Pilot

I don't own the Vampire Diaries or any of the songs mentioned in this story!

I'm coming home
I'm coming home
tell the World I'm coming home
Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday
I know my kingdom awaits and they've forgiven my mistakes
I'm coming home, I'm coming home
tell the World I'm coming ~ J. Cole "I'm Coming Home"

Clarissa Salvatore was many things short tempered... Sometimes... Nosy... Guilty... Impatient... Always, but stupid never. Claire knew that her and Stefan's impromptu return to their hometown of Mystic Falls, Virginia was not due to some latent feeling if nostalgia or homesickness. Clarissa had absolutely refused to set foot in this god forsaken town since she had turned in 1864. "Stupid Stefan, and my inability to deny my baby brother anything." She mumbled to herself.
"Stefan, just tell me already! Why are we here?" Claire asked impatiently. For her, patience was a myth, not a virtue. She sat in the front passenger seat staring and the beautiful scenery . Not that she minded, she loved nature.
Stefan laughed at his sister's antics, sometimes he wondered who the older sibling really was, but every time he did that, she'd surprise him by taking care of him. He rolled his eyes "Relax, Clary it's not something I can tell you; I need to show you. Chill, we're almost there."

"We'd better be." Claire mumbled under her breath not appreciating that her brother had called her away from the City of Lights for Mystic Falls. She didn't exactly have good memories of this place between her abusive father trying to sell her off like cattle to the highest bidder, and her best friend KP, the vampire fugitive toying with both of her beloved brothers, and then there was him, that jerk who she stupidly trusted and fell in love with. Stefan pulled up to Mystic High. Claire glared at him "You enrolled me in school? You're kidding right?"

