Hey, guys! This is a new SE story that I've been writing for a while. I know it's a bit unclear now in the beginning, but later on you'll see what happens after the events that take place in this chapter and how things between them both evolve. I would very much appreciate your reviews and opinions on it.

Elena's POV

I was observing my best friend Caroline, dancing recklessly with this new guy Tyler, worrying about her, wondering if he's good for her or not in the first place, not that it mattered much-Caroline constantly changed boyfriends. I give those two, who are so drunk and can't spell their names right, no more than a month and a half. That's enough for Caroline to get sick of him and to just dump him or offer him to one of the other precious "friends" she had at the school committee. I hated this party-I wasn't supposed to be here at all and the thought of me cuddling in bed and reading the book I've just started or spending some time with dad at the hospital, instead I was here, watching half the high school get drunk and Matt trying to make me pay some attention to him. Caroline promised me she'll talk to him and explain I'm not into him, but I guess she either forgot due to her awful schedule or she was unsuccessful-something, which she never let happen.

I don't know why it was like this, but I never enjoyed those gatherings or parties. I was supposed to be young, reckless, dance my way on the floor like my best friend was doing right now, but I wasn't-I craved for other things, like books, tea and dissecting animals, even though that last part sounds kind of gross. I was a quiet person, who preferred to stay at home and watch an entire season of some show instead of coming here with her best friends and do underage drinking. I couldn't figure out how was I so different from everyone else-after all we were all from the founding families, we had enormous houses we couldn't figure how to use, made those annual gatherings or balls and claimed to be something more when in reality, we weren't and I was okay with that. I was used to this good life we were all having-I had everything I could ever ask for-my family, my reckless young brother, who liked to smoke pot and I had to cover for him every now and then, an awesomely big house and friends, who were there for me even when things weren't so bright. There wasn't anything I could ask for, but there wasn't much to entertain me either, well except for books and interesting cases of people who my father was treating.

"Elena, do you want another drink?" Matt shoved a red cup of beer right under my nose as he sat back on the couch. He smelled like alcohol and he surely had more than one cup to drink, which honestly disgusted me right now. I couldn't figure out why this guy was so bend on making me date him. We've tried this once already and he screwed up-he's not going to be a good boyfriend to any girl, not any time soon at least.

He was a spoiled brat, who liked to sleep and fool around with girls and if I followed any logic, he's still mad he never got the chance to do so with me, which is why he's currently so bend on swooping me in his embrace. I wasn't a pathetic stupid girl though-I wouldn't just let him get me drunk and get me upstairs, there was so much more than life and being young that any of those people here even supposed and that's what drove me insane. I shoved Matt away from me and went by Care's side to tell her goodbye. I couldn't find her though, she was no longer on the improvised dance floor at this house, which I had no idea who owned so I headed to the kitchen and found her and Tyler passionately making out on the kitchen plot. I rolled my eyes and just as I was about to leave she looked in my direction and without forcing her to break the kiss with Tyler, I gave her a gesture that I'm leaving and before she could protest, hurried to get out of this awfully noisy place.

It was almost midnight and I sighed, disappointed at the fact that the last episode of my favorite TV show marathon is almost over. I could still make some pop corns and watch something-surprisingly I wasn't sleepy or tired at all this night. I just needed some quite place where I could clear my thoughts after this jungle I was currently in. I let a deep breath in, once I got outside and realized it was getting a bit colder. Dad was right when he said I should get my jacket, but I was too stubborn as usually to listen to him or mom.

They always said I was so quietly stubborn that when I was a kid it scared them-they would tell me to do something, I would agree and then I would go and make the exact opposite of what I'm told. I loved my parents, I really did and surprisingly, I was much more close to my dad than to my mom. It's not that I didn't love her-I did, she'll always have a special place in my heart and there'll always be things I could share only with her, but she worked a lot and she had to travel most of the time whilst dad was always home. Well, okay, not always since he was a doctor and had awfully long shifts, but ever since I was a little girl, I've been spending so much more time with him than with mom. He always took me to the hospital, the nurses knew me from when I was a four-year-old troublesome kid and they knew me now, when I was helping him and he was teaching me stuff, so I could be a real doctor one day, just like him.

