Hey, so this is my first fic for Vampire Diaries. This is something I thought up of after reading the latest book.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything or anyone in this story.

Chapter 1

The beginning of the end

It had been three years since Elena had seen the Salvatore brothers. She had moved out of Fell's Church and moved on with her life. She had moved to Chicago and went to college there. Today was the anniversary of the day that changed her life forever and had sent her on this path.

Stefan had been gone for three weeks already in search of the kitsune, so that he could have his humanity back. Damon had reluctantly stayed behind because he was now human and would only slow his brother down. Stefan still hadn't forgiven him. Elena had been on edge since Stefan had left and Damon was there to console her. Elena knew Damon still had feelings for her and she felt something towards him too. She didn't know what it was; it was like a tugging at the pit of her stomach. She had never felt that way before. Damon and Elena were sitting on the couch in Mrs. Flower's living room playing a board game. Damon was surprised that he enjoyed playing those mundane games. He had a feeling it was because he was playing it with the woman he loved. Love. He knew he was in love. He had never felt this way, not even with Katherine. Elena smiled triumphantly at him when she won the game.

"I win!" she exclaimed.

"Again." Damon grumbled.

"Oh, don't be a sore loser." She said in a mocking tone. Damon gave her a wicked smile.

"I call a rematch." He said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"No way." She says crossing her arms. "I won fair and square."

Damon pouted his lower lip in mock hurt. Elena's eyes strayed to his lips. Damon stopped being playful when he felt the mood shift in the room. Elena lifted her eyes back up to his black ones. Damon took the first step towards her. Elena was frozen to the spot, she couldn't move.

"Damon." She says weakly, trying to protest.

"Shh." He says as he softly places his lips on hers. He had never been that gentle with her. Elena had wanted to pull away from him, but it felt right. She felt whole at that moment; something she hadn't felt since her parents had died. The kiss became more passionate and heated. One thing led to the next.

"Momma." A little girl cried, causing Elena's train of thought to be brought to an abrupt halt. Elena gets up from her couch and walks to her daughter's room.

"What is it baby?" Elena says. The little girl lifts her arms up towards her.

"Up." She says. Elena picks her daughter up and walks to her room.

"Are you ready for Amalia to come babysit you today? Mommy needs to go to her classes." The girl shakes her head quickly, her black hair whipping back and forth.

"No." She says, crossing her arms. Elena sighs.

"You're as stubborn as your father." She states. The little girl smiles at that.

"Okay, Miranda, let's get you dressed." (She had named her daughter after her mother and sister). She folded her little arms over her chest and sat cross legged on the ground.

"Miranda Margaret Gilbert I will not tell you again." Elena says sternly. The little girl gives in and let's her mother dress her.

When the sitter arrives Elena leaves to go to her classes. She was studying to be a teacher. A man walks up from behind her and then plants himself in front of her.

"Elena Stronghold, I thought I recognized you." Elena had changed her last name so that certain two brothers couldn't find her.

"Hey Josh, what's up?" He shrugs his shoulders.

"How about that date." He says boldly. Elena chuckles.

"That was bold." He shrugs again as they walk side by side to class.

"You know I can't."

"Why not? You could get a sitter."

"I don't know. It just doesn't feel right leaving her at night."

"Come on, it's one night. What d'ya say?"

"Fine. But only tonight. Pick me up at my place at seven."

Josh smiles triumphantly as he walks off. Josh Careiro was a good guy and he was fairly good looking too. He was over six feet tall and had blue eyes and dark brown hair. He was in two of her classes. When Elena got home she was greeted by Miranda rushing to hug her legs.

"Hi baby. Did you have a good day?" Miranda nodded.

"Oh, señorita Stronghold, ello. Did jou have good day?" Amalia said in her strong Spanish accent. Amalia was a plump, middle aged woman that had recently moved to Chicago from Mexico. Elena nods.

