A/N: Thanks for checking out my first ever FF story:) I hope you like it & reviews would definitely be helpful so that I know whether or not to continue writing. Short review, long review, critical review = good reviews to me:) All feedback is good feedback in my eyes, so please don't hold back.

Big, HUGE thank you to MissCarolineForbes, who donated this story idea to me! She writes mostly Steroline fics, and has 2 of my favorite Steroline stories on here, so check out her stuff.

Also, special thanks to my sister Mallory (AKA BecomingScarlett) for encouraging me to sign up on here and for being a first-read/BETA of my writing. If you haven't read her stuff, go take a look – BecomingScarlett – she's the best! & No, I'm not just saying that because she's sitting next to me right now LOL! She's a great writer, I get completely lost in her stories. If my story is half as successful as her TVD fic It's A Boy Girl Thing, I'll be a very happy girl;)

That's enough chit-chat…Hope you like the story!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to The Vampire Diaries, books or TV series. I am simply borrowing the characters and the TVD universe for my own enjoyment. Please don't sue;) Also, story idea credit goes to MissCarolineForbes, but besides the title and initial concept of mom marrying a vampire all other ideas are mine.

Mom Doesn't Know She Married A Vampire

01. Engaging in Mysterious Affairs

"You…WHAT?!" I screech upon hearing my mother's so-called 'good news'.

"I got engaged," Mom repeats calmly, flashing me another glimpse of the enormous yellow diamond engagement ring her new fiancé bought for her.

"But…" I claim in an overdramatic yet completely justified tone, "You were only gone a week! How can you be engaged? Who is this guy? What do you even know about him? This is crazy. Mom, you haven't even been on a date since you and Dad divorced, and now you're getting married?" Mom simply nods during my brief pause for air. I roll my eyes and scoff, "Well excuse me for feeling just a little bombarded. I would've at least hoped you'd have me meet the man you plan on marrying before telling him your answer is 'yes'. What about me? What if I don't like him?"

"Oh Caroline," Mom sighs, a happy and almost love-sick smile on her face, "I'm sorry, honey. It's been four years since your father and I split up. I know this is sudden and unexpected, but I found someone who makes me happy. I haven't been this happy in so long, I almost forgot what it feels like. I thought you'd be happy for me."

I've never seen my mother – strong and independent Elizabeth Forbes, Mystic Falls' town Sherriff – look so vulnerable and uncertain. It makes me feel incredibly guilty for my behavior. It's true; my mom has been divorced since I was 13 and she's worked her butt off to get where she is now in her career, and she put off having a relationship because she knew it was more important to focus on her work and on me than a boyfriend. Now that I'm seventeen and starting senior year of high school soon, I'm not her top priority anymore, and honestly I am okay with that. Mom deserves a little happiness in her life. I didn't think she'd find that happiness on a week-long trip to Chicago that was supposed to be for some kind of law convention or seminar or whatever. Just because it is unexpected doesn't mean I'm going to be uncooperative though. It will be an adjustment, a big one, but planning a wedding takes time, so hopefully when the time comes I'll have learned to love this mystery man as much as my mom does.

I meet my mother's gaze, honey brown in comparison to my blue-gray orbs which I inherited from my father, and I grin as I grab her left hand for another look at the rock on her finger. The oval-shaped yellow diamond is surrounded by tiny white diamonds and the base of the ring is gold; it is beautiful. "I am happy for you, Mom. Just…surprised." Mom squeezes my hand and smiles back at me. "Well…" I prompt, "tell me about the lucky man. What's his name? What does he do for a living? Must be doing pretty good for himself to afford such a gorgeous diamond ring."

"His name is Gerald…" Mom replies, her eyes staring off into space past my shoulder with a sort of misty quality to them, almost like she is seeing this Gerald guy that she's so obviously in love with, "Gerry Salvatore. He's Italian. He's a historian, but the the money is inheritence from his family; the Salvatores were a rich and powerful family in Italy. They're what you'd call 'old money'. He's very handsome, although I don't know if you'd agree since he's well into his fifties. I happen to find him quite handsome, and he's so smart, and kind, and thoughtful. He's the perfect gentleman." She sighs under her breath and I resist the urge to barf. She's been bit by a serious love bug…

I soak in the information she told me before asking, "But he's from Chicago, right? I mean, what does that mean for your relationship? We're not moving, are we? I don't want to move. I won't move."

"Don't be silly," Mom settles my nerves with three simple words, "We're not moving. Gerry wants to move here. He's thrilled to relocate to Mystic Falls. Apparently we're living in a town that is full of history; Gerry told me it was founded in the early 1800's and many myths and legends formed here."

"Hm…" I nod, trying to seem interested in what she's saying but I'm too relieved that she's not forcing me to leave my childhood home, "That's something. When does he plan on moving here? After the wedding?"