"Nope, let's go" Stefan said his face deadly serious.
Claire stomped away furious at her brother for interrupting her life once again for his desire to relieve his adolescence. "Stupid school, stupid brothers." Claire muttered under her breath not paying attention and crashing in to a strikingly familiar brunette. Claire looked up "Katherine" she thought to herself, but the brunette's face was devoid of recognition and she heard a heartbeat.
"I am so sorry" the brunette said smiling, offering her hand to help Claire up "definitely not Kat" Claire thought to herself. The girl after helping Claire offered her a hand to shake "Elena Gilbert"
"Clarissa Salvatore, but call me Claire. I really hate it when people call me Clarissa." She said smiling friendly at Elena
"Mind if I show you around? It's the least I can do after knocking you over." Elena offered smiling back
"Sounds like fun, Thanks" Claire said as Elena hooked their arms together.
"Elena, forget about me?" Bonnie said waving her hand in front of Elena's face to get her attention. Claire laughed at the two's interaction; you could tell that the two had been best friend's for a long time. She felt a pang in her heart at that her one best friend was stuck in a coffin placed in that coffin by Claire's ex who also her best friend's brother, and her other BFF messed around with Claire's brothers for kicks and was also being hunted down by the coincidently Claire's same ex. She missed having uncomplicated relationships, to say the least.
"I like your spunk; I'm Claire." Offering her hand to the brunette
"Bonnie Bennett" the pair shook hands. Bonnie felt this immediate connection to Claire. She knew the girl was trustworthy and a soon to be good friend. "There is a major lack of male real estate." Bonnie complained "look at the shower curtain on Kelly Beech. She looks hot... Can I say tranny mess?"
"Ah, no that's over." Elena replied as Claire smirked rolling her eyes
"Ah, find a man, coin a new phrase." Bonnie joked
"Busy year." Claire replied spotting a cute tall blonde in her peripheral vision who just happening to be gazing longingly at Elena like a man in a desert dreaming of water. "Who's that El?"
"That would be Matt, the ex." Bonnie said eager to fill Claire in on the juicy gossip.
"He hates me." Elena groaned slumping her shoulders
"That's not hate." Claire smirked contradicting her new friend. She knew that look all to well."What do we call that Bon?"
"That's you dumped me, but I'm too cool to show it, but I'm secretly replaying our greatest hits." Bonnie joked playfully
"Honey, that wreaks of I want to get back together, but don't want to hurt my ego." Claire teased
"Familiar with that look Claire?" Bonnie teased back
"As if..." Claire laughed
"Elena, Elena" a blonde came running toward them, rushing and nearly smothering Elena in a bone crushing hug "OMG, how are you? Oh, it's so good to see you." Tightening her grip on Elena and then releasing turning to Bonnie "How is she? Is she good?" Claire tried to fill in the blanks, she was obviously missing big parts of Elena's past that everyone else seemed to know "Damn Stefan" she thought cursing her brother.
Elena laughed "Caroline, I'm right here, and I'm fine. Thank you." Glancing at Claire "Claire this is Caroline Forbes, Care, this is Clarissa Salvatore, our new student. But I would call her Claire."
Caroline smiled "Nice to meet you, Claire. I love your outfit. It's killer. We should hangout sometime."
"Thanks, that would be nice" Claire replied. It felt good to make some new friends apart form the drama of vampire life.
"Okay, I'll see you guys later? Nice to meet you Claire!" Caroline asked
"Ok, Bye" Bonnie said waving at her friend
"Later Caroline!" Elena and Claire said simultaneously turning to each other "Jinx" they said bursting into laughter that neither of them had experienced for too long.
Claire walked with Bonnie and Elena through the halls, passing the main office, where Bonnie spotted Stefan standing at the front desk talking to the receptionist. "Hold up, who's this?" She asked with a sparkle in her eye.
"All I see is a back." Elena retorted disinterested
"It's a hot back!" Bonnie shot back causing the other two girls to laugh.
"It's just a back Bonnie, and BTW, that's my brother Stefan, definitely not dreamboat material."
"For you understandably Claire, but for the rest of the female population, that boy is the definition of drool worthy. I'm sensing Seattle, and he plays guitar." Bonnie said
"Psychic huh?" Claire asked curiously her own witchy powers often told her things about people, she should know. Bonnie nodded. Claire smiled "Cool" grinning she could tell that Bonnie was a witch like herself, or part of herself, long story.
"Jeremy, good batch man." Some guy, definitely a user said down the hall catching the girls attention. As a young man left the druggie and headed in to the boy's bathroom. "I'll be right back." Elena growled striding after him. Bonnie turned to Claire "her brother, he's having problems dealing with their parents deaths. He turned to drugs, and has been acting out."
Claire nodded in understanding if only Bonnie knew how familiar she was with addicts.
Addictions were hell to battle. . Bonnie turned back to Stefan "Please be hot." She begged quietly

In the office the secretary was giving Stefan a hard time "Your records are incomplete. You're missing immunization records, and we do insist on transcripts."
Stefan smiled looking into the secretary's eyes" Please look again. I'm sure everything you need is there."
Claire's vampire hearing allowed her to hear Stefan compel the receptionist into admitting both of the Salvatore's with no paperwork. Stefan turned around and spotting Claire waved and headed toward her bright smile on his face, drawing the eye of many of the hormonal teenage girls in the hall including Caroline as he walked. He collided with Elena coming out of the restroom mesmerizing her.
"Uh, isn't that the men's room?" Stefan said awkwardly as Claire suppressed a laugh. She wasn't supposed to be able to hear this, she was "human".
"Yeah, um, I was just, um, it's a long story." Elena stammered as Claire walked up to the pair "Claire, I'll catch you later before I knock another Salvatore down." With that Elena hurried away face flaming red.
"Hey, Stef, I see you met my new best bud." Claire joked hugging her brother then looking him straight in the eye "Care to explain why she looks exactly like Katherine?"
"I promise I will later, Claire."
"You'd better" Claire retorted her teasing tone gone
Claire looked at her schedule History with Mr. Tanner. She slipped in before the bell and grabbed a seat next to Elena.
"Once our home state of Virginia joined the Confederacy in 1861, it created tremendous pressure within the state. People in Virginia's northwest region had different ideals than those from the traditional deep south. Then Virginia divided in 1863 with the northwest region joining the union." Tanner rambled on
Claire smiled as Elena and Stefan exchanged glances and spots Bonnie text Elena "HAWT-E. STARING U."
It made her happy to see Stefan smile again.