"Yes, thank you. I was wondering if it was alright if you could watch Miranda tonight at seven for a couple of hours. I'll pay you double the amount."

"Sí, that is fine. No need to pay doble, it is fine." She reassures her as she puts her boots on and leaves.

"Thank you misses Gomez." She says as the door closes.

Miranda beams her smile up to her mother. Her eyes staring up at her, she had the same eyes as Elena. She made supper for her daughter and went to her room to change as Miranda watched her nightly cartoons. She switched from one dress to the next, not knowing which one she would wear. Then she thought of words spoken to her so long ago.

"You're beautiful." He said as Elena lay next to him with a thousand thoughts running through her head. She had betrayed Stefan.

"Damon, I'm sorry I have to go." Elena gets up and dresses hurriedly.

That was the last time she had seen Damon, his eyes were full of pain. She had wanted to cry then. She hadn't ever seen him look so broken. A week after that she left Fell's Church without saying good-bye to him or his brother. Stefan hadn't come back anyway. She couldn't be around any of them, one of them would be hurt and she didn`t want history repeating itself. Maybe because of her departure there bond would be stronger. She had said good-bye to Matt, Bonnie and Meredith and they swore to her not to tell Damon until a week after she was gone. When she had arrived in New York she had changed her name and every piece of identity she had and then from there she moved to Chicago. A month after that she found out she was pregnant. She knew immediately she was going to keep her child. But, she would never tell her child's father or his brother.

Elena grabbed a red v neck dress and fixed her golden hair so it would look nice. Josh rang the door bell at exactly seven o`clock. Miranda ran to the door and opened it to find a stranger. She shut to the door on his face and ran to her mommy's room.

"Momma." She said as her bottom lip quivered.

"Oh, baby it`s okay. He's a friend. Come on." She grabs her daughter and places her on her hip as she opens the door.

"Come in, Josh. I'm so sorry about that." She chuckles. "She doesn't know you, so she got scared." Josh laughs.

"It's fine Elena." He turns to Miranda. "Hello there cutie, I'm Josh." Miranda hides her head in her mother's shoulder shyly.

"Alana should be here soon. Do you want something to drink?" He shakes his head.

"No, I`m fine, thanks."

Alana arrived five minutes later and they were off on their date. They arrived at a fancy restaurant and Elena couldn`t help but gape.

"Wow, Josh. This is really nice." He just smiles shyly at her.

The night went off better than any of them had expected. In front of Elena's door, Josh kissed her sweetly on the lips.

"Bye, D-Josh, the night was lovely." She thanks him as she almost called him Damon. He hadn't noticed.

"See you tomorrow then. Bye" She waves to him and she smiles.

She was angry with herself for almost slipping up. She unlocks the door to her apartment only to find it wasn't locked. Odd. She opens the door.

"Misses Gomez, I'm home." She calls out, but there is no answer. She's starting to get worried. She walks to the living room and yells a deafening cry of horror.

There was blood splattered on the TV screen and Alana lay on the couch with dead eyes staring up at the ceiling. She had a gash in her throat and there was blood everywhere. Elena's heart pounded in her ears. She ran lightning fast to her daughter's room. She looked in the crib but she wasn't there. A sob escaped her lips.

"Miranda, if you can hear mommy come out please." She cries out desperately. She ran to her room and to her relief her daughter was sleeping soundly on her stomach. But, when she got closer to her she saw a note pinned to her clothes. It read: The next time I come it will be her life. Elena stared at it in horror.

She packed as many things as she could and left the apartment still in her red dress and her daughter sleeping against her chest. She put her in her car and started driving off. They were in danger, of that she knew for sure. She drove as fast as she could towards the life she left behind. She only knew two men that could help her. At one point when she was around six months pregnant she knew that this day would come. She just hadn't wanted it to be so soon. Hearts would be broken and truths will have to come out. She looked in the rear view mirror to look at her sleeping daughter. This was the beginning of the end.

So, what do you think? Should I continue? Please review.