"He'll be flying down this weekend," Mom answers instantly, "With his boys. We have a lot to plan before the wedding, and we'll have to prepare for the big move."

"What?" I frown at this new batch of information. "Uh, I thought you just said we weren't moving? And what boys? He has kids? You didn't mention any kids."

Mom's smile widens as she continues on to explain all about how Gerry is interested in purchasing the old boarding house that used to be home to orphaned boys in the late 1800's and was shut down in the early 1900's. Ignoring my horrified expression at the idea of living in a decrepit and possibly haunted mansion, Mom explains Gerry's plans of renovating and remodeling 'our new home' before the end of summer so that we're settled in by the time school starts. How they got all this planning done in less than a week is beyond me. I'm still trying to accept the fact that Mom fell in love and got engaged in under a week, and now I'm supposed to be okay with him moving here at the end of the week with his two sons? This is too much change to handle in one day.

In response to my questions about Gerry's kids, Mom simply states, "I never met the boys, but I know their names. Stefan is Gerry's youngest, and he's seventeen, like you. Damon is the older boy, and I believe he's twenty-one. I'm sure they're perfect young gentleman, just like their father. There's no need to look so terrified, Caroline. You'll meet them all this weekend, and everything is going to be just fine."

"Okay…" I reply skeptically, "Whatever you say, Mom."

Two Weeks Later...

I recall sitting at the kitchen table with my mother when she told me the news of her engagement like it was yesterday - well, that's not too hard to believe since it was only two weeks ago, huh? - and thinking to myself that maybe, in time, I'd grow to like the idea of my mother remarrying. I remember thinking that I'd have loads of time to get to know Gerald and his sons, Damon and Stefan, because weddings take months and months to plan; sometimes they even take years. Unfortunately for me, Gerry and Mom decided they didn't feel like waiting to be married as they plan a huge extravaganza. They decided to just...do the damn thing.

So that's what they're doing. Now. Seriously; at this very moment I am listening to Mayor Lockwood as he announces Mom and Gerald are officially man and wife.

And now I'm watching Gerald Salvatore stick his tongue half-way down my mother's throat as they share their first kiss as a married couple...How very barf-tastic of him for sharing how much he likes the taste of my mom's tonsils. I roll my eyes to the back of my head and then refocus them elsewhere.

Elsewhere happens to be directly in front of me, where Gerald's two sons are standing, they at Gerald's side while I am at Mom's, and I am surprised to find both are looking at me. Damon, the older Salvatore brother, has dark hair, black as night, and bright blue eyes that seem to stare right through me, almost like he can read my thoughts or something. Right now he's smirking as he notices how uncomfortable I am. Stefan, on the other hand, has lighter brown hair and deep, mysterious green eyes, and he is much more somber than his brother. Both have strong facial features and are handsome like nobody's business. I thought I melted into a pathetic puddle on the floor when I met them because they are just so scrumptious. Depressingly, I realized it was kind of icky to think of them that way now that they're going to be my step-brothers. Obviously I know marriage doesn't magically make us blood related, but I still find something creepy about being attracted to my mom's husband's sons.

Gerald offers his arm to Mom, and once she takes it they begin their walk down the make-shift aisle between the two sections of white chairs that were laid across the lawn of the Town Green. I am next to walk the aisle, followed by Damon and Stefan. The wedding ceremony was small, just under fifteen guests in attendance, and that's including us 'kids' as well as the bride and groom. Mom wanted something small, and apparently Gerry plans on making all of Mom's wishes come true because that's exactly what she got. Not that I'm not happy for her or anything, but it does seem kind of cheesy and unrealistic to promise the woman the whole world. He better just stick to his promise, or he's gonna have one not-so-happy step-daughter to deal with, and I'd have warned him of that fact before the wedding...if I'd seen him for longer than ten minutes total.

"Well Blondie," I hear Damon's sarcastic drawl from directly behind me, and I turn to see him smirking as he stands entirely too close to me, "I guess this means we're family now. Whaddya say to that, Sis?"

I try to ignore my heart's irregular beating at his invasion of his super hot body in my personal space, but it proves to be difficult. Damon's smirk grows, but I simply glare in return. "I'm not your 'sis', and I'm certainly not going to answer to 'Blondie', so let's just get that straight now."

"And if I keep calling you 'Blondie'...?" Damon pushes my buttons.

I frown as I try and think of a believable threat, but my mind is drawing a blank. "Just don't do it," I warn in as bossy a tone as I can muster.

Damon simply chuckles, finally stepping back and putting a little distance between us, before stating cryptically, "This is going to be a lot more fun than I thought."

What's that supposed to mean? I wonder as he walks away.

When I turn to look for my mom, I nearly bump into the other Salvatore brother. Stefan's stance is much less intimidating and space-invading than Damon's was. He stands straight and tall, with his hands crossed behind his back, and he smiles at me pleasantly. He has a smile that literally makes a girl weak in the knees, but I remain strong. I will not be brought to my knees by my new step-brothers. That would be wrong, so very, very wrong!