As I finally approached my car, I felt like something's not quite right. I saw someone moving on the other side, near the driver's door and for a moment, I felt scared. I figured it could be Caroline maybe coming to get something she forgot since we drove here with my dad's SUV, but I would've seen her coming out of the house, right? Or maybe she has used the back door and I never noticed her coming this way? I stopped abruptly and lowered myself before trying to figure out what's this all about. I heard noises, as if someone was trying to make the engine start and I slowly leaned on the trunk before peaking and taking a good look. Once I did, I realized the door was opened and the only other visible thing was someone's legs sticking up from somewhere below the seat.

Someone was trying to steal my car.

I hid myself behind the truck again and took a deep breath, trying to figure out what to do, as I cursed Caroline for making us come to this part of town. Now wasn't the time for this however, I had to come up with a plan-maybe I should just surprise him and pull him away from there. I was a tough girl, I trained hard, I could kick him in the private parts and make him whine like a baby. But then again he could be armed. Could he be? I had a pepper spray in my bag somewhere, but it was on the backseat. Okay, I'll just try to spook him and he'll probably run and if he doesn't, I'll try to protect myself the best I could.

I carefully stepped away from my hiding spot and slipped my back on the door, praying that he wouldn't hear me as he was still obviously too concerned about how to make this car start and get away from here. Once I was close enough, I leaned down and grabbed his arm tightly.

"Move away" I hissed, trying to sound scary, when in fact I was beginning to judge my actions-maybe I should've just called Sheriff Forbes and wait for her to come and get this guy to the police station.

For a moment both of us froze-I figured he was scared as well. Someone got him at the crime scene. I couldn't see his face at all, he still wasn't making any more, but he was wearing a black hoodie and a hat so I couldn't even determine what color his hair was.

"I said move away." now my voice sounded a bit more confident and he slowly stood up and started stepping back. Just as I was about to take a better look at his face, he abruptly pulled himself away from me and started running away. "Hey! HEY!" okay that wasn't in my plans, I wanted to catch this guy, not let him slip away and now he was running!

"Really?" I sighed as I slammed the door and ran after him. Thanks God I've been running lately, otherwise I wouldn't be able to get anywhere near him. He was fast and definitely strong-when I touched his arms, I felt the tight muscles under the fabric and even though I was a silent nerdy girl, I still preferred to keep myself in shape, exactly because of situations like this.

"Stop!" I kept yelling at him, but he pretended not to hear me.

Just as we were about to make a right turn, he slipped as he was going too fast and he lost his balance, which was enough to allow me and push him on the ground almost without any effort. When the light from the street lamp finally gave me the opportunity to take a better look at him, I realized he was just a boy, probably my age. There was a bandana covering the better half of his face and the hat was hiding his hair, but I managed to see that it was blond. There was something in his eyes though-something so wrecked and yet scared. He never planned for me to catch him-he was just hoping to get away with it and now I was here staring at him, catching him off guard.

A boy who got caught by a girl. For a moment we stared at each other, he raised himself on his elbows, I noticed he has bruised his right hand, there was blood coming from it, but he still didn't dare move and I didn't know what to do.

Something in his stare just stunned me, the fact that he was just a teenager like me shocked me-I thought it would be someone older. Why was he even doing this? I watched him carefully raise up and I thought he would run so I yelled again

"Don't move!" there wasn't anything I could threaten him with and he seemed like he wasn't armed as well-we were currently staying here, both too scared to do anything and we were in this middle ground when we were both trying to realize what exactly was going on.

