Hey guys! Seems I'm on a roll, considering how I just had posted the first chapter of this story yesterday lol

A guest reviewer had mentioned how it is early 2011 in TVD, and I hadn't realized that until I read that review. Anyway, I might as well keep it as I had it now to make it easier for you, and, well, me xD

Disc: the same.

Thank you to anyone who took the time to review the first chapter, I'm glad you liked it. Here's chap 2 of ATIAM, Enjoy!

When Elena woke up, the first seconds of consciousness were spent thinking about how her day would be going, why one brother hadn't called her yet, and why the other wasn't lying on her bed. She wondered what Jeremy was doing, and what the next crisis was they were supposed to fight today.

That's when it all came crashing down on her.

She sat upright in her bed at vampire speed, something she still wasn't used to, the way she was so fast, it was like her muscles caught up faster than her brain, to which she was upright before she could even realize she'd made a move. All at once, she remembered Jeremy wasn't two doors to her right, Stefan hadn't called her in an attempt to talk to her because there were no cellphones in this time, and Damon wasn't here either. She felt a ton of bricks come down on her shoulders when she also realized there was no crisis today, there was no battle to prepare for. Just this cruel twist of faith she had to get through. Her stomach twisted in knots when she remembered where she was, a sob almost escaping her when she realized that wasn't even what bothered her the most. The worst thing was that she was in this all alone.

''Ah, Miss Pierce, you're awake!'' a voice Elena faintly recognized came barreling into her room, which she now realized, was actually quite pretty. It was simple, with hard wooden floors and a medium sized four-poster bed, and she found she was staring at a wooden canopy instead of a ceiling. There was a big mahogany vanity table with a massive mirror and an ancient looking chair and a decorative trunk at the foot of her bed, soft pink wallpaper covered the otherwise dreary walls of the room, giving the room a feminine glow with its flowery pattern.

Looking at the door, she recognized the girl that was in her room the night before, and a polite smile appeared on her face. It was hard to force emotions with such a bubbly and nice girl in the room.

Elena took the time to really study her handmaid. Her blond hair was now in a single braid resting on her shoulder, and she was wearing a simple brown white dress with the corset visible over the bodice. Her green eyes were wide with a childlike innocence to them and Elena wondered for a moment if she truly was just sixteen years old, like she had told her the night before. But then Elena realized that they were kept so innocent during this time, that it shouldn't be strange for a girl her age to come off as if she was thirteen years old.

''Hi, Mimi, good morning. You can call me Elena,'' she said politely, trying to remind herself to change her speech, which was more difficult than she had thought would be the night before.

Elena had to keep in her annoyance as Mimi helped through her newly acquired morning routine as if it was a step by step program. She was used to her independence, let alone doing things her mother had taught her as a child by herself, like dressing herself an doing her hair. But watching as Mimi explained to her that Master Salvatore still had a dress lying around but she would have to go shopping someday soon, feeling as if all the oxygen in her body was being knocked out with every tightening of the strings along the back of her corset and how she was braiding her now wavy hair and piled it on top of her head, a few tendrils framing her face and her cheeks were pinched till they had a red glow on them, she had to admit to herself that she was grateful for Mimi, the young and oh so inexperienced girl that certainly knew what she was doing.

''Do you feel well enough to be present for breakfast, Miss Elena? Master Salvatore would like to meet you and introduce you to his sons.''

And that was when more butterflies starting flying around, mass choas to her insides that made her doubt she could keep any food down, especially with a corset on that made her body look like it belonged in a cartoon. She was going to meet the Stefan and Damon of this time. As humans, untainted by death, blood and destruction, but still young men who strived for a good future.

''I would love that, Mimi, thank you.''

