Five years later.


"I'm telling you, Elena. You'll never get a husband if you keep avoiding social gatherings. You only go to work and back home." Caroline, my best friend, stated. "You're a gorgeous brunette with beautiful big brown eyes, perfect long hair and a tight body. Any man would want you!"

"Listen, Carol, I have a daughter to raise. I can't be fishing men at the moment." I replied, smiling as she rolled her eyes.

"You are a single mother, I know, and whose choice is that? huh? You're the one that decided to adopt a kid before even getting married!"

"Who said I'm complaining?" I smiled, "I love my baby girl."

She grinned. "I love her too. How's the little rascal? Auntie Caroline will pay her a visit soon."

Caroline and I were currently at our job. It was a low paying job as Mystic Falls newspapers editors, but it did us good enough, for the time being.

Caroline had been my friend since childhood. We had grown up together, gone to the same college. We considered each other sisters.

My life in Mystic Falls was pretty uneventful. Nonetheless, I had a wonderful family; my parents, my daughter and my brother Jeremy meant everything to me.

I went to college in New York, but the big city was not for me.

I came back to Mystic Falls after completing my requirements to be a book editor.

I had a few boyfriends here and there, but there was something missing in my life.

Five years ago, I decided to adopt a beautiful girl.

My parents were surprised by my actions.

In fact, everybody was shocked, but once they saw her, there was nothing but love to offer her.

Elise Gilbert.

My daughter.

I smiled proudly at the thought of my cute one.

She had piercing, big brown eyes - which looked a lot like mine, I might add.
Porcelain skin and jet, black hair. She's the most wonderful baby.

Elise looks a lot like me. Some people are shocked when they find out she's not my real daughter.

Although, I try to keep that a secret. Only close family members and friends know about the adoption.

Elise is too young to know about it, and I don't want to hurt her with a secret that she is not old enough to understand.

"Are you two working hard in here?" I heard my boss, peeking his head into mine and Caroline's office.

"We're working hard." I giggled, winking at Caroline.

"Yeah, well it looks like you're hardly working." Alaric snickered.

"Sorry boss." Caroline puckered up her lips. "Now come here and give me a kiss."

"Ugh! Not in front of me! Get a room." I sighed.

"I'm sorry that you get no action." Caroline teased me, walking over to our boss, her boyfriend, Alaric Saltzman.

"Elena. Why don't you go home. It's a sunny day, and I'm sure you would like to spend it with Elise at the park or something." Alaric spoke quickly as Caroline started kissing him.

I was more than happy to get out of the room.

"Thank God!" I muttered on my way out. "I don't have to watch this porno! Please don't have sex in my office." I yelled on my way out.

"Maybe!" Caroline's giggles could be heard.

I sighed and started going down to the second floor.

Mystic Fall's newspapers station was a two-story building. However, it was rather small. Not many people worked here, and since it was a sunny Friday afternoon, most people were already out.

Caroline and I always liked to stay later than everyone, mostly because it gave us time to chit-chat.

I sighed and made my way to my car, checking my cell in the process.

Two missed calls from my mom.

I couldn't help but worry. Miranda always took care of Elise while I was at work, and I instantly thought something could have happened to my baby.

"Hey mom, I'm on my way to the house. Is everything all right?" I asked, turning on my car. "Oh? That's all?" I laughed. "Okay, I'll stop by the store and buy some ice cream for her. Right! Yeah, put her on the phone." I smiled. "Hi baby! yes, mom's going to get you your favorite ice cream. Right, and then we can go to the park. No...noo...baby they don't sell ponies at the park. No they don't sell hello kitty backpacks there either. I love you too, baby. I'll be home soon."

After driving around town to the store to get ice cream. I drove back home to my happiness.

"I'm home." I exclaimed, walking inside my small apartment.

"Mommy!" Elise ran down the stairs and jumped into my arms, making me drop my bags and the bag of ice cream.

"Are you excited because I'm back or because I brought ice cream?" I teased her. "Do you only love mommy because she gives you ice cream?"

"No. I love you when you make me peanut butter chocolate cookies too." Elise giggled, showing her gap-toothed smile.

"Okay, miss sassy pants." I took her hand. "Now help me carry these bags to the kitchen."

"Hey sweetie." Mom walked down the stairs, a laundry basket in her hands.

"Mom, I told you not to do that." I sighed as she followed me to the kitchen.

"Elena, you work too hard and barely have time to do laundry. You barely have time to find a man! I have to help some way." Miranda exclaimed as I handed Elise a cup of cookies and cream.

"Yeah! find a man!" Elise giggled, running around the kitchen with the ice cream. "Mommy needs to find a man!" She ran out as I called her.

