A/N: I do not own anything associated with The Vampire Diaries or Twilight.

Chapter 1: The Return (1864)

Isabella POV

"Miss Salvatore?"

I looked up from my leather-bound journal and closed it shut at the sound of approaching steps I stood up and saw that one of our maids, Elizabeth, was attempting to make their way through the garden maze. She was halfway through but I sensed that she was a bit lost, so I made my way towards her after gathering my belongings.

"Forgive me, Miss Salvatore. I have yet to memorize the path to this maze," Elizabeth said with downcast eyes when I reached her.

Her formal manner made me halt but I responded, "No need for apologies, Lizzy. It took me quite a while myself."

Elizabeth smiled but it dropped at the mention of my nickname for her. "Isabella, do not call me that! If Giuseppe should happen to hear..."

I grinned triumphantly at her. "Aha! So this is the reason for your formality...Lizzy, you know I do not care what my father thinks of my being with you. We are friends, no? Practically sisters. You're the only one who I can truly have a conversation with. I see nothing wrong with that."

She gave me a devastated look. "Yes, nothing wrong except for that fact that I am a servant and you are the daughter of high-ranking aristocrat! Our friendship is looked down upon, Isa. We mustn't continue it. I will surely ruin your chances of getting married."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Oh please. I do not care to get married. I'm seventeen, merely a young naïve girl. I'm not ready for such a commitment."

"Naive indeed." Elizabeth muttered, still on the subject of our forbidden friendship. "If you wouldn't do anything about it, then I will."

She strode in front of me and led us out of the maze. I smiled at her childish behavior and followed her. "How so?"

"I shall not talk to you...informally or intimately."

I laughed. "You won't even last a week. The temptation will be too great. I'm your only friend for God's sake!"

"We'll see." She said stubbornly before turning more serious. "But for now... Mister Salvatore requests your presence at the main house."

"Do you know why, Lizzy?" I said, not wishing to follow her charade.

She didn't turn around and we reached the house when she finally responded. "It's not in my place to say, but I did manage to see a young man in the study with your father, Miss Salvatore."

She gave me a look and I immediately knew what exactly the meeting was about. I frowned and sighed at the though of having to turn down yet another marriage proposal from a man that was years older than me and only wished to get his hands the Salvatore fortune.

"How delightful," I mumbled glumly as we walked up the staircase and stopped in front of the door to the study,

Elizabeth's eyes soften a bit when she turned to me and whispered, "Perhaps you should give this man one chance. Just one, Isabella. You never know, he might be the one for you."

"These men want nothing but to get their grimy hands on the Salvatore property and fortune, not my affections, Lizzy."

"Honestly I don't know why I even bother."

She blew out an annoyed breath before knocking twice on the door and entering herself. I heard her introduce my presence to them before coming out again and letting me in. She gave me an encouraging look and I smiled at her, silently thanking her.

Once I heard the door close behind me, I noticed two figures standing near a bookcase. The first one was my father and the second one, was evidently the young man Elizabeth mentioned earlier. From what I could tell he was tall and had midnight black hair, but that was all I could catch when he back was facing me, which was now presented as an advantage for me.

I caught Father's eyes and he smiled happily, which I found odd taking in account that he knew I did not care for marriage and will surely not accept this one even if he was handsome. I smiled back nonetheless and prepared myself for the next step.

I reached the two within a few seconds and I curtsying at the mystery man while keeping my eyes downcast. I recited the lines, I have now known to memorize, "It's a pleasure meeting you, sir, but with all due respect, I cannot possibly accept your offer for my hand in marriage-"

I was cut off with a loud laugh that came from my father, and I cautiously looked up at him. He shook his head at me while laughing. I shot him a confused look and I slowly righted myself.

"I haven't even asked for your hand in marriage, piccola,"

I gasped at the man's voice and I whipped around to face my brother, Damon.

"I do believe that would be incest," he said with a smirk.

I ignored his comment and ran towards him. "Damon! You're alive! You're here! You're back!" I threw my arms around him and he caught me with a grunt.

"Gah! You're getting pretty heavy," He muttered.

I swatted him and he laughed.

"You're seventeen, am I right?"

"Stefan is as well," I nodded enthusiastically as I pulled back. "Which reminds me...Does Stefan know you're here?"

"Stefan? No, I don't think so. I haven't had the chance to see him yet," Damon answered.

I turned towards my father, who was smiling at me, and silently asked the same question with my eyes.

"He hasn't got the slightest clue," He said. "He's been in town with his tutor since this morning. I don't expect him until dinner at the latest."

"Oh."

My mood damped a bit at the fact that Stefan wasn't here to with me to rejoice the arrival of our brother, but, selfishly, I cheered up considering that I had Damon all to myself for the afternoon and evening. He had always been my favorite brother even though I wouldn't dare mention it out loud for the fear of hurting Stefan's feelings.

"Come, cara. We have three years worth of information to exchange."

I turned to my father once again and asked for his permission to be excused, and he nodded in approval. But right before we fled the room, he called out, "Damon, our conversation isn't the slightest yet done."