[SALVATORE HOUSE]

Stefan wrote in his journal "I lost control today. Everything I've kept buried inside came rushing to the surface. I'm simply not able to resist her."
Claire slapped Stefan across the face "Why are we here? Why does she look like Kat?"
Stefan didn't even flinch "I don't know why she looks like Katherine, Claire, but their personality's are completely different."
"I know that Stefan, I spent half the day with her, but you're not answering my question. Is she why we are here?" Claire argued knowing Stefan was being deliberately evasive as not to tick off his sister.
"Yes, Clarissa. She is why we are here." Stefan answered honestly knowing the answer would just infuriate the brunette even more.
"I can't deal with your inability to move on and develop a healthy normal relationship right now." Claire fled the room and slammed the door absolutely pissed

[MYSTIC GRILL]
Claire needed to get away from Stefan, needed a drink, by the day she had a very strong drink. She spotted Elena's brother chatting with one of the grill's waitresses, as she sat at the bar.

"Hey Vick" Jeremy said smiling at her

Vicki replied "Working" blowing him off. As she turned to serve her brother Matt and Tyler

"Thanks, Vick" Matt said smiling at his sister happy that she was at least for the moment off of drugs.
"Do you need another refill, Guys?" Vicki asked happy to impress one of the town's most respected sons, even if he was a total douche.
"I'd love one" Tyler said his eye's dark as he watched Vicki walk away
Matt rolled his eyes at Tyler "Please tell me you are not hooking up with my sister."
Tyler scoffed "I'm not hooking up with your sister"
Matt not believing him "You're such a dick. Isn't that the new girl Claire Salvatore?" He said nodding in the direction of the gorgeous brunette.
"Yeah, that's her she's hot. Call her over." Tyler said checking her out
"Hey, Claire come sit with us." Matt yelled motioning for her to join them
"Absolutely" Claire replied smiling at the pair of boys. They were as Bonnie said drool worthy
"I'm Claire, and you must be Matt Donovan." Claire said knowingly
Matt laughed "the girls must have filled you in huh?"
"Something like that" Claire chuckled
"And they left out the best part of the dynamic duo" Tyler said mock offended that Elena and Bonnie had forgotten to mention him
"And that is?" Claire asked teasingly
"That would be me, the one the only Tyler Lockwood."
"I can't see why they forgot to mention such a modest guy with a ego only the size of Texas." Claire retorted damn he was cute she thought and then he started running his mouth. She looked down at her phone. "Bonnie and Caroline are meeting me soon; I better grab a table before they get here." She walked away from the self dubbed Batman and Robin catching bits of Baby Gilbert's conversation with Vicki

Jeremy looked frustrated "Hey, what's your deal? I mean, summer you act one way and then school starts and you can't be bothered."

"Look, Jeremy,I really appreciate all the pharmaceuticals, but you can't keep following me around like a lost puppy." Vicki said Claire interpreted to mean, I have a better offer, go away.
"When's the last time you had sex with a puppy?" Jeremy retorted frustration mounting
"Hey, keep it down. I don't want to tell the whole world I deflowered Elena's kid brother." Vicki said shushing Jeremy

"Yeah, and deflowered and deflowered." Jeremy said

"We hooked up a few times in a drug haze. It's over. You gotta back off before you ruin things between me and Tyler." Vicki replied trying to end the conversation before it caught the attention of Tyler.

"Oh,come on, the guy's a total douche. He only wants you for your ass" Jeremy replied pleading

" Yeah? What do you want me for?" Vicki said ending the argument and walking away

Caroline and Bonnie entered and wave at Claire joking her in the booth. Bonnie on her right and Caroline across from her.

