a/n: Thank you for all of your reviews. I especially wanted to thank Lady Mackenzie who gave me the idea for Alaric to be Bella's brother. I was struggling a little to figure out who would make an interesting choice. Anyways, Alaric will be a little different in this story than he is in the show. But in time he will become better. Thanks again and I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
Bella knocks on the door to the Gilbert house. Apparently her brother was staying with the doppelganger and she wanted to know his motives. Alaric opens the door and curses. She sadly bows her head. How had things gotten to the point where he hated seeing her face?
"Hello my dear brother. Miss me?"
Alaric scoffs, "I think you know the answer to that misguided question."
Bella sighs heavily, "Why do you hate me so much?"
He laughs harshly, "I was only 5 when you left me. I don't know you well enough to hate you."
Bella closes her eyes, "I couldn't stay. You know that."
Alaric shakes his head, "You could have taken me with you. Instead you left me with them."
Bella opens her mouth to say something, but is interrupted by Elena and some boy. She steps back trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.
Elena smiles, "Hi. You must be new in town. My name is Elena and this is my brother, Jeremy."
Bella's voice wavers slightly as she says, "My name is Isabella Saltzman. I am his sister."
Jeremy smiles, "You are a lot younger than him. Alaric, why haven't you ever mentioned a sister."
Alaric glares at her, "Because in my world she doesn't exist. Now come inside."
Bella couldn't hold back the tears anymore. They start to fall freely down her cheeks.
"It was very nice to meet you." She looks at her brother, "I'm sorry for bothering you."
She knocks on the boarding house doors hoping someone was home. The door opens and she squeals happily and jumps into Stefan's arms.
She pulls back, "Stefan! It is so good to see you."
Stefan smiles down at her, "You too. Where have you been?"
Bella rolls her eyes, "Some boring town that no one cares about. How have you been?"
Stefan pulls her into the living room and walks over to the bar and pours her a drink as she sits down on the sofa.
Stefan hands her the drink and sits down, "Things have been pretty crazy around here."
She smiles, "Yeah I hear that you are dating a doppelganger?"
Stefan smiles sheepishly, "She is a lot different than Katherine ever was. She actually cares about other people."
Bella laughs, "I know. I saw her earlier. But you need to be careful. She is also human. You can't combine worlds for much longer."
Stefan frowns, "I know. It's… complicated."
She smiles sympathetically, "Does she want to be a vampire?"
Stefan just shakes his head. Bella touches his arm. She had never fallen for a human, but she knew what a big loss it would be for him to lose Elena. Her human life had come at a great loss for her. She had lost more than just her brother when she was turned. She closed her eyes not wanting to think about it.
Stefan lightly touches her shoulder, "Are you ok?"
She smiles, "Of course. So I was wondering if I could stay here for a little while. Just until I find a place of my own."
Stefan smiles broadly, "We would be happy to have you for as long as you need."
The front door opens and Damon walks in only to stop when he sees her.
Damon smirks, "Couldn't stay away, could you?"
Bella scoffs, "Trust me, any girl in her right mind can stay away."
Damon laughs, "You say that now, but when you are cold and lonely tonight you will come crawling."
Stefan rolls his eyes, "You two need to stop this. Especially since Bella will be living with us for a while."
Damon frowns and opens his mouth to say something when the door is thrown open and Alaric storms in with Elena and Jeremy protesting behind him. Damon snarls. Stefan frowns.
Bella stands up, "Ric what are you doing?"
Alaric glares at her, "You can't stay in town. No one wants you here just like mom and dad didn't want you."
She looks down, "You need to let me explain."
He steps closer, "I don't need to do anything. Just stay away."
Alaric storms out leaving everyone behind confused and distraught.
Elena walks over to Bella, "Are you ok?"
Bella wipes away her tears, "Yeah. He has every right to hate me."
Damon growls, "There is no need for him to treat you that way."
Jeremy touches her shoulder, "Maybe you could explain what happened to us. We could try to help you and maybe he will be less bitter and stop pushing everyone away."
Bella smiles slightly, "It's kind of a long story."
Elena sits down, "We love long stories."
Bella laughs, "I should start at the beginning."
