Chapter One: Return to Small Town Life.

Occurring: After 3x04 Before 3x05.

Set: Mystic Falls.

Song: Run This Town by Jay Z, Kanye West and Rihanna

Word Count: 2115

'Feel it coming in the air, hear the screams from everywhere.

I'm addicted to the thrill, it's a dangerous love affair.

Can't be scared when it goes down, got a problem, tell me now.'

The train ride from Chicago to Mystic Falls was dull, to say the least. She'd had to make a stop in between to rest for the night in Pittsburgh making the first leg of her trip nearly nine and a half hours and the second leg taking over four and a half hours.

She'd left early in the morning the next day to get a cab down to Mystic Falls meaning she returned home to the dreary town around eleven. She sighed as she hefted her suitcase out of the dingy cab - she still wasn't particularly thrilled at the prospect of being home - she paid the driver with a smile before gazing down at the town from its border.

She glared down at the sprinkling of buildings with her hands propped on her hips. Rolling her eyes, she slid her sunglasses onto her nose and ventured down into the town below. It was a foreign experience walking through the streets she'd once explored as a child but now were so different. Growing up in a small town you knew nearly everyone but now she was unrecognisable.

The trek through the town square was short and all too quickly did she arrive at an all too familiar door. Suddenly, face to face with her past, she froze. She shook herself free of her stupor and rooted through her bag to find her keys.

Disentangling the bunch from her earphones she glared at the singular silver key that glinted in the light. She hadn't ever gotten rid of it and instead it had taunted her for the last six years or so.

She sighed to herself before inserting the key and letting herself in. Standing in the foyer, she looked around. Everything was exactly the same but completely different at the same time. Picture of Elena and Jeremy as they group up littered the living room reminding her of all the years she had missed. The few photos of her as a child remained but there hadn't been many, to begin with.

Suddenly footsteps echoed through the empty house. She turned her head in time to see Elena thundering down the stairs - clearly in a rush. The girl hadn't spotted her yet as she rifled through her bag to ensure she had everything.

When she finally looked up she froze. There stood an impossible face.

Margaret smirked.

"Hey, sis." She greeted, leaning back against the now closed front door.

Elena managed to get her legs working again and she slowly continued her descent coming to stand in front of her twin.

"Margaret? What are you doing here?" Her voice was full of confusion as she scanned her younger sister.

Margaret shrugged, pushing herself off of the door she walked towards the photos of her siblings keeping her arms crossed and her back to her as she thought.

"I hear mommy and daddy dearest are dead. Which means no one to pay for my tuition, hence I'm back here?" She whirled around to face her sister once the words left her mouth, intrigued by her sister's possible reaction. Her tone gave no indication on her thoughts about the parents untimely death.

Elena's eyes hardened and her jaw clenched at the nonchalant way her sister delivered those words.

"It's been over a year, Margaret. Why now?"

"Don't call me that." Elena's brows furrowed at that, she opened her mouth to argue when her sister spoke once more. "Mom and dad had paid for my junior year in advanced the funding didn't cover this year as well which was how I found out about their deaths seeing as no one bothered to inform me. I suppose I missed the funeral?" She asked quirking an eyebrow.

Elena couldn't stand the emotionless - almost formal - way her sister delivered those words.

"Well. Too late now I suppose." She looked around the house once more, it was oddly silent. "Where's Jeremy? I wanna say hi, it's been a while."

"He's out. Look I got-"

"And Jenna?" Elena froze. "I suppose she's the primary carer now? Unless Uncle John was given that role?"

Elena gulped back the wave of sadness that threatened to consume her at the mention of her recently deceased Aunt.

"She's not here. Look I got to go, I'll see you later." Elena said quickly before rushing out the door.

Margaret watched her sister go. As the door slammed shut she was consumed by silence once more. Sighing, she grabbed her suitcase and headed to her old bedroom.

Opening the door, she was hit by a wave of nostalgia. The room was still painted a dull beige, cream curtains kept out the rays of sunshine that threatened to streak the room, the single bed against the wall was still perfectly made, her cream canvas sofa sat perfectly against one wall next her crammed built-in dark wood bookshelf, her matching dark wooden desk and cork board were still cluttered with pictures of her pre-pubescent self and friends, as well as postcards and other mementos.

She chuckled lightly as she studied the room. She walked over to the closet to find it still full of the brightly coloured clothes of her youth. Pulling her dark brown hair into a quick ponytail she stripped off her leather jacket and began planning.

- TVD -

Hours later her face was streaked with paint and a perfectly - if not small - bed sat in the front yard. The walls had been repainted a lovely olive green, and the drapes sat folded on the floor out of harm's way.

The wardrobe had been emptied and organised into three piles: broken and to be recycled, in perfect condition and to be sent to the charity shop and the few articles that could be made into something new, if she couldn't think of something, Frances certainly could.

The picture and mementoes had been carefully removed, stacked and placed between the page of books ready to be re-homed in photo albums or amongst the friends residing in the photos.

The hardest part, however, had been clearing out her bookshelf. As she'd gotten to the bottom shelf (where her shoes had often rested) she'd come across a dusty old memory box. This had been filled with more personal memories. Her first dance trophy, pictures of family, handmade gifts and birthday cards.

