Prologue.

Slipping down into the smooth porcelain tub of delectably warm water topped with sinfully sweet smelling bubbles I let my thoughts slip away. I didn't want to be reminded of the last few days, weeks or months. I wanted nothing more than to enjoy the moment without the distractions of what my life had become. I closed my eyes and concentrated on my breathing, in and out. I let my muscles go slack and slowly sank under the water wishing I could remain there forever. It was so quiet and peaceful; if only I could breathe I might never have to get out.

After a time the water started to cool down and the bubbles had all but disappeared. I stepped out of the tub, wrapped my robe around my body and grabbed a towel to dry my hair. As I walked out into the bedroom I heard voices downstairs but chose not to listen in on their conversation. I found a pair of comfortable lounge pants and an oversized t-shirt that seemed appropriate for the evening since I had no plans to leave the house anyway.

I worked the towel through my hair drying it as well as I could and then combing it out. I thought that maybe I would go downstairs for something to eat and then lay on one of the couches in front of the fire. I was determined to relax, still very tired from my run-in with Katherine the day before. For now I knew that I did not have to worry about her coming back to Mystic Falls which was a great relief.

I stepped out into the hallway remembering that there might be company downstairs. I was hoping to avoid any questions about what had happened in that strange house. I wasn't ready to talk about it. As I walked towards the staircase I heard something that made me stop dead in my tracks. There was laughter coming from the entranceway, but it wasn't an adult laughing. What I heard was the giggle of a small child, one that I would have recognized anywhere.

I flew down the stairs and down the long hallway leading to the front door. As I turned the corner I couldn't believe what I saw. A little girl with long dark pigtails tied up with ribbon and deep blue eyes full of life and love. She was dressed in a plain pink dress and held a small ragdoll in her hand as she laughed at Damon who held her on his hip. "Maddie! Oh my God, Maddie! Is that you?" I rushed over to her ready to tear her out of Damon's arms. "Maddie, it's your mother darling!" I exclaimed as I touched her cheek. She turned away from me and hid her face on Damon's shoulder.

"Give her to me Damon," I told him, "give me my little girl." He looked at me as though I were crazy but said nothing. "Damon, if you don't hand her over to me this instant so help me God you will pay with your life."

"What's going on here?" asked a voice from the door. I looked up and saw Elena, no wait it was Katherine, standing there with her hands on her hips. Maddie heard Katherine's voice and wiggled out of Damon's grasp. I knelt down with outstretched arms but she did not come to me. Instead she ran towards the door.

"Mommy!" She called out to Katherine. There had to be some mistake. What had they done to her? My precious girl would never have run to a stranger over me.

"Anelia my beautiful girl, I've missed you," Katherine said as she bent down to embrace her, lifted her up and nuzzled her cheek.

I stood astonished looking back and forth between Damon and Katherine. "Who are you and why are you touching my child?" she asked me, a mother's rage in her eyes. "Stay away from her."

"What? Katherine, I'm your daughter; it's me, Norrah," I tried to explain but to no avail.

"I don't know who you are or why a grown woman would ever claim to be my child, but if I ever see you near my little girl again I will tear you limb from limb."

I started to panic, reaching out for Damon's arm so he would back me up. "That is my Maddie!" I started to shout. "That is MY child. Put her down this instant!" The little girl started to cry. "Give her to me!" I screamed "Maddie, please don't cry my love, it's going to be okay, Mommy is here."

Damon suddenly found his voice. "Why do you keep calling her that?" He asked me.

"That's her name, Madison Ellanorrah but we always called her Maddie. Why else would I call her that?"

"Her name," he said matter-of-factly, "is Anelia Elisaveta Petrova-Salvatore, and whoever you are you had better get out of here before things get really messy."

"Damon, it's me, Norrah, your friend," I told him. Katherine walked into the house and right past me. It was all I could do not to reach out and grab Maddie away from her. The child looked up at me with those startling blue eyes. I started to cry. "Please," I begged them, "Please give me my baby back."

Suddenly I found myself on the front porch, Katherine, Damon and Maddie just inside the doorway. "Don't you ever come back here and threaten my husband or my daughter again," Katherine said to me through clenched teeth, Damon's arm protectively draped over her shoulder, Maddie on her hip clinging to her neck. Then I watched in horror as all three of their faces changed, fangs grew in and they lunged at me.