A dark cloud went over Elena as she thought about what these boys were about to go through in the time span of a year when her twin would show up. So many people would lose their lives, they would lose their hope. Elena had to suck in a breath when she saw Stefan first, her first love with his hair swept to the side and wearing suspenders, his seventeen-year-old-boyish grin was directed at his gorgeous brother, his blue eyes beheld the save mystery, the mischievous glint in them that always made it seem as if he was up to something. His otherwise short bed-hair was neatly atop his head in a set of sort curls that made him look so much younger than his older and jaded self, back in her own time. His smirk however, was still ever the same, just as its effect on Elena, she though with a sigh as she tried to cover the goosebumps on her skin as she descended the stairs in front of Mimi. Staring at the old man at the head of the table she couldn't help but silently scowl. She remembered the stories the brothers had told her as if she had lived through them herself, and she couldn't help but feel a deep resentment for him killing his own children and being as cruel and emotionless as the stories had suggested.

''Ah, Miss Pierce, how are you fairing?'' Giuseppe stood up from the table, and his eternal scowl made place for a big and charming grin.

Elena forced a smile and put her hand in his, to which he kissed her knuckles. ''I am doing quite well, Mister Salvatore. Thank you so much for your hospitality, I really do not know what I would have done hadn't you offered me shelter,'' she said in the most sweet and innocent voice she could muster, almost wanting to scowl at herself for how much she was reminding herself of her evil twin.

''Nonsense, I could let you stay out there in the woods all by yourself, what kind of gentlemen would that make me?'' not any worse than you already are¸ she thought bitterly.

''These are my sons, Stefan and Damon,'' he gestured to the table, where the two handsome men had stood up and stared at her with wide eyes and parted lips.

Elena had to hold in a smile at the both of them. They also lacked in the smoothness department it seemed. She knew what the Salvatore brothers thought of her in the looks department, she had received smooth and practiced compliments from them that indicated that thanks to their years of experience, they had no problems whatsoever talking to a lady. These two however, still had a lot to learn. At least Stefan, she mused as the youngest first walked up to her.

The Salvatore brothers seemed both to possess the most beautiful pair of eyes anybody could ever have. The emerald pools that belonged to Stefan were often soulful and brooding, telling an entire story full of anguish, guilt and experience beyond anything she could ever imagine. These eyes however, held curiosity and he was obviously admiring her. the youngness made her think of Mimi, although Stefan's build was muscular and above average for his age, making him look equal in age to his brother.

''Miss Pierce,'' he said with a flirtatious smile, and kissed her hand, lingering a little longer than necessary. Elena's eyes almost widened at the blatant attempt to get her attention. Wow, seems she was really getting to know a whole other side of her boys.

''Please, call me Elena,'' she said with a small smile on her face as she did her best attempt at a curtsey.

It seemed to have worked, because he stepped back with the same grin residing on his face as he made place for his brother.

His brother. God, he has always been in a whole other league that separated him from the rest of the male population, but seeing him like this, the boyish grin, the lightness in his eyes indicating his was your ever typical college kid; still exploring the world and everything that it had to offer, but hadn't seen as much of it as the leather-clad version of himself had.

He ghosted his lips over her knuckles, but that was more than enough to send her insides into overdrive and send tingles all the way through her entire body at the contact.

Yep, nothing she hadn't felt before.

''Miss Pierce, it is an absolute pleasure to meet you,'' he drawled in that velvety voice of his.

Her smile got a little wider on her part, and she curtseyed again. ''The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Salvatore. And please, call me Elena.''

''Only if you call me Damon.''

The eye-contact had continued for a few seconds, before Giuseppe coughed to get their attention. Damon let go of her hand as if he had burned himself, and Elena's already red cheeks turned even redder. What the hell was she doing?

''Shall we begin breakfast? Maybe you can tell us a bit more of herself.''

If there was anything Elena had learned in the past year in a half, it was how to act. So that's how her Oscar-worthy performance had started. She smiled at the servants who brought in the food. Thanks to the corset she sat up straight, an eternal small smile on her face that made it look as if there were millions of secrets residing behind those soulful brown eyes.

She tried to ignore the flirtatious stares the boys sent her and tried to answer Giuseppe's constant questioning. It seemed both the boys were interested in her, but lacked the subtlety, and above all, hostility, of the versions she knew inside and out.