Tears had filled her eyes as she'd looked through the small, ornate, wooden chest. When she'd been at boarding school she'd grown bitter, often feeling abandoned she'd chosen to remember only the bad in order to justify her anger. But returning home had reminded her of why it had always been so hard to retain that hatred. Because in the end - just like most things in life - it had been filled with both the good and the bad.

Wiping away tears - and streaking paint in the process - she had shoved the box away, not wanting to be reminded any more of all she had lost. Her parents may be dead but she wasn't going to lose anyone else.

Shoving her feet back into her shoes and thrusting her arms into her jacket she picked up the small pile of photos and her keys and left the house.

- TVD -

The familiar bungalow looked the same as it always had ever since Bill Forbes had left Mystic Falls. She tried not to think about how she'd tried to console a weeping eight-year-old Caroline when she'd heard the news of her Father's departure and had assumed he'd no longer loved her and had abandoned her.

She knocked on the door and tried not to fidget as she waited.

An almost unfamiliar blonde came to the door. Her expression was blank but as she scanned the brunette realisation finally dawned on her and a beaming grin broke out. That smile, however, was quickly hidden as she hugged the brunette.

Margaret laughed as Caroline squealed into her shoulder.

The girl suddenly pulled away appraising her appearance once more.

"Mar I can't believe your back. Oh my god! It's been so long. Is that a tattoo? When did you get here? Did something happen? Oh my god, you've got so tall. Wha-"

"Breathe Caroline." She chuckled as she placed tanned hands on porcelain shoulders. "I just got back today, yes its a tattoo, my funding was cut off because of my parent's death, of course, I've grown it has been nearly seven years and I just stopped by to let you know I was back and give you these. For your scrapbooking, of course." She handed over the small collection of photos, Caroline took them eagerly, awing at her younger self.

She turned and walked deeper into the house, a clear sign for her to follow.

Margaret shut the door behind her and followed into the living room where a certain blonde was now perched, flicking through the photos. Once she was done she placed them down on the coffee table, her attention back on the newly returned brunette.

"And I don't go by Margaret anymore." She spoke up, not knowing what else to say as she leant against the entrance way, arms crossed.

"What? Why not?"

She shrugged, pushing off of the wall she took the spot next to her childhood best friend.

"It's just a little old fashioned, don't you think? So I use Maya."

Caroline nodded in agreement when a question suddenly struck her. Maya wasn't surprised the bubbly blonde had always been a chatterbox with a billion questions. It was one of the things that worked well with them. Maya never got annoyed by the constant chatter and Caroline was glad to have someone who could keep up in a conversation or would just happily listen.

"You have been registering at Mystic Falls High for our Senior year, right?" She demanded, eyes fearfully as if it would be a tragedy if she hadn't.

"Yep." She answered popping the 'p'. "I didn't on the train ride over." She said showing her phone to confirm what she'd said.

Caroline let out a sigh of relief.

"Good." Maya smiled, milestones had always been very important to Caroline, it was nice to have that normalcy back. "I can count on you to partake in Senior Prank Night?" She questioned, eyebrows raised, giving the night more importance than necessary with her tone alone.

She scoffed.

"Of course! Where else will I be?" She teased.

Caroline squealed, engulfing her in a hug that was quickly cut short as her neurotic planning mode took over. Maya smiled at the familiarity of it all as Caroline talked a mile a minute as she detailed her plans. She listened attentively, as she settled back against the couch, she nodded where appropriate and inputted her own ideas here and there.

The afternoon continued on in a similar fashion as Caroline told her all the high school drama she'd missed out on. She wished the rest of her time home could continue just as today had but she wouldn't be able to hide forever, and it was this epiphany that leads to her dragging herself of the Forbes' couch and out the door as she said her goodbyes to her friend while said friend managing to wrangle promises out of her in the way only Caroline could.

She felt lighter as she walked back home. Lighter than she'd felt since she'd first known she would have to return to the demons of her past.

The first thing she did once return home checked the fridge and cupboards before popping out to the shops to gather the ingredients for tonight's dinner. She was filled with a new sense of determination after her afternoon with Caroline. No matter her past she was going to make this work. She hadn't been the best daughter or sister in the past but she was going to try harder from now on.

The evening was filled with joyful chatter as her siblings regaled her with tales of their childhood. She smiled and laughed but she couldn't stop the emptiness she felt in her chest when their Aunt Jenna didn't come to join them. There was always tomorrow.

With that in mind, she immersed herself more fully in the conversations around her. No one spoke of her years away - not out right - of their parent's death or of the fact their Aunt hadn't joined them. But it cast a shadow over the conversations even when they didn't address it.

It was going to be a tough year but she was determined to make it work. Not for her, but for them, the family she had always disappointed.

- = -

'Only thing that's on my mind, is who's gon' run this town tonight?

Is who's gon' run this town tonight?

We gon' run this town tonight.'

- = -

A/N Hey guys so here's the first chapter. I hope this sort of explains her reaction towards her parents and Elena than in the first part. I'm not sure yet if the next chapter will be the senior prank night or if I'll build up to it more. Get her more settled in as she has been away for nearly a decade. Maybe get in some more twin bonding.

Let me know what you thought of this chapter in the comments. Sorry about the song guys I could find a video which was a song by the original artists that were the only one. Anyway see you next chapter, bye guys