I could make loads of excuses but they probably wouldn't be true. Writer's block sucks.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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It was peaceful here. I lay back against the soft grass and closed my eyes and let my mind wander. It hadn't been an easy morning and I desperately needed time to think about the morning events. I had sort of thrown myself to the wolves and it was no wonder I was exhausted. The way Lexi and Stefan came at me, joined with Isobel to make me feel incredibly unwelcome.

I recalled their barbs and their antics to assure me I was not needed and how I had ruined everything. It was my fault Stefan had been cut out of the will and now left virtually penniless. How dare I, the unwanted daughter of John Gilbert, come into town and ruin everything? Maybe I should have just stayed gone.

Threats of contesting the will were bandied about but I bit my tongue. There was no point in getting involved in petty family squabbles while I could use the time to learn. That was part of my training, after all, and I needed to figure out just who I was dealing with in this case. It had been the best time to learn about each member who remained.

Bonnie, Alaric, Elijah, Klaus, Damon, Jenna, and Tyler had left after the reading of the will. Each had said they needed to think about what was said and they would make themselves available to talk to me. They seemed agreeable for the most part but I knew most of it was an act. People tended to say that initially but once questions were asked, they became indignant and uncooperative. It was the problem with my job but getting past them was one of the best parts.

I was able to form some first impressions for the other members in the room and those would become key when I fully began investigating the case. Richard made himself scarce during the confrontation and I wondered where he was slinking off to. I didn't quite understand why I wasn't supposed to trust him but I definitely would figure it out.

I listened to the sounds of nature and sighed quietly. Usually it was very loud where I was. I didn't work in New York but I spent enough time in the city asking questions and taking names. There wasn't as much fresh air as I would have liked and I tended to feel claustrophobic in the city. It was nice to be able to just smell trees and grass. It was nice to be able to hear real birds that weren't pigeons.

I folded my hands over my stomach and just let myself be. I could just lie there and relax and think. I found it hard to think in my office and even in my small studio apartment. It was something about the walls closing in and the air being sucked out of the room. I liked open spaces, places where the air moved through freely and the walls were wide open. I loved gardens and rushing water and it seemed Salvatore Manor had all those things. I could at least enjoy my time here while solving murders.

Speaking of murders, Stefan seemed upset but I wouldn't say he was angry. He was the one I thought would be outraged but he seemed relatively calm and collected. He was distraught understandably but he kept stopping to mutter to himself. He ran his fingers through his hair as if it was a calming motion he was used to. He stormed off after a few minutes and I was left to face down two women.

I couldn't understand Isobel's motives. She had not lost anything nor had she gained. Why was my presence so horrible? She seemed genuinely upset that I had been asked to Mystic Falls even though I had ties here. I could have come at any time to visit my father even though I didn't have the faintest desire to do so. It seemed odd that a woman with no direct ties to either Stefan or Lexi should act on their behalves so vehemently.

Lexi, I could understand her feelings. I had been brought in to investigate her ex-husband's murder directly after her son lost the estate he had been counting on for survival. On top of all of her own issues with her ex-husband and his decisions concerning the will, Damon seemed to find my presence amusing.

I had been made aware of her relationship with her stepson through Giuseppe's information and I was not surprised by her reaction. Stefan was her whole world and he had been slighted by his father yet the prodigal son was welcomed. I knew it was only a matter of time before the family entreated him to intervene on their behalves. How he would handle the requests was something I hoped to witness.

I had escaped amidst the arguing, thankfully, and had looked for a place to gather my thoughts. Outdoors seemed the best choice. The grounds were extensive and bigger than almost any place I had been in my entire life. Acres upon acres of land surrounded me and I was able to escape the accusations, the questions, and most importantly, the noise. I didn't like crowds or noise and I didn't like feeling closed-in.

I listened to the sounds of the land around me. Salvatore Land for the most part but it would take a while before the will was settled especially with the accusation of murder. It would be a long time before Damon could fully inherit. I listened as I heard the rustle of a dress. My mind catalogued those in the house and came to one name.

"You can sit down if you'd like. I can hear your shoes and your dress," I said firmly as I heard the squeak of some older shoe. I pegged the person to be a woman but sometimes I was mistaken. It only happened a few times but one gun to my head was enough to get me to take my surroundings more seriously.

"You looked content and I didn't want to intrude," she said as she sat down beside me. I peeked up at her and noted Caroline Forbes' gentle features. She was looking down the lawn at the few birds who had found the little pond. They were splashing and squawking away and she giggled in response.

"So what can I do for you Miss Forbes?" I asked.

"First you can call me Caroline," she said with a smile. "Secondly I was just looking for someone to talk to. I don't have many friends in Mystic Falls and you're about my age right?"

"Yes. Aren't you dating the heir to the Lockwood fortune?" I asked as I slid to a sitting position. She brushed some of her hair behind her ear and sighed. It was one of those sighs that said things weren't all good in Camp Forwood. She sighed again and I sighed in response.