''My mother always spoke of Mystic Falls and what an amazing place it must be. A sister of hers had once come here and when they both past, I wanted to come here. I never thought the journey would end the way it did.'' Insert sad tone in the voice. Play with food. Perfect.

The last couple of days she had found she had some kid of handle on the switch, like there were parts she could turn off and ones she could keep in. The bigger things, she refused to stop thinking about. All those lives, Jenna, John, Caroline, Isobel, she could go on and on about them, but she could not forget about them. They were a constant reminder of why she had to keep going, of why she could never stop fighting and why breathing was so important. She smaller things however, like the death of her parents and the way she longed for her old life, were all put on the backburner of her mind. She was glad that had made it easier for her to talk about her 'dead parents'.

''I am so sorry for your loss, Miss Elena,'' Damon said.

Elena smiled at him, realizing he sounded sincerely sorry for what she was missing in her life. She almost forgot she was a vampire, which shocked her, but it also made her ever so aware of the pulsing vain in his neck, throbbing so deliciously. It seemed to be calling to her, a siren's song that to this day, had almost always been impossible to ignore.

She quickly smiled at Damon, nodded and shoved a forkful of eggs in her mouth. The taste on her heightened taste buds had seemed to distract her, but her gums were still aching.

She looked at Damon, still seeing him as her mentor, her friend, the only one who could help her get through this because he was the only one who could understand. And he was human right now, more human than she ever was or ever could be again.

God, how she wanted to throw something against the window and watch is shatter right now. Shatter to little pieces, just like the hope in her chest was doing with every passing minute in a time period she didn't belong in.

''It's okay, it's almost been a year,'' she said softly to him, giving him a grateful smile, which made him grin victoriously.

Their breakfast went by in silence for a while at least. In the corner of her eyes he could see that sometimes during the few minutes of silence Giuseppe was continuously opening and closing his mouth, contemplating if it would be a good idea to say what he wanted to say. Only Elena could detect the small sigh that indicated he decided to say something.

''Damon, what are you planning on doing with your time now that you dropped out of college?''

Elena sighed when she saw Damon stiffen. He stared at Elena for a second. Both of them knew his father tried to discredit him in front of the lady, which made her disgust for him only grow.

''I do not know father, perhaps stay in Mystic Falls for a while before I decided what to do next.''

''Have you thought about my proposal?''

''I am not going to war, father,'' he said through gritted teeth.

''Why not? It is a great cause, Damon, you should defend the south instead of wasting away your days at the tavern!''

''Why not? I am three-and-twenty years old, you should not dictate me and the choice of how to live my life,'' he growled, now standing up from the table.

''You live under my roof, son, so I might as well do so! Either that, or you find a suitable wife and take some responsibility on your shoulders and not be such a disappointment all the time!'' he yelled back, also standing up. Although an inch or two smaller than Damon, Giuseppe Salvatore was still extremely intimidating.

Elena watched the fire dance in Damon's eyes as he fought with everything he had not to throw his father across the table and bash his head in, it seemed.

Damon groaned, shook his head, and stalked off.

Silence was among everybody in the dining area, even the servants that waited in the corner of the room. Giuseppe sighed the sigh of a tired old man that had lived out all his years had to offer, and looked at Elena.

''I apologize dearly, Miss Pierce. It seems my oldest son has lost all of his manners. I hope he has not offended you?'' he asked while returning to his breakfast.

Stefan had been silent through the entire encounter, his brooding forehead solely concentrated on the remaining food on his plate. It surprised Elena, how he hadn't interfered. She understood he wanted to stay polite because she had a guest and the ever so gossiping servants were around, but did that mean he wouldn't stand up for his own brother while he was treaded so unfairly?

Elena shook her head, fighting the smile to stay on her face and not turn into a grimace. ''Not at all, Mr. Salvatore,'' she said in that same sugary sweet voice she had adopted especially for the old man.

