hoped to find a man who loved me as much as my parents loved each other.

I should have known that afternoon that things were going to change, but I was too young and naïve to notice things shifting in my perfect world. As we all sat down for dinner, I did notice Mum wearing a brand new dress and strong smelling perfume and her radiant smile was frozen on her face. She even tried to pass off an apple pie was homemade, only admitting it wasn't when I pointed out the bakery label was still on. Even that didn't dampen her mood and she airily breezed "Elena, I can never get anything passed you" as she gave Dad a loving look.

"What's going on, Mum?" Damon asked casually, looking from both our parents in confusion "you're wearing a new dress and perfume?"

Sharp as a twig, aren't you? I kept that sarcastic comment to myself and as Mum answered.

"Well, a wife of a Vice President can't wear any old thing."

I grinned at my Dad thinking he had been given an office job closer to home, but my heart dropped out of my stomach as I soon realised that wasn't the case.

"It's not official yet, but I've been made head of sales of the entire east coast." Dad announced, with Damon and Mum exclaiming with excitement and I felt like he had announced Doomsday was today. East Coast?! That means Dad would never be home and the whole family dynamic would change, but no one was thinking about that - it was all about the money.

Fighting back angry tears, I bolted from the table and upstairs to my bedroom before anyone noticed I was gone.

If only I learned to appreciate the innocence of being nearly thirteen and thinking that my father working away was the worst thing to happen, but I was soon to learn that life was much darker and innocence was easily destroyed by those meant to love and protect.

Hi,

This is a tester chapter and if it gets enough good feedback, I'll continue it as a full on story - this is a Vampire Diaries/Flowers in the Attic crossover. Make sure to follow/favourite and leave a review if you like this story :)

Thanks :)