Hi, this story is not really new. I've been working on this story for a while now. I have rewritten this so many times, it's ridiculous. This is the final version, I am done.

It takes place during the second season, kind of in the beginning. It's about an old family member returning home after she found out what happen to her cousin Elena and Jeremy.

So I hope you enjoy reading it.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries. It's so annoying that I have to do this, of course I don't own them!

Loves In the Veins

Chapter 1: Blast from the Past (Part 1)

Quietly, the car's engine purred as I drove. The butterflies in my stomach flapped their delicate wings vigorously as I turned onto the familiar street, growing closer to the house. My heart jumped up into my throat, sweat lightly gathered on my forehead, my hands were locked around the black steering wheel, and my thighs cramped from tension.

The street seemed so empty, it was dark and the street lamps weren't very helpful. It was like everyone was asleep in this neighborhood, even though it was only eight at night. The houses were exactly the same as I remembered them; everything in Mystic Falls was exactly the same since I left.

My mouth went dry as I parked along the side of the curb, in front of the familiar house I travelled over twenty-four hours for. I stared at the porch light that illuminated my family's house, it was brighter than any street light and it brought me this strange sense of comfort, as if the light was welcoming me back home.

I haven't seen my cousins Jeremy and Elena in almost three years. I'm so nervous to see them; I wasn't here to support them when their parents passed away. I wasn't told till recently, because my parents never wanted to return to Mystic Falls. I don't know if they want to talk to me, I don't know if they are mad at me, I was too scared to call them to say I was coming home.

My hands shook as I turned the key to silence the car and it took me a few tries just to unbuckle my seat belt and open the car door. The slam sounded so loud that I thought I would wake the entire neighborhood. My breathing became uneven as I walked towards the front door, while rehearsing in my head what I was going to say. Before I landed back in the United States I had a whole speech prepared, but the words were wiped away clean when I rang the doorbell.

A long minute passed, and just when I thought I was about to faint the door opened. My aunt Jenna and I stared at each other in disbelief. She looked different; her hair was lighter and longer, and she was thinner.

I broke the silence first, "Hi Aunt Jenna." I was hoping she wouldn't slam the door in my face. Instead, she grabbed me, hugging me with such force then I thought possible from a tiny woman as herself.

"Josephine!" She combed her fingers through my hair motherly. She stepped back, scanning me with astonishment, "How have you been! It's been a long time! You look good!"

"Thanks. It has been a long time. I've been good, how are you? How are Elena and Jeremy? Where are they?" I babbled, feeling so relieved.

"I'm great. Jeremy and Elena are out at the grill. They are doing much better now." She smiled sympathetically, knowing very well what I meant.

There was a pang struck my stomach. I stared at my shoes, feeling ashamed of myself as I said "I should have been here."

Jenna squeezed my shoulders lightly with her small hands. "Hey, it's not your fault. You were out of the country, you didn't know."

Swallowing some of my guilt down, I nodded my head in agreement still not feeling better.

"Go see Jeremy and Elena. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you."

"Yeah," I smiled, excitement bubbling inside me to see my cousins, "I missed you guys a lot."

"We missed you too." She smiled back, stepping aside to close the door, "You're staying right?"

"I'm back for good, which means I need a place to stay..." I bit my bottom lip, waiting for her answer.

She cocked her head to the side, her light hair falling over her right shoulder, "Josie, you always have a place here. Now go." She waved me off with her hand.

I practically ran back to my car, pumped with excitement. When I was halfway down the driveway I called over my shoulder, "Thanks Jenna!"

I was smiling so big that my face might just break. Seeing Jenna again felt so great, but I'll bet seeing Elena and Jeremy will be even better. Maybe they will accept me like Jenna did. The nervous jitters I had before faded as I drove to the Mystic Grill. Positive thoughts and feelings floated in my mind, till I progressed closer to my next destination.

Negative thoughts overlapped the good ones; I thought repeatedly that they hate me and that they never wanted to see me again. Especially for not being there for them when they needed me the most.

For a few minutes, after I finally found a parking spot, I prepped myself in the mirror. My makeup was still fresh and applied perfectly; my dark hair was still straight and shiny, even though it was severely cold tonight. I made my way inside the busy place; it was crowded with mostly teenagers and families. The people of Mystic Falls weren't sleeping they were here, which made it difficult to find my cousins. Conversations, music playing from the jukebox, and the sounds of silverware rang in my ears as I tried to listen for either Jeremy's or Elena's voice. I stood next to the bar that gave me an overview of the room to make my search easier.

"Are you looking for someone?" A man sitting on the barstool beside me asked.

Without taking my eyes off the crowd I replied, "Yeah."

"Can I offer my services?" His was voice dark with sarcastic undertones. It sounded very appealing to me, but I was on an important mission to find my cousins.