She looked at Stefan again, and for a moment they locked eyes. For the smallest moments, Elena saw the boy she had fallen in love with so deeply, the boy that had become her entire world in the timespan of a few months. But she also saw the ripper, which was unfair and she knew that, but she could never associate those eyes with the boy she had met outside the boys bathroom or the cemetery. To her battered mind and damaged heart, he would always be the guy that almost killed her on Wickery bridge, the guy that had left her because the guilt was too consuming to deal with. She had forgiven him for those actions, but had never redeemed himself in a way she could be proud of. He never fought for what he wanted and that was what made her lose all the remaining respect she had for him. Now, sitting across from her, it was heart to distinguish those two dominant, but utterly different personalities.

Of course, Giuseppe had to take it the wrong way. ''Stefan, son, why do you not take Elena for a walk in the town? She could meet some of the town's folk and buy some dresses.''

Stefan smiled at Elena and nodded his head. ''If Miss Elena would like to do so.''

Elena forced another smile. ''I would love to, but Mister Salvatore, I could hardly ask of you to spend so much money on me, that would be highly unfair of me.''

''Nonsense, my dear. You are to be treated as a guest, and for someone whom has been through such hardships at such a young age should be treated well. My son is the perfect candidate to help you do so. Tell me, love, how old are you?''

''Eight-and-ten, sir,'' she said, refraining from saying eighteen.

Giuseppe's brows shot up, and Elena had to stop herself from dry heaving as she saw the wheels turning in his head as he looked from her to Stefan. It was like he was already planning their wedding at that exact moment and all it made her to do was take out her fangs and make sure pieces of his body were scattered across the town. Would make a nice scavenger hunt for the council, she imagined darkily.

Again, she tried to keep her over-active emotions at bay, but that was quite the hard thing to do with such a scumbag in the same room as her, but she refrained from doing anything, and instead just took a sip of water. She had to remind herself that this guy, even though old, was still very much aware of vampires, and the last thing she wanted to do was create more unnecessary drama. As long as she kept away from vervain, made sure she was invited inside everywhere and kept up the trust Giuseppe was putting in her, she was going to be fine.

Yeah, she was definitely screwed.

2012

''What do you mean she disappeared?'' Damon bellowed. He was in full-on panic mode. He had followed Elena into the woods even though he knew she knew he was around. He had to admit he had felt a little warm inside when she had immediately recognized the crow as him, and when the tears started falling he had decided to leave her alone. Now he decided that was the most stupid thing he had ever done. Vampire or not, never leave Elena alone in the woods at night.

Bonnie sighed in frustration and shrugged violently. ''I don't know! I called her this morning, and she didn't pick up, she I called Caroline, who also hadn't heard from her. Tyler was going for a run this morning a found her phone in the woods,'' she rambled on.

Damon plopped down on the couch and ran his hands through his hair.

''Where could she have gone?'' Stefan asked to no one in particular.

''To Disney Land! What kind of question is that!'' Damon brought out. His brother could be so stupid sometimes!

Stefan rolled his eyes and stood up, pouring both of them a glass of scotch, which Damon snatched out of his grip wordlessly. Stefan knew he was grateful, but they also both knew no words of gratitude were going to come from his lips. Especially not now.

''Maybe we should focus on trying to find her, first, hmm?'' Bonnie asked he brothers before things would go out of hand.

Damon rolled his eyes. ''Pray tell, Sabrina, have the almighty spirits on the other side spoken?'' he asked lightheartedly, relishing in the little twitch in the corner of her eye before taking another swig of his scotch as he watched the witch ignore him and going through the fourth grimoire she had found.

''I guess our only option right now is a locater spell. I don't know what else to do. We have no clue where she could have gone, and…'' Damon didn't wait before he dashed out of the Boarding House. He chose the vampire route instead of the whole 'we drive cars to stay one with our humanity' routine. This was Elena, and the faster she was back the better.

Back in her room, his eyes widened when he stared at the pictures tucked in the corner of her mirror. He always admired everybody who had gotten a place there, because everybody that did, meant something to Elena. Something crucial.