He was afraid to speak up, I'm guessing because once I hear his voice, I would recognize him later on if he manages to escape and yet he wasn't running away, not right now.

"What did you steal from me?" I thought that he surely must've checked my bag, before deciding that he'll have enough time to steal the car. He raised his hands, obviously trying to show me that he won't do anything to hurt me. I was able to take a better look at his eyes-they were green, but that wasn't the worst part. He was full of regret. I could see it-he might be doing something wrong, but he probably wasn't doing it because he enjoyed robbing people-he seemed like a person who didn't have much of a choice. Maybe someone was making him do this? Maybe he needed money? Whatever it was, I suddenly found myself feeling bad for him, however that didn't stop me from stretching my free hand in order grab his wrist. He was fast, however and stepped away, only so he could turn his back and start running.

I didn't follow him. I didn't feel the need to do so-yes, he was a thief and he was about to steal my car, but there was something so..sad and wrong with him, that I didn't have the heart to call the police. He didn't try even once to hurt me, even though he could-he was stronger than me, this whole situation could've ended with me on the ground hurt or pushed to a wall and left somewhere to bleed out, but he didn't even touch me.

I stood in the street, watching in the direction where he has disappeared. Only now did I realize I was slightly shaking, this time it wasn't from the cold, but from what's just happened. Even though he hasn't touched me, I was still spooked.

It was time to go back home.

Stefan's POV

I ran back home and took away my hat and my black hoodie, so that Damon doesn't suspect anything.

I never really expected for this girl to come out of nowhere-who even leaves a party that is at its peak to go back home? I was glad she didn't call the police, or at least not while I was still there with her. She might do it later, but I knew I was safe now back home. I sighed and brushed away the sweat from my forehead. I should've never done this in the first place. Damon was right to warn me not to do stupid things anymore, but I needed the money and I was sure this car could solve all my problems. However, I'm glad nothing happened-this wasn't the honest way to get what I needed, I knew it and yet I've attempted to commit a crime and get away with it. Now I was hoping Damon wouldn't suspect anything, cause he'll be extremely mad at me.

I tossed my clothes on this wrecked chair on the front porch, where Damon liked to drink his coffee in the morning and slowly opened the door, praying not to wake him or the baby.

However, when I heard the noise coming from the kitchen, I knew there was no point in pretending anymore-they weren't asleep. I went to the bathroom first, cleaning up my hand from the blood and my face from the dirt. When this girl pushed me back my face ended up on the pavement-I admit, she had some fire in her-I can't remember the last time I saw a girl stood up for herself.

Well except for Lexi, my best friend, but she was a different kind of girl. I'm guessing she and this brown-haired beauty would make a good team if they knew each other-they were both very willing to kick my ass and were about to succeed in doing so. I was just hoping she wouldn't call the police or file a complaint so they would start looking for me. That's the last thing I wanted-I had so much trouble in my hands.

I brushed my wet face with the towel and headed to the kitchen. The baby was crying and Damon was unable to calm him down, which made me smile and shake my head. Once I finally stepped in the room, I found him rocking the little five-months-old boy in his right arm while trying to push the milk bottle in his mouth, though the kid was putting up a fight. When he saw me he gave me an extremely angry expression and I swallowed hard.

"Where the hell have you been, brother?" he almost yelled and the baby's cry increased "I can't deal with him in the middle of the night, I have to sleep!" I knew it.

He had to get to work early in the morning and he needed rest-right now he looked like he's got right out of bed with his messy dark raven hair, white tank top and grey sweatpants-he seemed like he hasn't got any sleep in a week, which wasn't far away from the truth. I hated doing this to him-he didn't deserve this life and he was paying for mistakes that I've made.

"I'm so sorry, Damon" I apologized and came by his side to take the child in my arms. He immediately calmed down once he ended up in my warm embrace and Damon handed me the milk, so I would start feeding him "I had something to do."