"Sure, I guess." I shrugged my shoulders carelessly, "I'm looking for a girl my age, about my height maybe taller, with long brown hair, skin-" I tried to describe my cousin Elena when the helpful stranger interfered.

"Are you looking for Elena?"

It was strange that he knew exactly who I was looking for. When I turned to face him I saw one of the hottest guys I had ever seen in my life. His skin was pale, he was wearing all black even his hair was black which made his eyes really stand out. They were a bright blue, they reminded me of the oceans in Italy, where I spent the last three years of my life. They're both blue, beautiful, and deadly. I was completely awed by him, but my instincts about him sent me on the edge and I had the same effect on him.

"How do you know my cousin?" I asked, cocking a suspicion eyebrow.

He took a drink of his scotch before he answered, "She's dating my little brother."

I laughed, "That's funny. Do you know where she is?" My body was on full alter with the stranger. Any move he made I watched carefully, preparing for anything unexpected.

He pointed with his left thumb in the direction behind him. "Playing pool."

"Thanks, it was nice meeting you." I said politely, backing away to leave, still keeping my eye sight on him.

He held up his scotch in farewell, "Same here."

When I saw him take another drink I released my gaze from his. Even though our conversation seemed innocent it wasn't, there was alertness and wariness of each other. He may look like a man, (a very hot man) and he talked like one and certainly he drinks like one, but my instincts are telling me something else. I was only allowed to take a few steps before the same handsome stranger stood in my path. It was physically impossible for a human to move that fast.

"Alright cute trick, pretending your Elena's cousin, very clever. So who are you, or actually what are you?" His beautiful eyes were intimidating and would have been frightening if I was human.

"Don't ever come at me like that." I said, feeling threatened. I took a step closer, to show that I wasn't afraid, "You have no idea what you are messing with."

"You're either really stupid, or your more than just a pretty face." His pink lips curled up into an amused smirk.

"You're an insult to my intelligence. Now get out of my way and I'll let you keep your pretty face." I shot back, smiling mockingly.

He opened his mouth to reply when an extremely familiar voice said my name. The hot stranger turned around and relieved Elena standing there, staring right at us.

"Elena." I breathed out, with my mouth slightly opened; the sudden sight of her caught me off guard.

She looked exactly the same since I last saw her, expect her long dark hair was straight and she had grown a few inches taller. I was hesitant to hug her, just because Jenna welcomed me right away doesn't mean she will.

"H-how are you?" She began, like how any awkward conversation would.

I scratched my head nervously, "Pretty good, yourself?"

She nodded her head, "I'm ok. How's your family? Are they here too?" She glanced around, expecting to see my parents.

"Actually, my parents are still in Italy. It's just me here...for good." I bit my bottom lip, letting her brain process the information.

A few seconds past when she replied, "Italy wow, that's where you been all this time? When my parents died?" Her gentle words hardened at her angry tone.

I honestly preferred the awkward conversation then where this one will be leading too. "El-" I started to begin, but she cut me off.

"My parents died and you weren't there. You were too busy off in Italy; enjoying your life well mine was shattered." Her cat-like eyes welled up, "You just can't -"

"Elena, stop." I cut in, after being interrupted twice tonight I was tired of it. "There was a reason why I left. First of all, my life stopped when I left Mystic Falls; there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think of you. It wasn't my choice to leave; it was my parent's decision too. And I didn't know about your parent's accident till about a couple days ago. You know Elena if I would have known I would have been here, I would have come home for you and Jeremy." I was actually out of breath after my speech that I had forgotten earlier. And I also felt the tears well up in my eyes.

She didn't reply right away, she seemed to debate with herself if she should continue being mad at me or forgive me. "So what, your parents kidnapped you? They hid you away in Italy?"

Apparently, she decided to stay mad at me.

I looked away, my cheeks burning in frustration, and my own anger brewing inside me. "They took me away because I'm not normal like you Elena." The words just flew out my mouth. Part of me wanted to mentally slap myself, the other part was actually glad.

Her eyes creased into confusion, "What do you mean?"

I exhaled a long breath, realizing the handsome stranger was still there listening to our every word. "Go back to the bar." I snapped, not wanting him or the entire population of Mystic to know my secret.

"I'm not leaving you alone with Elena." He placed himself between Elena and I like I would attack her.

"Damon, I'll be fine." She assured him, pushing him gently away from her.

"Yeah Damon," I scolded victoriously before walking away with Elena to go outside to get more privacy.

I was about to tell Elena a very dark secret about myself. Why my parents took me away to another country, why they wouldn't let me contact any of my friends or family back home. I was extremely scared, I want her to accept me for what I am, but if she didn't I would understand, but it would hurt.

It was so cold that each time we exhaled you could see puffy clouds appear. She crossed her arms over her chest waiting for me to explain and I leaned against a random car that was parked in front of the business preparing myself mentally.

Seeing Elena again felt so unreal. I have thought about this moment continuously since the second I got on a plane. So I cleared my throat and began.