This is a fanfiction. I own the plot. My OC's. But little else.

Chapter 1: Getting down to Buisness


"So, are you just gonna stand there or do I get to meet people" Kenzy asked smiling.
Tawny stood in the small entry way, hesitant to let Kenzy in. Something was off about her little sister.

That was it! Tawny realized. "Oh my god I am so sorry! I didn't mean to say 'little sister' I know, you're totally older than me!" Tawny blushed, pushing up her glasses.

"You have to tell me what products you're using! You still look like you did when you went off to uh, that special school in Florida!"

Kenzy nodded, gently pushing past her sister.

"It's all good. I've just been taking really good care of myself. Besides whatever I put in my drinks, I only eat organic." She wriggled her eyebrows for punctuation.

Tawny shook her head that sounded like a pun. She hated Kenzy's puns; please don't let that be a pun! She led her sister into the living room, where the rest of their friends ha gathered during the few second Tawny got them by standing in the entryway.

Elena and Stefan had stolen the loveseat, Caroline the matching ottoman. Bonnie and Jeremy sat on opposite ends of the couch and Damon was leaning into the back corner trying to be mysterious.

"Okay so, the blonde is Caroline." Tawny said as Kenzy eyed up the only other blonde in the room. Her hair didn't even look dyed.

Well shit, that's unfair competition. She's not even using extensions! She thought, reflecting on her now platinum hair color. It's not like she didn't like her old color just knowing she had forever to change it, she couldn't resist turning her dirty blond locks into something a little more dangerous.

"Hi, uh Kenzy it's great to finally meet you!" Caroline said standing quickly offering to shake hands.

Kenzy nodded and offered back a flash of a smile while firmly shaking the other's hand.
Kenzy noted her lack of pulse, and controlled breathing.

Well, that's one. She thought as Tawny continued with the introductions.

"This is Elena, the Gilbert's kid, if you uh remember back then." Tawny said regretting her words mid-sentence. Please don't bring up the psychiatric-ward; they just met you for Pete's sake! She screamed at her sister.

"Yeah, good times, glad to see ya' Elena. I don't think I would've recognized you though! You were such a little thing." Kenzy said lightly patting the girl on the hand, astonished at how well the little girl had grown up to look. All developed, complete with stick strait chestnut hair, and ah, there it was, and lacking a heart beat.

And that makes two.

"This is my boyfriend, Stefan Salvatore. They uh moved to town a while ago. Relatives of the founding family." Elena said practically beaming with pride, referring to the closely manicured man who had one hand around her back the other, inching around her thigh.

I'll skip that one... He sounds dead so I'll just put that down as making it three.

"Cool… Salvatore, that's a strong name. Very, unique." Kenzy said feeling awkward around the couple.

"Hey, hurry it up, there's one favorite cousin that's getting impatient over here" Bonnie said with a laugh, standing to envelope Kenzy in a hug. Bonnie's body tensed up mid-hug.

"Look at you, so- Rebellious! Glad you got that back-bone of yours back. Ugh, you look fantastic! Not everyone can pull off leather." She joked, pulling away from her distant cousin.

Well shit, good move dumbass! Kenzy said, chastising herself for forgetting Bonnie's powerful lineage.

"This is Jeremy, Elena's kid brother." Tawny said moving things along.

Kid? He looks like I could meet him in a bar and end up making him breakfast, if ya' know what I mean. Kenzy thought, biting back the temptation to whistle.
Kid brother my ass.

"It's uh nice to meet you." Jeremy said faintly flushing.

Oh my friggin' gosh, adorableness alert!
"It's nice to meet you too."

She felt him quickly appraise her.
"You, uh, like 'Panic! At the Disco' too? I'm mean that's a, uh, sick shirt."

Take that blonde! Score for Kenzy! I can smell his blood, though. That sucks a little. But hey he's cute.

Kenzy nodded, offering him a toothy half-smile.
"Yeah, I went and saw 'em with a friend last December."

"Okay, moving on." Tawny said, possibly saving Jeremy from embarrassing himself, she thought.

That was rude. Kenzy raised an eyebrow in curiosity as her sister grabbed her wrist turning her and pulling her over to Damon who had successfully, to everyone's wishes stayed quiet 'till this point. Tawny couldn't find her sister's pulse.

Probably because she kept fidgeting.

"This is Damon. Stefan's brother. He doesn't come around a lot." Tawny said in a flat tone that could tell a field mouse, his next words would mean life or death.

Why the hell not? He could go where ever he liked. Kenzy thought momentarily.

"Sup?" Damon offered a coy smile.

Just say the word, I'll go everywhere. Kenzy heard answer her in the back of her head.

"Oh ya' know family stuff." She replied coyly without giving any other acknowledgement to their telepathic connection.

Does this mean he heard the rest of these..? She wondered rhetorically.

Sadly yes. I had no clue little Gilbert boy had such an effect on the ladies. Oh and that makes five of us. Counting you that is. Was the sassy reply.

"Well lovely friends you've got here Tawn-Tawn. But you know my next question… Wanna give me an answer?" Kenzy said hinting to Tawny's lack of a significant other, teasing her with a childhood nickname.

