'The last thing you said was woman you have left me with your blood on my hands'

She looked at her hands, shaking. Crimson guilt dripping onto the white carpet. A breath hitched in her chest as reality dawned upon her, sobbing she slipped down the wall. Why? Questions no one was able to answer tore through her mind, it was over. She could do nothing. Not now - it was too late.

She gasped as her alarm sounded loudly. It was a dream, she wasn't there anymore. It's all okay, she told herself. Mason stirred next to her, squinting at the light coming through the window.

'Were you dreaming about it? Again?' He asked with worried pools of blue eyes.

'Yeah, but that's all it was. A dream.' She reassured him, putting on a fake smile she used too often. She took a deep breath and pulled herself up onto her feet. Another day. Another day away from the one one that hurt her to the point of breaking. But she moved on, she had to. Right? Ignoring the negative thoughts, she made a start to her day. 'Get out of bed, we have a long journey ahead of us.'

'Are you sure you are ready to do this?' He asked for the umpteenth time since I chose to visit Mystic Falls. He placed his hands of her shoulders, scanning her eyes with his.

'Mase, it's been 5 years. I need this. I miss home, I miss it so damn much, and so do you. You might not want to admit it, but I know you want to go back.' That's right. 5 years since she left, never went back. she couldn't, it hurt too much. Since her and Mason got together 3 years ago, he also didn't step a foot in the town. He knows parts of her story, so he didn't want to cause her anymore pain by reminding her of that past life she once had.

3 hours later they were in their rental car, 30 minutes away from Elena's childhood home. She was trying her best not to break into tears as they passed the sign that read Mystic Falls. She found herself wondering if he was still there? Has he moved on like she did? Well, partly anyway. Her heart would always partly belong to that raven-haired man. She sounded pathetic she thought to herself. How could she be thinking about him while in being in the car with her fiance?

The car pulled up the graveled drive way, giving Elena the last few moments to compose herself. A half of her was bursting with happiness, she was going to see her family. Her parents and brother visited her in Chicago for most holidays but her aunt and uncle were kept in Mystic Falls most of the time so she only saw them face to face one or twice over the years. The other half of her however, was sick worried. Her stomach churned at the thought of seeing him. A part of her still has feelings for him but they can never be unburied.

'You ready?' Mason asked as he turned of the ignition.

'Yeah, lets go.' She stepped out of the door. Her red heels sinking slightly in the gravel, she smoothed her hands over her red play-suit. 5 years ago she would've never dreamed of wearing things like this, never even bothered with a pair of heels. She created a mask for herself. Under the layer of make up and designer clothes was a broken Elena. But she wanted her family to believe she was okay, so she changed. Everything. Her career, her image. Her personality, she was no longer the sweet selfless Elena everyone knew, she was a black-hearted woman to anyone who she didn't break her shell for. And the only people she made an exception to were her family.

Her mother Miranda opened the door, immediately opening her arms for her daughter to run into. Both of them holding the biggest two smiles anyone has ever seen. After greeting her daughter, Miranda gave Mason a short embrace. Elena's family were not too fond of him. He was known to be a player, long before he left Mystic Falls. His father Richard Lockwood is the town's Mayor, granting Mason with a big wad of cash.

'Come in, Grayson is in the back, working the grill.' Miranda chuckled, she headed for the kitchen after asking the kids if they wanted a drink. Elena led the way through the house and into the big garden. Her eyes scanned over the lawn with a sign of nostalgia. She was so happy to be here.

'Dad!' she shouted to her father who was standing by the grill, on the other side of the grass. He looked up with a big smile as he realized it was Elena calling to him. She ran over to him, as fast as a woman in heels could, and pulled him into a big embrace. He gave her a little kiss on the top of her head.

'I'm so happy you could make it.' He told her, 'It would've been even better if he didn't come though.' he muttered quietly.

'Dad, please.' she told him sternly. 'I love him, he will be wherever I am.' With that she turned towards her mother, waiting with two drinks in her hands. She passed one to Mason who was sitting in one of the patio chairs, holding the other one towards Elena who was walking towards her.

The whole family was sat around a large black patio table, conversing about the progress in their jobs. As the topic came to an end, Elena turned to Mason who gave her a slight nod.

She took a deep breath and started, ' We have something to tell you.' Her parents looked at each other, with curious eyes. 'Me and Mase are getting married.' She let out. Her dad spat out the water he just took a sip of, while her mum stared at her daughter with narrowed eyes.

'Well, congratulations baby.' Her mum said as she composed herself. She managed a small smile, but on the inside she was crying. This isn't the life her little Elena would've wanted, she wasn't sure if this Elena wanted either. Grayson just continued eating his steak as if nothing ever happened, choosing to ignore the fact his baby girl wanted to marry the town's biggest jerk.

'I'm going to head inside' Mason informed, giving his fiance the 'I told you look' and heading inside. Elena continued to munch on her steak, the tension was so dense you could cut it with a knife. 'If you have something to say, just say it. Please.' She said softly. Grayson gave out a quiet emotionless laugh.

Miranda looked into her daughters eyes and whispered words so similar to the ones she used to hear so much as a child, 'We will love you whatever you want to do.' She took a deep breath and continued, ' But is this something the old Elena would want? I this even what the new Elena wants?' Elena frowned, tears surrounding the rims of her eyes.

'There is no old Elena. She is gone' She spat out, standing up and matching inside the house. Heading up the stairs to her old room. This isn't where she would be staying, it reminded her way too much of things she used to have but no longer does. She shut the door behind the her, she stormed up to her wardrobe, where sat a picture. Of her and Damon. No one had the courage to touch anything in her room after she left, she thought to herself. So she took the picture frame in her hands and threw it against the floor. She repeated the process with most of the other ones until she came across one that held a memory that engraved itself into her mind forever. Caroline took it a few days before her life took the most painful journey she could've imagined. It was a picture of their engagement, Damon was down on one knee and she stood in front of him with her hands over her mouth. She remembered the way she cried with happiness as she said yes. The way he wrapped his strong arms around her, holding her like she was the only thing in his world. That was enough to bring her into another wave of uncontrollable sobs. She clutched the picture to her chest as she sunk onto the floor and curled up into a little ball. She must've been too immersed in her tears as she didn't realize Miranda came into the room. She too had tears in her eyes as she wrapped her arms around her daughter. They cried together for what seemed like hours before Elena's eyes no longer allowed for more moisture to escape.

'Is he still here?' she whispered to her mother.

'Yes, he is. But he is not the Damon you remember.' she whispered back and Elena couldn't stop the guilt rushing over her. She ruined him, she was the reason he was not the same Damon. She knew it.

AN- Thank you for reading! Please review and check out my other stories!