"He's only teasing you," Stefan says, clearly in reference to Damon's comment about calling me Blondie. "He's looking for a reaction. Just ignore him. He'll eventually find someone else to...torture." Stefan laughs lightly after that, but I have to force a laugh out. Something in his eyes made me think he was being serious about the torture thing, but that doesn't really make sense, does it? Of course Damon doesn't torture people. That's ridiculous.

"I'm tougher than I look," I assure him, "I can handle Damon." I nod confidently and notice that Stefan's green eyes seem to be glinting in amusement.

"I hope so," He says with a shrug. He takes a step in the direction that Damon went in moments ago, but I put my hand to his shoulder and he pauses.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask, removing my hand once I notice Stefan look at it and take a deep breath, like I seriously offended him by placing my hand on him or something.

He shakes his head and replies innocently, "I didn't mean anything by it, Caroline. Our parents are going on a two-week honeymoon in another week, though, and it'll be just you, me, and Damon in the boarding house. I hope you can handle him for that long. He can be...pretty intense."

For some reason, it really bothers me that he thinks I'm so weak and insecure. Am I that easy to read? I mean, I know people sometimes consider me to be shallow, but weak; insecure? I jut out my chin stubbornly and scoff, "I know you don't know me, but I can be pretty intense too. Just wait and see." Then, before I can see him doubt my words, I turn on my heel and stalk off to find Mom.

When I find her, Mom is in the bathroom at the Mystic Grill adjusting a blue scarf around her neck. She looks a little pale and shaky, but when she sees my reflection in the mirror standing behind her, she smiles widely. "Caroline," she says, tightening the knot of the silk scarf before turning to engulf me in a hug, "There you are."

I frown at her words, "Here I am? I've been looking for you. Is that my scarf?" Since when does Mom even wear scarves?

Mom looks a bit guilty as she puts her fingers to the scarf and explains, "Well, I - I didn't realize I had nothing borrowed...or blue, for that matter. You don't mind, do you?"

"No, of course not," I reassure her, "It looks good on you. Here, let me just..." I reach out to adjust the scarf a little, so that the knot isn't directly at the center of her throat but to the side. I notice something red running through the blue silk of the scarf a few inches below Mom's right ear. I gasp, "Oh, Mom, you're bleeding."

I try and pull the scarf down to get a better look, but Mom grabs my hands in an iron-tight grip and removes it from her neck before I can see anything more than blood and what looked like a puncture wound. "It's nothing," Mom says sternly, her mood abruptly changing from happy to annoyed, "Don't touch! I must have scratched myself too hard. It's just a little blood, Caroline. Don't be so squeamish."

"That is not from a scratch," I protest, "And it's not a little blood, either. What happened to you? Did somebody do this to you? Did - did Gerald do this?" I don't know how or why my new step-father would put a hole in his new wife's throat, but I have no other explanation. Mom didn't do this to herself. She won't let me look at it, so what is she hiding?

"Don't be ridiculous, Caroline. Gerald would never hurt me. I told you already, I had a very persistent itch on my neck and I scratched too hard. I must have broke the skin. I'm fine. I don't feel a thing. Let's go back to the party. We're going to have dinner soon. I'm starving." Mom brushes off the whole thing and sweeps me out the door of the bathroom with her and into the restaurant, where the small group in attendance to her and Gerald's wedding are gathering for drinks and appetizers.

I scan the crowd for Gerald and find him easily as he's not a hard guy to miss; he's the tallest man in the room. Almost like he feels my eyes on him, he looks up and fixes me with a stare that sends a chill up my spine. I feel goosebumps break out on my skin but I can't look away. He approaches my mother and I, but his stare doesn't leave me until he's an arm's length away and extending a champagne flute in my direction.

"I'm proposing a toast," He hands Mom the other champagne flute, "To my new family; my beautiful wife, and her beautiful daughter." He smiles in what must appear to everyone else a charming smile, but to me seems crooked and sinister. "To Elizabeth and Caroline." He lifts the glass to his lips and begins to drink the champagne.

I take a small sip before lowering the glass to the bar-top. "Thank you," I tell him politely.

"Oh, thank you," Gerald insists, "For sharing your wonderful mother with me."

I nod but I can't bring myself to say anything. He is seriously giving me the creeps. I don't know why, but when he has his eyes on me I feel like I'm being analyzed by a predator. I felt the same way before when Damon was sizing me up, only I was definitely a bit more turned on than frightened. Then I find my mother bleeding in the bathroom and covering it up with a scarf of mine, and my new step-father is acting suspicious...what did my mother get us into? Who did she just marry?

I am feeling just slightly more nervous for that two-week honeymoon now...

Please Review! Now sure yet what the pairing should be. Opinions?