"Your shift must've ended three hours ago." he gave me a questioning look. He didn't believe me and he was getting worried all over again, that I might be getting myself into trouble "You should've come straight home."

"I know, but Lexi said she'll pass by and give you a hand with him, so I figured, I should use the time and deal with something." I explained, as I continued rocking the baby in my arms

"She did" he mumbled angrily as he went by the drawer, where we kept the bourbon and got the bottle out. I furrowed my eyebrows-he was drinking quite too much lately and I had to start doing something about it. Any time I tried scolding him that he's drinking too much, however, he said it's his own damn life and said I had no right to judge him, not when he had in mind that I'm seventeen, not going to school and with a child on my hands. "She put him to bed, but he woke up and started crying the hell out of himself."

"I'm sorry, brother" I said sadly as I watched him pour himself a glass from the bottle. He leaned on the kitchen plot and rubbed his forehead with his rough from working endless shifts, hand. "He must've been hungry."

"He's the same as you when you were a baby" he exclaimed quite angrily. He could be very cranky when he hasn't slept, but I knew deep down he felt bad for us. After all, he was the one to be there for me when I most needed it-he took me back in here, me and the baby in my hands and even though he was constantly grumpy and made me regret every decision in my life, he would never refuse to help me. He was my brother-I was there for him and he was there for me.

"Well then he's his father's son." I said with a tired smile and watched Damon finish his glass and come by my side watching in awe the peaceful way in which the baby was drinking up his milk bottle

"I'll never figure out how you calm him down, brother" he almost whispered and leaned down to give a small kiss on the baby's forehead "Please don't wake me up again, Joe." he begged and I almost laughed at my brother's plead, which made him furrow his eyebrows angrily before heading off the kitchen.

I looked down at my son, who got my blond hair and green eyes-Damon said he was an exact copy of me when he first saw him. I wasn't so sure, I thought there was something from his mother's face in him as well, but I guess he was just too little for us to notice it or we were trying too hard to forget about her that we refused to see any signs of her in the child.

I sighed, thinking about everything I've been through for my seventeen years.

Damon once told me in this exact same kitchen that he never thought, I would be the one to have a child first. I didn't know it would happen either.

The thought of Rebekah and the way she broke both my heart and the one of the child in my hands, was making it hard for me to breathe. I guess, I should've listened to Damon when he said she's not the right girl for me, but I was too blinded by our love.

She was a nice girl, adventurous, careless, free. At the time I was very reckless myself-I was trying to find my place in this world, just after my brother finally got us out our eternal misery circle. We were both orphans-our mother gave us up when he was six and I was just a baby. He remembers her very well, after all he has spent time with her, on the other hand, I had a very vague image of her and never knew why she decided to give her kids away.

Damon said it was because she couldn't support us, our father has died and she couldn't deal with two kids-I'm guessing my big brother was blaming me for her giving us up in the first place, but he's doing a good job covering it.

We spent our lives in group homes or foster families until he turned eighteen, got himself a job and became my guardian-there was finally something good out there for us, we could live our lives without wondering how we'll run away away from this awful family or that damp group home-we had our own place now and Damon was working to support us, while I found a part-time job.

It was all fine until I met her and I completely lost my mind.

At first she was this nice and dangerous girl, who made my legs weaken every time I saw her. It wasn't hard to get close to her-she had a reputation of changing her lovers every now and then, but I wanted more than just to sleep with her. I wanted to be her boyfriend and surprisingly she fell for me-hard. Just as I had.

We had many ups and downs, especially in the beginning-she was pushing herself away from me and just as I've thought nothing would come out of this relationship, she would come and knock at my door in the middle of the night-drunk and crying about how she was sorry she acted this way and that she truly loved me, but it was hard for her to accept it and show it. She was scared of someone hurting her, which is why she never remained with one guy for long. Almost two years passed like this-us arguing, recklessly loving each other, splitting and coming back together-it was a real nightmare. She had a drinking problem-an awful drinking problem, nothing like Damon's bourbon midnight drinks and I was having a hard time making her stop-she would go to parties and make out with other guys, which made me extremely jealous and got me into more troubles than I was already into.