There was a picture of her, Bonnie and Caroline in cheerleader uniforms, and her, Tyler, Matt and Caroline surrounding the pool table at the grill. There was a picture of her as a child, one of her and Jeremy as children and one with her parents. In the far corner was a picture of her making a funny face with him behind Jenna and Alaric, who were posing in front of the camera, and the last picture was of her and Stefan and Caroline sitting in a booth at a Grill. He knew every picture in this room, so he wondered where the framed picture had gone of her and Stefan in the beginning of their relationship when he had decided to join the football team. He looked down at her vanity, and sucked in a breath when he realized that picture had made place for a picture someone had taken of Damon and Elena during the founders dance. He hadn't realized up until that moment how good they looked together, staring into each other's eyes as if they had been in a relationship since forever.

A stab in his heart caused him to harshly grab the picture of her in a cheerleading uniform, her hairbrush and a cardigan before jumping out of her bedroom window, leaving no trail behind of every having been there.

1863

She was surprised, to say the least, to see the Mystic Falls of 1863. In terms of change there hadn't been much, considering the century and a half time span. There was more greenery, everything was so old fashioned and not a single electronic store in sight.

Elena had the time of her life watching everybody walk around in their 1860s attire. The amount of petticoats she had seen today was dizzying.

Elena herself had also caused quite the stir. People were talking about the new girl that was staying with the Salvatore's. Nobody knew her story, and to say they found the mystery surrounding her interesting would be a massive understatement.

Stefan and Elena entered one of the many stores they had passed along the town square. Hard wood and mirrors aligned the walls, where dozens of mannequins displayed gorgeous dresses with the richest fabrics and in the most beautiful colors.

''Mimi's grandmother Alice owns the store,'' Stefan said to Elena.

Elena turned around to the blonde who smiled shyly and nodded, confirming his words.

''Stefan, my boy, have you finally found a lady to court?'' a voice bellowed from the back of the store.

Elena watched as a woman somewhere in her fifties came out from the back of the store with a big grin on her face, coming up to Mimi she embraced her before going to Stefan and smiling at him knowingly as he kissed her knuckles.

He chuckled and shook his head. ''This is our new house guest, Miss Elena Pierce,'' he introduced her proudly. It was clear he wanted to court Elena. No, thank you, sir, she thought dryly. One destructive relationship at a time.

''Why Miss Elena, is my Mimi your handmaid?'' she asked with a polite smile.

Another thing she had learned in the time she came to know about vampires, was how to read people. And Elena knew that the second Alice had laid eyes on the brunette there was something in her eyes that made the older woman weary. She was smart enough to recognize a distrustful gaze when she spotted one, and something about Elena didn't sit well with Martha.

A light bulb went on above Elena's head when she realized the elder women would probably know more than she let on, and could be able to help her.

Elena smiled at her. ''Yes, she is, she has been amazing,'' she said sincerely, earning another smile from Alice and a shy, but grateful smile from Mimi.

''Well, let me take some measurements for you, hmm?''

Elena had smiled at her and nodded, not realizing she would be exhausted at the end of this. They had walked out of the store with several dresses in all colors and forms, different beauty- and bathing necessities and three extra night gowns. She couldn't bring herself to feel guilty about spending so much Salvatore money, though. Serves him right¸ she thought bitterly.

''Thank you for bringing me into town, I enjoyed myself immensely.'' She inwardly cringed when she saw his eyes light up at her words, and once again he bowed and kissed her knuckles.

''It was my pleasure, Miss Elena. I have utmost enjoyed your company as well. I shall see you at supper?''

Elena nodded, and retired into her room with Mimi.

Mimi giggled, but restrained herself when Elena looked at her strangely.

''Everything okay, Mimi?'' Elena asked with amusement as she started to untie Elena's corset strings.

''Yes…Yes, of course, Miss…I…I…'' she stuttered, terrified.

Elena smiled and turned around, taking Mimi's hands. She may be a vicious vampire now with no regard for those people like the date-rape guy at the Murder House party she had gone to with Damon, or Giuseppe, but that didn't mean that Mimi deserved the same treatment.

''It's okay, you know. You can tell me anything, Mimi.''

Mimi nodded, but still didn't say anything.

''I promise I will not let anything get back to Master Salvatore,'' she goaded slowly, trying to get the shy girl to talk.