"Yeah but he's more interested in learning trade secrets from Klaus Trudeau and I'm not sure I'm okay with that," she said quietly. "Klaus is super charming but he's not really a good role model, you know?"

"I don't really but I can imagine. I knew men who commanded respect from their workers, could charm the pants off of anyone, and could kill someone without blinking. Is that Klaus?"

"Pretty much. He's turning Tyler into someone else and I don't really like it," she began. "But I'd much rather discuss us."

"Um...what about us?" I asked. She turned to me with a huge smile and held out a small brochure. I reached out and closed my fingers over the printer paper.

Visit the Mystic Falls Art Gallery. Celebrating Mystic Falls Artists for 75 years.

"I haven't been since I was a teenager and I don't want to go alone. Want to go with me?" She asked. I knew I needed to become involved in their lives but art galleries weren't really my cup of tea. They tended to display boring landscapes or portraits of people I could care less about.

"It's not really my thing," I replied simply. Caroline reached up and pulled the clip from her hair, shaking her blond hair out until it swirled around her face. She plucked at her skirt suddenly, rolling it up and unbuttoning a few buttons. She was a very beautiful woman and clearly she wasn't as conservative as she looked a few minutes before.

"It's not really mine either," she began. I began to ask a question but she stopped me quickly. "Yeah I know, right? I'm an artist and art museums aren't really my thing. I love to paint but I don't really care for displays. Art should be enjoyed, not locked up and held captive by people."

"Not a fan of zoos are you?" I asked. She giggled at my question and I couldn't help the smile that crept up.

"Not really. I don't like things being locked up and hidden away especially when you have to pay to use them," she said. "So will you go?"

"I guess. I kind of need to iron out some plans but..."

"It'll get you away from the Bitches right? I wouldn't worry about them. Isobel's upset because Ric should have gotten more and Lexi's upset because Giuseppe got the last laugh," Caroline explained. "I am surprised about Damon though. I thought Giuseppe and he weren't even speaking."

"I don't think they were. I think it was a dying realization or something. He loved Damon but he was unsure how to handle it so he did the best he could. I wonder how he feels about it," I said softly.

"I'm sure he's ecstatic. The Salvatore's are worth billions and now Damon Salvatore is the one with cash to burn. I wonder what he'll spend it on..."Caroline trailed off. It was an interesting question. I remembered being asked what I would do if I won the lottery. I had replied, 'you have to play to win'. Perhaps I was too serious about it but I didn't see the point in blowing the money on something with such horrible odds.

"Maybe..." I trailed off.

"Although I bet he'd spend it on you if you asked," she said. I turned to look at her strangely and she laughed loudly.

"Oh come on! He looked at you like a starving man looks at a buffet. I swear he would have taken you right there if you'd have just given him permission," Caroline explained. "I've heard the sex is amazing with him."

"I don't really need it," I said.

"Trust me, with what I've heard you need Damon Salvatore sex. Everyone needs Damon Salvatore sex."

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It was an old house. Okay it was more like a mansion but it was still just an old house. Some old woman glared at me as we entered the place and I nearly stuck my tongue out at her. She huffed disgustedly when she saw my dirty shoes and my grass-stained pants. I shrugged as Caroline laughed. She handed the woman the obligatory entrance fee and then scurried off to talk to some old friend of hers.

"Don't touch anything!" the woman screeched after me as I climbed the staircase to see the top level. It boasted local artists and I hoped there would be some old portraits or landscapes. It had been years since I'd been in Mystic Falls and for the most part I didn't remember much.

"Bitch," I whispered as I stepped onto the second floor. Hopefully she wouldn't follow me around. I hated when people hovered. I stared at the nearby portrait of one of the founding families and noted the Forbes last name. It seemed Caroline's family went back that far. I wondered who else had remained this long other than the Gilberts, Salvatore's, and Forbes.

Each portrait was captioned and each landscape was properly hung. They were boring and I was slightly disappointed. My appreciation of art was low but if it was interesting to look at then it was worth something in my eyes. Each painting was of a person who looked uncomfortable or houses that seemed to all look the same.

I found Caroline's art at the end of the hallway. It wasn't large but it was a canvass displaying a little girl holding a teddy bear. The dress was as yellow as the girl's hair. I couldn't help but wonder if it was a self-portrait. The painting was called, "Freedom".

As I moved through the rooms, I found myself yawning from boredom. Couldn't Caroline come back now so we could move along? So far I hadn't learned much of anything from her since she was spending so much time out of my company. Out of the corner of my eye I saw something peeking out from a nearby closet.

I opened the door and tilted my head in confusion. Why was this painting hiding in the closet? I tugged it out and propped it against the door. As I did so, the title card slid to the floor. I lifted it and gasped at the name. Damon Salvatore was the artist! Was there anything artistic he couldn't do?