" His name is Stefan Salvatore. He lives with uncle up at the old Salvatore boarding house with his lovely sister Clarissa." At the use of her full name Claire grimaced "He hasn't lived here since he was a kid. Military family, so they moved around a lot. He's a Gemini, and his favorite color is blue." Caroline said smiling at Claire and Bonnie.
" You got all of that in one day?" Bonnie asked

CAROLINE: Oh, please, I got all that between third and fourth period. We're planning a June wedding.
"And why exactly haven't the CIA recruited you yet? Seriously Care, I could have told you all that, next time just ask instead of stalking my brother." Claire said eyes sparkling full of mirth. Stefan had no idea what Hurricane Caroline could do.

[GILBERT HOUSE]

ELENA: I'm meeting Bonnie, Caroline and Claire at the grill.

"Claire? Ok, have fun. Wait, I got this. Don't stay out late, it's a school night." Said Jenna still trying to be a good parent.

"She's new. Well done, Aunt Jenna." Elena said smiling at her aunt, opening the door to head out. "Oh" she said bumping into Stefan

"Sorry, I was about to knock. I wanted to apologize for my disappearing act earlier. I know it was . . . strange." Stefan said trying to atone for his earlier behavior. He had almost lost control, and that was inexcusable.

"No worries. I get it, blood makes you squeamish." Elena said

" Um, something like that. How's your leg?" Stefan replied uncomfortable with the topic

"Oh, it's fine. Just a scratch, barely. How did you know where I lived?"

"I asked Claire and she didn't know so I figured It's a small town. I asked the first person I saw. Um, I thought you might want this back." Stefan said handing her journal to her

"Oh, I must have dropped it. I-thank you." Elena replied smiling at Stefan

"Don't worry, I didn't . . . read it."

" No? Why not? Most people would have."

"Well,I'm not most people, and I wouldn't want anyone to read mine."

" You keep a journal?" Elena asked

"Yeah, if I don't write it down, I forget it. Memories are too important especially with my sister always making life interesting."

"Yeah, she's really great. I'm just gonna. . .umm, you don't have to stay out there." Elena replied smiling at the mention of Claire, the first person to make her laugh since her parent's death

He tries to go in but he can't. If Claire was here, she would be laughing at the goofy mess I am around Elena. I never had Claire's ability to make good friends quickly, and keep them for life or in her case eternity. Stefan thought to himself

" I'm fine. Sorry, were you going somewhere?" he replied brushing off the fact that he couldn't actually enter her house.

"Yeah, I'm meeting a your sister. Do you want to come?" Elena offered eager to impress Claire's brother

[MYSTIC GRILL]

Matt strolled up to the girls who were talking animatedly about school, and past memories. Claire of course was editing her stories for dates, and references to blood and vampires, and switching archaic bands for current ones. She hated this part of her life, lying to people she was starting to care about. Relationships built on lies never lasted.

" How's Elena doing?" Matt asked concerned for his ex

" Her mom and dad died. How do you think? She's putting on a good face, but it's only been four months." Bonnie said

" Has she said anything about me?" He asked almost pleading look on his face

"Oh, no. So not getting in the middle. You pick up the phone and call her."

he turned looking at Claire. "Don't look at me Donovan. I'm the new kid on the block; I am Switzerland."

"I feel weird calling her. She broke up with me." Matt replied

"Give it more time, Matt." Bonnie said

"Elena will come around." Claire added before spotting Elena walking in with her brother, and waving them over.

"More time, huh?" Matt retorted as the pair walked over. he stood arm out "I'm Matt Donovan."

Stefan took Matt's hand and shook it "Stefan Salvatore, I see you've met my sister Claire."

Elena smiled glancing at her ex and then at the three girls pleading for their help. "Hey, Matt."

" Hey, Elena." He replied walking away annoyed

" So, you two were born in Mystic Falls?" Caroline asked

"Care, I thought we weren't going to interrogate my brother. He's not really the most social person."

"It's fine Claire. Mm-Hmm. And moved when we were still young."