Mimi nodded again. ''I was just laughing because the young Master Salvatore seems to be so smitten with you already. He just..''

Elena laughed good-naturedly, making Mimi look up at her strangely. ''It's okay, Mimi, I have noticed the same issue. I find it quite amusing, really.''

Mimi raised her eyebrows and returned to the corset strings as Elena held onto the mirror. Even as a vampire the straining pain, although brief, was still ever present.

''Why is that?'' she asked, more comfortable with speaking her mind now she knew she wasn't going to be scolded for it.

''He does not know me. Where I come from, you get to know a girl before you declare yourself in love. The young Mr. Salvatore is simply infatuated, Mimi.''

''You seem…''

''…experienced?''

Mimi nodded, and Elena smiled at that. She was by no means virtuous, and would be sure she would give the little girl a heart attack if she told her what she had been up to with said young Mr. Salvatore. It was still a bit shocking to her that she had done all the things she did. Having a boyfriend with decades of experiences in the sexual departments really had its perks, she mused with a smirk.

''it's simple, really. You only have to look into someone's eyes to know what they are thinking. It's In someone's eyes, someone's smile, the way someone moves.''

Mimi stared at her with wide eyes, wondering how an eighteen year old girl whom wasn't married knew so much about such a thing. Surely Miss Elena Pierce was quite beautiful, nobody could deny that. She also looked as if she were two and twenty rather than eight and ten, but Mimi didn't dare to open her mouth and say something on the matter. Miss Elena seemed lenient towards her, but Mimi still didn't know where her limits lay.

She helped Elena change into a midnight blue gown with half-long sleeves and a bow around her waist and curled her hair, pulling a few strands back and let the rest fall along her back.

''I shall leave you to dinner, Miss,'' Mimi said, curtseyed a little and left. Elena wanted to ask her why she wouldn't be dining with them, but then realized that It was probably common for servants to eat and sleep somewhere else in the house.

Panic wanted to set in when she realized she had no idea at what time she should be going down the stairs for dinner before someone knocked on her door three times.

She opened the door, albeit reluctantly, and had to suck in another breath through her nose – thank you, awful piece of clothing that calls itself corset – when she saw her blue-eyes proctor standing there with a small smirk on his face and his hands behind his back, staring intently at her.

''Miss Elena, I was sent to inform you we are about to have supper,'' he announced politely, but not before letting his eyes rome all over her frame, letting his eyes rest on her chest for a second before settling back on her face and taking her arm in his.

''Would you like for me to give you a tour of the grounds tomorrow after breakfast?'' he asked after a short silence, staring down at her lips for a second before staring at her eyes. Hmm, it seemed he was a little more daring than his little brother, who couldn't even look her in the eyes longer than a moment or two.

Elena looked at him, relishing in the innocence she found in his eyes. He had tons of more experience than Stefan as a human, she knew that, but not anywhere near to what the other Damon had. She liked him, so untainted by pain. Thinking about it, the answer to his question was obvious to her, she had made up her mind before she had even opened her mouth to answer him. She wanted to get to know the brothers more, who they were before vampirism had destroyed their hearts.

''I would love to.''

How was that, huh?

I know barely to no Delena interaction here, I just wanted to give a clear view of Elena's state of mind and give her a good introduction to the town of Mystic Falls in 1863. I could give you some Delena right away, but I don't want to rush into things. That wouldn't be enjoyable to read and certainly not enjoyable to write, so be patient, next chap they will be bonding a little. BTW, I realized I lied about the whole 'ally' thing. Well, I didn't, but I wanted to cut the chapter short because it seemed the right moment. Forgive me?

Review, Follow, Favorite! xxxxxx

Layla

p.s. thank you to the guest that had pointed out my mistake. All the 'Miss Gilbert's' have been changed into 'Pierce'. If you hadn't noticed I had adressed Elena wrong somewhere in the middle of the chapter, at least I fixed it now. It should be good now :) sorry if I missed any, just read over it or don't hesitate to tell me! I type so fast I ignore most of the typos I make