Then one night she came by my house and said we had to talk-she said she was almost two months pregnant and it was mine. I was shocked, couldn't figure out what to do, but I told her I won't leave her alone, no matter what. However, she said she doesn't intent to take care of the child and that she'll give it away when it's born.

Her mother, who was living abroad, has arranged for her to move away once she gives birth, so she had it all figured out, but she felt the need to tell me as she thought I should know. She was extremely drunk that night, which I'm guessing is what pushed her to come to my house in the first place. I remember her barely standing on her feet, so I had to take her in and put her down. I had no idea what to do that night, I was so confused, worried and I felt like I have no say in this at all-Rebekah was giving the baby away and I didn't want for this to happen. Both Damon and me have sworn to each other that no matter how hard our lives are, we would never let go of each other, so I was sure he would back me up if I told him I want to keep the child with me. I couldn't leave this innocent baby somewhere just like my mother left us-I wouldn't allow it for the world.

So in the next months Bekah and me kept arguing about it. She was somehow so bend on the idea of giving the child away that there was hardly anything I could do to convince her to just let it be. That wasn't the worst thing though-I had to spent all those months preventing her from drinking herself to oblivion, which was very hard.

While she was giving birth, though something went wrong-they got her into surgery after Joseph was born and I spent the whole night in the hospital-waiting for them to give me some update on her conditions. I got to hold my little boy for the first time back then and I felt so proud-I was certain, that I won't have the heart to leave him be-I've made the decision that I was taking him home, no matter what Rebekah says.

I never got the chance to tell her I'll be the one to take care of him even if she didn't want to, though-when they come to see me in the morning, they told me they lost her during surgery.

I can't remember the last time I felt so hopeless and sad. The worst thing of all was that there was no one out there for her but me-her mother was abroad and her dad has left them a long time ago-she had brothers somewhere in the south, but I knew she wasn't on speaking terms with them.

In a matter of day I was left with a baby to take home and the love of my life to bury.

Even Damon, who was backing me up at this, reminded me that this whole thing won't be anywhere near easy-he said I'll have to leave school and get some more decent job and someone had to take care of the kid-it wasn't going to be easy at all, but I was stubborn and I said I won't give my son away for anything in the world.

So I took him home-I did what I had to do. I left school, Damon found me a job as a delivery guy and he continued working at this factory that took him in when he was eighteen. My best friend Lexi, who was also my neighbor, kept coming and helping us out-she was a little older than me, almost my brother's age and she was very close to us all, she was practically family and when she figured out what has happened and what decision I've taken, she said she's proud of me and she'll do whatever it takes to help me. It was very hard at the beginning, it's still hard, almost six months later-at first I couldn't make him eat much, he was crying all the time and Damon was constantly pissed off that he can't get enough sleep and has to work, but with time I got used to changing diapers and singing songs so my son could fall asleep

I used to be so desperate that when Damon got home after work he always found me recklessly getting myself drunk on the exact same kitchen table I was staring at now. The baby was crying in his crib and I was burying my hands in my messy hair-she might've been so awful to me all this time, but I loved her and losing her, hurt like hell.

I felt alone. Just like my son, who lost his mother before ever getting the chance to meet her. maybe it was for the better, my brother said, she wasn't cut out to be a mother. She was willing to give him away and I've stepped up and became a father at the age of seventeen-life was messed up and for the first time I felt scared-terrified even, that I won't be able to raise this kid.

What was I thinking-I was a child myself. I didn't have a very stable job and I wasn't about to get any education-how was I going to raise a baby? Moreover-on my own! Every child needed a mother and mine just lost his, I wasn't cut out for this thing. Back then, I was trying to convince myself that I have to give him up-I wasn't the only one sacrificing my life here, my brother was doing the same, only because of us.

