- SUMMERY -

TessaBelle Gilbert was taken away from her twin sister Elena by their mother when she was only 5.

Now 14years later she's back in Mystic Falls to be reunited with her sister,

But she soon realizes that it's not all as easy to move on as she thought it would be.

Someone in Mystic Falls reminds her of someone from her painful past.

Can Tess get passed the pain from her past and move on with someone else?

Or will her heart be closed off forever from all the pain and heartbreak she has been through?

CHAPTER 1 - Tess' POV

Let me introduce myself. My Name is Tessabelle Gilbert Whitlock, but friends and family call me Tess or Belle.

Today was the day that I finally get to see my little sister again after mum took me away from her when I was five. I was so excited to be here and so was Elena when I told her that I was moving back.

After mother died in the accident with my stepfather, I had no one left in Australia, which is where mum took me to when she ran away all those years ago. Now I'm back in Mystic Falls and I can't wait to see my sister, Aunt Jenna and Jeremy, our little brother, since Dad and our stepmom both died. I couldn't wait to see them I've missed them so much, especially Elena. Being twins it hurts so much more to be apart. We used to be so close until mother left, taking me with her. I was only 5, but it hurt me so much, I cried every day. Even though I was allowed to talk to Elena on the phone, it was never the same.

So here I am, back in Mystic Falls, driving up to our old house to be reunited with my twin sister, my aunt and my little brother.

I parked my 1960 Chevrolet Corvette out front of the house and got out.

As I walked up to the porch and knocked on the front door, I felt excited and nervous to see Elena after so many years.

I heard the door open to see Elena.

"Hey Elle!" I exclaimed.

She squealed and pulled me into a hug. "I missed you so much, Belle!"

"I missed to you, sis, so much!" I said hugging her back.

She pulled me inside to see Aunt Jenna and a young boy that I assumed was Jeremy waiting for us.

"Aunt Jenna!" I screamed and ran to hug her as she hugged me back. "I missed you so much, Aunt Jenna." I gushed with tears in my eyes.

She pulled back to look me in my blue eyes, full with happy tears and replied, "I missed you too, sweetheart, so much."

I smiled and pulled back from the hug to see Jeremy watching me. I had talked to him on the phone a lot since he was able to talk, but to finally meet him in person is amazing.

I smiled at him gently and spoke, "Hey Jer, come give your big sister a hug." I said with my arms open ready for a hug.

He walked over to me and I thought he was going to hug me, but he picked me up and spun me around, squeezing me tightly.

"I can't breathe, Jer." I laughed.

"Oh, sorry sis," he said as he put me back on to the floor.

"It's okay, sweetie. No harm done, not much anyway!" I laughed and I looked at all their smiling faces. "I'm so happy to be here. I wish that I never left." I said with tears in my eyes.

Elena hugged me and said, "Tess, it's not your fault. You didn't have a choice but to leave."

"You have no idea how many times I wanted to come home, but I couldn't. It's not like I lived on the other side of the country where I could just run away. Mother took me out of the country, all the way to Australia. I loved it there, but it didn't feel right. It wasn't home for me anymore. I was always missing you, Elle. You're a part of me, sis. I always thought about you. I'm just lucky mother let me keep in contact with you. She's our mum and I loved her and all, but I've always hated her for her decision that took me away from you." I said crying. "I never forgave her for taking me away from you and leaving you here. I will never understand why. Why would she separate us? I just never knew why or how she could do that."

I felt 3 sets of arms around me as Elena, Aunt Jenna and Jeremy hugged me.

"I'm so sorry, sweetie. I wish that I could have done something to stop her, but I couldn't." Aunt Jenna said.

"It's not your fault, Aunt Jenna. Mum had her mind made up and no one could stop her from leaving to be with...him. She was stupid and blinded by being in love with a younger guy. She tried to make me call him dad, but I had always hated him for his part in making mum take me with her. Why couldn't she just leave me here? I always hated her for taking me with her when all I wanted was to stay here with you and dad. Now dads gone and I'll never get to see him again, because of her. I miss him so much! I just wish that I could have seen him one last time. I wish she left with him and left me here."

"It's okay, sweetie. You're here now. We've got you back and we're all together again." Said Aunt Jenna.

"I love you, guys."

"We love you too, Tess." They replied.

After my little mini break down, Elena showed me up to my old room. It didn't look much different except for the fact that the walls were now the color of lilac; one of my favorite colors. There was a four poster bed where my old bed used to be. It had midnight blue bedding on it with matching midnight blue satin netting on the top and around the four posts of the bed.

I smiled and looked at Elena. "I love it" I told her and hugged her.

I put my stuff away and went down the stairs. Elena was taking me to the grill to meet up with our friends that I haven't seen since mother took me away with her.