"Parents?"

" Our parents passed away." Stefan said looking down Claire knew that in his eyes she would see guilt for their awful father's death.

"I'm sorry. Any siblings?" Elena asked

"Besides Claire, none that I talk to."

"We live with our uncle Zach. We have a complicated relationship with our other brother." Claire added as Stefan scowled at her mention of Damon. The guy loved to make Stefan's life and occasionally Claire's hell.

" So, Stefan, if you're new, then you don't know about the party tomorrow." Caroline asked her crush on Stefan obvious to Claire, but not apparently to Stefan

" It's a back to school thing at the falls. Claire, you're coming right?" Bonnie added

"Of Course I love a good party." She said smiling at the inclusion

Stefan turned to Elena "Are you going?"

"Of course she is. She wouldn't miss it." Bonnie said

[SALVATORE HOUSE]

"You two promised" zach said angrily showing them a newspaper article detailing some gruesome attack in the area. Stefan and Claire exchanged looks. Their peaceful existence here was rapidly coming to an end and it was only the first day.

"This was an animal attack." Claire argued knowing she hadn't done it, and considering how hard she and Lexi worked to get Stefan back on the wagon last time; she would kill Stefan if he even thought about going full blown ripper.

" Don't give me that. I know the game. You tear them up enough, they always suspect an animal attack. You said you had it under control." Zach scoffed

"And he does, that's part of my job here." Claire reassured turning to Stefan

"Claire said I have it under control, and I do."

"Please, Uncle Stefan, Aunt Claire, Mystic Falls is a different place now. It's been quiet for years, but there are people who still remember. And you two being here, it's just going to stir things up."

"Relax, Zach we are not going to make any waves." Claire replied

"It's not my intention." Stefan added

" Then what is? Why come back? After all this time, why now?" Zach asked disparate for a return to the serenity he had enjoyed before his relatives came into town.

" I don't have to explain myself." Stefan stated firmly

"You know why I'm here." Claire said "And that's only as a precautionary measure, at that."

" I know that you can't change what you are. But you don't belong here anymore."

" Where do we belong?"

"I can't tell you what to do. But coming back here was a mistake." Zach said leaving the vampires to think. Stefan opens the door to his room, and pulls a picture off his nightstand an uncanny resemblance to Elena at the bottom the script reads: Katherine Pierce 1864.

[HISTORY CLASS]

"The Battle of Willow Creek took place right at the end of the war in our very own Mystic Falls. How many casualties resulted in this battle? Tanner asked scanning the room for victims to humiliate. Ms. Bennett?"

Bonnie looked terrified and hopelessly lost " Um . . . a lot? I'm not sure. Like a whole lot."

"Cute becomes dumb in an instant, Ms. Bennett. Mr. Donovan? Would you like to take this opportunity to overcome your embedded jock stereotype?" What a total douche Claire thought to herself. If the world ends today, I'll have wasted precious time in this insufferable class.

"It's ok, Mr. Tanner, I'm cool with it." at this Claire laughed causing Tanner to glare at her

"Something funny, Miss Salvatore." Claire shook her head

"Thought so Hmm. Elena? Surely you can enlighten us about one of the town's most significantly historical events?" Tanner asked

"I'm sorry, I-I don't know." Elena looked mortified

"I was willing to be lenient last year for obvious reasons, Elena. But the personal excuses ended with summer break." Tanner replied

"There were 346 casualties." Stefan said

" Unless you're counting local civilians." Claire added for good measure. It always helped to have first hand historical experience.

"That's correct. Mister. . .?"

"Salvatore." Stefan supplied helpfully damn teacher's pet Stefan Claire thought "I'm Stefan, and that is my sister Clarissa." Claire glared at him for using her full name. It would be just her luck, if the teacher insisted on calling her that for the rest of the semester.

"Salvatore. Any relation to the original settlers here at Mystic Falls?"