And yet, despite everything, he was the one to convince me not to do so-he said he's not going to let me do this, not after everything we've been through together. He didn't want this kid to have the same fate as we did-so he said we'll fight as hard as we have to, but we'll make this work. And he warned me that he'll whine and he'll be a pain in the ass, but he'll be here and he won't allow his nephew to go in the system.

So here we were-me and my little Joseph in the middle of the night, together at this lonely house. I could already hear my brother snoring in the other room and it made me smile. He finally finished his bottle and I put it away, so I could start trying to make him fall asleep while his stomach was still full and he was willing to give in easily.

"How's my little boy doing today, huh?" I asked and gave him a kiss on the forehead. He looked up at me and mumbled something in his baby language.

I liked talking to him, even though he couldn't understand or answer me. Lexi said it's important to talk to the babies. Damon always denied her theory and said that's nothing but a load of crap, but once I caught him telling Joe a fairy tale before putting him down in his crib.

My brother had a big heart, though he was trying very much not to show it-he always had to appear as this strong person, who took care of me all my life and who always had a solution to our problems, even when he was completely lost himself

"Don't you want to sleep? Aren't you tired?" I kept asking him and Joe only stick his little hand in his mouth and looked me up with his big eyes. I sighed-he wasn't going to fall as fast as I thought. "Come on, Joe" I whispered and stood up only so I could start walking up and down the kitchen. He usually fell asleep when I did this, just as when he did when I took him out for a walk outside with the pram. I never took a smile off my face while I was staring at him-he was my whole world, my little boy and I would do whatever it takes to keep him safe and sound and to get him everything he needs, no matter what I lose in the process-I'll work my ass off for him.

What I tried to do tonight was selfish and stupid-it wasn't fair and it's not who I was. Yes, me and Damon, we've done this when we were kids, running away from groups and foster homes, but that's not the guy I was right now. I had to be responsible, for my son, for Damon who was doing his best and I hoped that this girl wouldn't attempt to do anything that could prevent me from being together with my boy.

He fell asleep after half an hour or so of relentlessly turning himself right and left in his crib-he was growing more with each day. He was about to turn six months in a week and I smiled at the thought of how wrecked and confused I was when I first came home with him-I had no idea how to even dress him and now I was feeding him and putting him to bed.

"There'll come a day when you and I will be running in this backyard, playing football together, son." I whispered as I watched him close his eyes "And your uncle will be grunting from the porch as usually, saying we're fooling around, doing nothing and scolding me for not teaching you how to throw the ball right." I tugged him with the blanket

"But you'll be laughing and trying to get away from me and I'll be happy, just as I am right now." I stood up and gave him a kiss on the forehead as my brother did not so long ago" I love you, my son. "

I tiredly rubbed my eyes and went to Damon's room to get a blanket, trying very hard not to wake him up-he was too tired anyway, so he never realized I came in. Then I got back and lay down on the kitchen couch next to Joe's crib. I never left him alone at night. Damon said I should just go back to my room, but I couldn't. I was afraid he'll wake up and cry and none of us will hear him as we would be too tired and I would never let that happen, not to my son.

I tossed the blanket all over me, feeling tied like hell. I couldn't fall asleep right away, though-I kept thinking about the girl, who caught me and how determined she was at first to make me pay for attempting to steal her car. Something changed in her look later though and she convinced herself she should let me go-I don't know what it was, but I was glad it happened, otherwise who knows where I would've been right now. I hoped, I'll never get to see her again, though there's no way she could possibly recognize my face. It was enough for me to recognize hers, though-I was already feeling guilty for even attempting to do this. I knew why I decided to go with it-because I was desperate. I just had no other choice-I was pressed to the wall.

I fell asleep an hour later, still torturing myself with thoughts about what happened last night, ashamed of myself, feeling as if I've betrayed my own son and my brother.