"Elise Ann Gilbert! You stop that!" I sighed, "Mom, I told you not to speak like that in front of her."

"Elena, this child needs a father figure and you need a man." Miranda whispered.

"Look, I don't have time for romance right now." I said, putting away the ice cream into the fridge.

"You need someone who helps you financially and...romantically. I am a woman, and I know women have...sexual needs." She whispered.

"Mom!" I exclaimed. "Stop it!"

"Come on! Let me set you up with Elijah Mikaelson. He's been in love with you since the beginning of times!"

"Exactly mom! He's ancient!" I sighed. "Yes, he is attractive and a good friend. I know that Elise likes him too, but I just...I don't see him that way."

"You need to give it a chance! The man is smoking hot!" Miranda grinned.

"I'm so telling dad you said that!" I teased her.

"Whatever. Think about it, honey." She rolled her eyes and kept folding laundry.

"I'm going to shower really quick and then I'm taking Elise out to the park, would you like to come?" I questioned.

"No. I have to make dinner for your brother and Grayson, besides, Jeremy's love interest is visiting tonight."

"Mom, you mean his girlfriend." I giggled. "Anna."

"I just ... he's my baby. She's not good enough for him."

"Mom, come on. They care for each other."

"Whatever love guru." She retorted. "I'm leaving, you finish this laundry later."

I sighed and kissed her goodbye.

"Elise come say bye-bye to grandma."

I smiled as Elise came into the kitchen, her summer white dress smeared with ice cream. "Well, it looks like mommy's not the only one in need of a shower." I laughed.


The afternoon was getting hotter and hotter. You would think the day would cool off, but boy was I in the wrong. I tied my hair up in a loose pony-tail and watched as Elise kicked a football around. There were a couple parents at the park, and she had joined their older children at playing.

I giggled as I watched her attempting to kick the ball. Her five year old feet were too small to kick it with force.

I rubbed my neck and sighed, wishing I had a lemonade to sip on as the hot sun scorched my skin.

I was already sweating, and my white t-shirt was prove of it.

I became distracted with thoughts of what I would make for dinner when out of the corner of my eyes I saw Elise beginning to cross the street across the park.

I panicked. What in the world is she doing, I asked myself, getting up, realizing she was running after an ice-cream truck.

"Elise!" I ran to her, watching the streets. I caught up and held her hand, trying to pull us both off of the street, but it was all too sudden and too late when a camaro's wheels squeaked.

I covered Elise with my body as the camaro stopped less than an inch away from me.

Elise started crying as people gathered up around us.

The stupid caveman who almost killed us slammed the door of his car and walked toward us.

I had never seen him before, Mystic Falls being small and all.

"You stupid tourists don't know how to drive!" I exclaimed as he took off the shades that covered his eyes.

It took me a second to recover from seeing those potent blue orbs, but once I did all hell was loose.

"Are you stupid? You almost ran over me and my daughter! You shouldn't even be allowed to have a car! Christ I should sue you! You idiot! Look at my baby, she's crying! Moron!"

He didn't say anything.

He only stared.

To tell the truth, he stared with such intensity that I almost got scared.

Elise was still crying and I held her hand, still yelling at this idiot.

"Are you just going to stand there and stare! stupid! Could you drive carefully next time! Maybe you should not skip any red lights!" I yelled as people around me whispered.

God. I knew it would only be a matter of minutes before my family found out about this. Mystic Falls was a gossip center.

"Are you deaf or are you completely stupid?" I wondered out loud."Come on moron!" I was livid.

"Katherine?" He whispered. Or at least, that's what it sounded like. His voice cracked at every syllable.

"What?" I became puzzled.

This guy had almost ran us over, mind you. I had the right to be acting like a mad woman.

"What did you say?" I yelled.

I was shocked when suddenly a blonde woman stepped out of the stranger's Camaro.

"Damon, babe, come on just apologize to her and let's go. I'm hungry."

"Both of you are idiots!" I growled.

Elise started crying harder and harder, "Mommy stop yelling!" She whimpered, taking off running.

"Elise! Come back here. Ugh!" I ran after her, but not before slapping the bastard in front of me.

A group of people clapped and whistled while the stranger just stood there, like a statue, as if he had seen a ghost.

I ran after Elise, somehow aware of the people behind me.

I looked back as I caught up to my daughter.

The blue eyed man was still staring.

"Creeper." I muttered to myself before taking Elise in my arms and leading her to the car.


Here is another chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it so far.

Please leave me some feedback on any of your thoughts and how you like this so far.

It really helps me see how my writing is doing and how I can direct the story.

THANKS so much!