"No. Your answer is no. Move on. I was thinking" Tawny started, knowing Kenzy would make some crack about her 'not thinking things'. But none ever came. Instead she sat down on the couch in between Jeremy and Bonnie. Jeremy flushed again.

"We could all go out and you could dish out, why you chose to drop in on my, uh, your house for the first time in a few years."

"Can't I just drop in and visit once and a while?" Kenzy said tilting her head praying she didn't have to explain herself in front of some potentially dangerous strangers.

"The last time we spoke, before Mom and Dad's funeral was when they sent you away, remember you called home to talk to mom about some guy creeping you out. That was more than a few years ago." Tawny said shaking her head.

"Wait. How old are you?" Damon asked obvious surprise in his tone.

"Back then I was about ten or eleven. I'm eighteen now. Thanks for asking." Kenzy said abrasively, you never ask a woman her age.

"You're not eighteen. That's impossible." Bonnie said.

Oh fuck, wait I'm not eighteen. Kenzy you moron! She thought angrily.

"Shit, did I say eighteen? Sorry, y'all know how I am with numbers." She laughed trying desperately to keep her cover.

"Wait, when you were sent away, I was three. And I only remember that because Dad had it on video." Tawny said starting to count.

"That would make a seven year difference." Stefan added figuring the math before Tawny.

"If you're seventeen now-" Bonnie started.

"That would make you-" Elena continued.

"Twenty-four?" Tawny asked turning to look at her sister again.

Kenzy shrugged. "I know, I'm sorry I though he asked how old you were, and I guess I was off by a year." She lied, referring to her sisters' age.

Bonnie and Tawny shared a knowing look.

"Anywho, to your idea Tawn-Tawn; I'm exhausted from driving up here. I had hoped to catch up tonight and ya' know socialize tomorrow." Kenzy said acting as if she totally didn't just let the cat out of the bag. "If that's okay with you, I'm you're guest anyway." She added, making sure she didn't offend her little sister.

"Actually that might work better." Elena said.
"Jenna just texted me, she wants us home for dinner tonight. She's having her boyfriend over and doesn't want to run out of conversation because something awkward happened."

"Ya know you're right. That'll work better. Plus we do need to catch up. I mean I barely know you anymore and you're my sister."

"Great because we've got to get going." Elena said pulling Stefan to his feet.
"It was really nice meeting you; I can't wait to get to know you better." She continued, giving Kenzy a small pat on her shoulder.

"Yeah, same. You seem pretty cool." Stefan said, keeping his distance.

"Uh, Jer." Elena said biting back a smile.

"What?" was his albeit dazed reply.

"That means you too." She giggled lightly at her brother's absentmindedness.

"Oh yeah, sorry I spaced out there. It was uh, great meeting you." He said quickly standing, letting Elena pull him out the door.

"See ya at school tomorrow Tawny!" Elena hollered back, closing the door.

"Damon, would you, I don't know, go?" Bonnie asked, eyes wide and watchful; words dripping with malice.

"And miss this? Let me think…nope. Wouldn't miss it for the world." He smirked, moving to take the empty seat on the couch.

"Tell me, Kenzy, what perfume are you wearing? Wait don't tell me! It's Eau de 'Gas station attendant'?" He said sarcastically, earning an approving smirk and chuckle from the girl to his right.

"Not going there." She said looking back to her sister who had started to pace around a floor rug.

"Vampire?" Tawny asked, now walking the rug's circumference, to find its radius.
Anything to distract herself from this conversation.

"Yep" Kenzy responded popping on the 'p', crossing her legs.

"So, you've been eighteen for how long?" Tawny continued as her pacing slowed.

"Five years. And it's pretty fun. I love being carded at bars. Makes me feel so young."

Damon laughed darkly, oh she was funny.

"Shut it Damon. How are you in the sunlight? Who made your ring?" Bonnie interjected glaring at Damon. Couldn't he just be quiet?

"An ex-girlfriend of mine. Remember when I was dating Chris and that girl, Lucy? Well he ditched us, and remember I told you she was a witch. I called her up when I turned and it's all good." She shrugged pursing her lips.

"Well I just thought she wasn't really a witch. I mean, most people aren't." Bonnie said remember the girl. Her name was Joy or something.

"How", Tawny asked pulling the ottoman over to sit on. "I mean how did you turn? I mean, after Mom and Dad I can't believe you would do this voluntarily." She continued brows furling.

"There's a lot you haven't believed." Kenzy pointed out, gaze becoming vicious.
"You never believed me. You lived through years of abuse, and believed everything they told you. When I tell you, I want you to listen openly." Kenzy said face going dangerously blank.

"So, how did you turn?" Bonnie prompted.

Kenzy shook her head, "Ask me tomorrow. I haven't had a drink all day, I'm definitely not drunk enough for that conversation." She said jokingly.

"The entire place looks the same so- While I'm on the subject, I don't suppose there's any bar 'cept at the Mystic Grill still?"

"Hell no, but I'll buy ya some drinks." Damon said winking suggestively.

Kenzy looked him over, this was gonna be fun.


/AN/

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