I shook a peek at my brother but he didn't respond, instead I saw him roll his eyes. "I figured," he muttered.

He led us out of the room and put his arm on my shoulder, where my hair flowed down in loose curls. I shrugged him off quickly. "Damon, you're ruining my hair."

"Good, now I won't have to fight boys to keep their dirty little hands off you."

I stuck out my tongue at him, to which he responding by laughing. "Still childish as ever."

I crossed my arms in protest. "I'm not childish! I'm seventeen."

He grinned, "Physically. But I sometimes wonder if you are seven, mentally."

"For your information I'm very well mature, physically and mentally. Father once had my tutor explain what makes men's downstairs go up and such."

Damon cringed and I laughed at his uncomfortable expression.

"Let's never return to that subject again, okay? In my eyes, you are still Little Bell no matter how 'mature' you say you are."

I smiled at my forgotten nickname. "Fine."

Damon smiled and led me to my room. "Good, now get dressed while I order the carriage."

"Why, are we going somewhere?" I asked enthusiastically.

Damon nodded but gave me no more information. He simply opened my door and guided me inside before exiting himself, leaving me to gnaw on my lip in anticipation. I cherished the mere thought of being in town and out of this house.

Father disapproved of my being in town. He believed a young woman, as myself, shouldn't be out in the streets with the possibility of being robbed or hurt. In the rare moments he permitted it, he ordered me to go with one of the servants or himself. Usually I went with Elizabeth but I couldn't now that he was suspicious of our friendship.

I allowed myself a small smile before calling out my maid, Mary, to help me dress. She came in quietly before helping me into a more suitable dress for the outdoors. She retied my corset, helped me into my skirts, and then slipped my favorite midnight blue dress over my head. She was careful not to ruin my hair. I thanked her afterwards and she left just as quietly as she entered with a timid smile.

I followed shortly after I retrieved my cream colored pouch that contained a few coins and notes and my white gloves.

I slipped out of my room and descended the curved staircase at a slow pace. I grabbed the railing with my left hand and watched my feet so I didn't step on the hem of my dress. I was almost halfway down when a small hand slipped under my right hand and guided my down.

It was Elizabeth.

"I call for a momentary truce," She told me.

I nodded when we reached the last step. "Alright."

She led me out the front door, where the carriage was ready except Damon was missing. We sat down at a bench and she started blurting our a million questions a mile. Her eyes were bright and frantic as she spoke.

"Lizzy! Will you slow down? I didn't understand a thing you just said," I laughed.

She shook her head rapidly and nearly shouted, "You accepted! Oh God, I'm so happy for you, Isa!"

I clamped my glove-covered hand over her mouth when the coachman, Henry, turned his head to us. Henry was nearly twenty-two years old with black hair and hazel eyes. He was one of several new servants Father had hired barely a year ago. I didn't talk to him much but I knew Elizabeth fancied him; they talked every so often and she would go on about how handsome and charming he was.

I saw from the corner of my eye that he shot Elizabeth a surprised look and I immediately knew he heard. I sighed as he hopped down from the carriage and made his way towards us.

"Miss Salvatore," He greeted as he bowed deeply. "May I borrow Elizabeth for a second or two?"

I turned towards Elizabeth and she shook her head in amusement. "It's alright Henry. Isabella is my friend. Sit with us."

He gave her a doubtful look and I smiled warmly at him and nodded. He sat down cautiously next to Elizabeth. I sensed he didn't seem to trust me.

It was silent for a few seconds until he blurted, "Elizabeth's told me about your kindness towards her."

I nodded. "A strange friendship we have, yes."

"A forbidden friendship," she reminded me. I shook my head at her.

"Mister Salvatore is content with this?" Henry asked skeptically.

"Not in the slightest. We keep it a secret but I'm afraid he's getting suspicious," I spoke. "I trust you to not to utter a word of this."

He nodded fiercely. "Yes, of course. I wouldn't think of it."

I smiled at him in appreciation. "Thank you."

"Good. Now that we're all friends, can I continue with the subject we were on before?"

"I second that," Henry said with a smile.

I laughed at their mischievous expressions. "Well, first, I did not accept such marriage proposal. There wasn't one to begin with."

Elizabeth raised her eyebrow. "Oh?"

"He's my brother!"

"What?"

Elizabeth leaned forward to question me further but the front door creaked open and we all leaped upright. Henry raced back to the carriage while Elizabeth and myself stayed standing as Damon came into view. He walked towards me and gave me an apologetic look.

"Sorry. It took me a while to convince our father to let you go with me to town," he said. "A ratty old man old man he is."

I laughed and swatted him. "Damon!"

He grinned and pushed me towards the carriage. "Just get in the damn carriage, cara."

A/N: So this story will start in 1864 and then eventually we will have a time skip and move into present time. Pairings will be Bella/Jeremy even though my favorite pairing is Damon/Bella, but it wouldn't work out in this story seeing as they are brother and sister. Tell me what you think of this story, and what you hope to expect. Should I continue?

Review!