"Distant." Claire answered eager to move on before the teacher realized that their names were exactly the same

"Well, very good. Except, of course, there were no civilian casualties in this battle." Tanner added

" Actually, there were 27, sir. Confederate soldiers, they fired on they fired on the church, believing it to be housing weapons." Stefan said

"They were wrong. It was a night of great loss. The founder's archives are, uh, stored in civil hall if you'd like to brush up on your facts. Mr. Tanner." Claire added with a cheeky grin on her face. She loved putting jerks in their place.

After the lecture, the siblings walked out smiling. "Did we just paint targets on our back?" Claire asked worried that the history teacher might give them a problem

"Maybe." Stefan answered "Good job in there ." High fiving Claire

"That was fun, Salvatore siblings forever." Claire laughed hugging her brother who then put his arm around her as they walked out. She pulled her phone out of her pocket "Tanks for that, see you at the party later- Elena"

[PARTY IN THE WOODS]

claire immediately met up with Elena and Bonnie at the party by the fire pits. Bonnie handed her a drink

"Thanks Bon" Claire said standing opposite Elena "So El, still interested in my bro?" Claire asked slyly

"Claire" Elena groaned

"I think she should be" Bonnie said grinning "After all the Salvatore siblings did total stickup for you in Tanner's class today. Just admit you like him, what's the harm in that?"

"We did totally forever incur the wrath of Mystic Falls most despised teacher." Claire said dramatically

"What a good friend, and an amazing potential boyfriend." Bonnie teased

"Come on, just admit you think my brother's hot." Claire said

Elena said nothing, but the red hot blush creeping on her face gave it away "You do like him!" She smirked victoriously

"Oh, I give ok, so he's a little pretty." Elena said

" He has that romance novel stare very Rhett like."

Claire laughed " More like a perfect Mr. Darcy" except with fangs she thought hoping Elena would come around when Stefan eventually revealed the truth.

Caroline looking around for Claire, Elena, and Bonnie spotted Stefan. She smiled, I finally get the edge she thought "Hey! You made it!" greeting Stefan warmly

"I did. Have you seen my sister and Elena?" He asked

"Well, let's get you a drink" She said

" Well, I'm-"

"Oh, come on." She said dragging him away

Bonnie, Claire, and Elena were still talking. The three girls had bright smiles on their faces

"So where is he?" Bonnie asked

"I don't know. You tell me, you're the psychic one." Elena teased

"it's Stefan, he's probably off gelling his hair, and writing in his diary." Claire smiled

"Right, I forgot. Ok, so give me a sec. Grams says I have to concentrate." Bonnie said

"Wait, you need a crystal ball." Elena said offering her a beer bottle. Bonnie took it from her and then completely spaced out.

"Bon, you okay? Bonnie, are you alright?" Claire asked still not sure wether she should use magic or not to check. Bonnie came to her senses, and pulled her head back abruptly

"What?" Elena said concerned

" That was weird. When I touched you Elena, I saw a crow." Crap Claire thought knowing exactly what the crow meant , more like who the crow meant

"What?" Elena said a little freak out that Bonnie had saw a crow. They were symbols of death

"A crow. There was fog, a man. I'm drunk. It's the drinking. There's nothing psychic about it. Yeah? Ok, I'm gonna get a refill." Bonnie said trying to blow off the incident I only freaking Claire out more. It seemed that the bane of her existence was back to torment her and Stefan some more. Bonnie ran off

"Ok? Bonnie!" Elena asked

"I'll go look after her." Claire said as Stefan approached them

"Hi." Stefan said

"Hi." Elena replied tension not completely leaving her body after Bonnie's episode

"I did it again, didn't it? Walked in on a bad time." stefan said with a crooked smile

" Yeah." Elena replied the awkwardness fading between the two

"I'm sorry. You're upset about something." Stefan said genuinely caring about her feelings

"Oh, uh, no, it's- it's just Bonnie. She's... You know what, Claire has it handled. Never mind. You're . . . here" Elena said smiling up at him

"Yeah, I am. There is no place, I'd rather be." Stefan replied