'Love' was the name of the painting and I stared at it intently. It was just blue. Everything on the canvass was blue and I tried to make sense of it. Blue wasn't really a romantic color. Caroline had wandered off pretty quickly and I was left to wander the old house.

"I painted it for Katherine," a masculine voice said. I turned to find myself firmly pressed against Damon. His cologne was a musky cinnamon scent and I nearly burrowed my face against him. His hands slid to my hips as I looked up at him. His lips seemed fascinating suddenly.

"Katherine?" I stuttered. He smiled, his lips curling into a smirk as he reached up to tilt my chin towards his.

"Blue always represented my love of Katherine. Each person has a color and her's was always blue," he said as he leaned closer. My eyes fluttered shut as he moved closer. When nothing happened my eyes fluttered open in surprise.

"You are a fiery pink," he whispered. I was lost in the moment as he cupped my cheek. "A vibrant, beautiful, siren."

My lips parted and I found myself ignoring that little voice in my mind. This was my sister's husband. This was a potential killer. I'd only know him for about six hours. It all seemed irrelevant as I slid against him, my hands pressed tightly to his chest.

"Damon..." I whispered. "We can't."

"Take a chance," he replied as I felt his lips nearly brushing mine. I couldn't look away as his hand dipped down to my lower back and he moved me towards the closet door.

"I don't know you," I whispered.

"Maybe not but isn't it fun this way," he replied softly. "You are inspiring." His breath was warm and smelled like chocolate. His lips parted and I sighed in a way I didn't recognize. Oh wait, I was sexually attracted to him. That's what that was.

"Elena did you see the painting of a ball of wax? What's up with that?" Caroline said as she turned the corner. I leapt out of Damon's arms just as Caroline noticed what was going on. "Oh sorry!"

"More later my fiery muse," he said with a smirk. I stood there sputtering as Caroline came up and grabbed my arm.

"Everything right now! Was it good? Does he use his tongue? Is he really as large as everyone says?" Caroline asked in a torrent.

"I...I..." I stuttered. Somehow my mind was fuzzled and all I could think about was the way his fingers felt on his skin.

"Oh it was! God you have to tell me about the sex! Tyler's been kind of tired lately and I need to live vicariously," she explained. I shook my head to clear my head. He was much too familiar and I didn't like it.

Who the hell was I trying to kid? I would have fallen into bed with him within five minutes. He smoldered and suddenly I wanted to burn. No one had made my blood sing in my veins like he had with a few moments of touching. How the hell was I supposed to solve a murder when suspect #1 could turn me into goo?

"In high school, he would crook a finger and the girl of his choosing would fall into his arms. He had them in the broom closets and on teacher's desks. He got caught so many times but every girl said it was worth it," Caroline said.

"Worth it?" I echoed.

"Yeah apparently he has amazing stamina and can make a girl pass out with very little effort," Caroline explained.

"Well I don't need it," I said firmly or at least what I hoped was firmly.

"Trust me, you need it," she said. "You are so tense and he's the perfect cure."

"What about Katherine?" I asked quietly.

"Oh yeah. He was always kind of interested in her but she wouldn't give him the time of day. This was an ode to her beauty or something stupid like that. Either way she married him and no one ever understood why. She didn't even seem to like him," Caroline trailed off. She had been pulling me down the stairs and out of the house as she talked as if I would discover something in the old house.

I glanced over my shoulder at the place and caught a glimpse of Damon watching me from an upstairs room. He nodded when he saw me and waved with a smirk. He knew he affected me and I didn't like that one bit.

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The boarding house was silent as I entered the parlor. There was no evidence of anyone still hanging about and I sighed in pleasure. It was 10 pm and I was not in the mood for any confrontations. I moved towards what I guessed was the dining room and found my way into the kitchen. I flipped on the light and jumped in surprise.

"Sorry Miss Gilbert," Richard said softly. "I was waiting for your return." He offered me a cup of tea and I stared at it before sipping thoughtfully. It was perfect and I nearly moaned at the taste of honey.

"I'm sorry, what?" I said when I noticed he was staring.

"I said I would like to direct you to your room. Mr. Salvatore left explicit instructions for you to be given his late wife's chambers. I wanted to make sure you were settled before retiring," he explained.

"His late wife's?" Was that morbid?

"Yes, Miss Gilbert. Sophia's rooms have always been kept separate and Mr. Salvatore was adamant that you should take over her rooms. I hope you find them to your liking," he explained.

He moved towards the doorway and I understood I was supposed to follow him. I shuffled through my lists of what I knew and remembered the cryptic warning from the letter. Perhaps I shouldn't have drunk the tea.

He led me up the stairs and down the hallway towards the back of the manor. As we passed each door he told me the occupants or uses for the room. I couldn't help but notice when he gestured to my room that it was next to Damon's. It also happened to be the only other room in this corridor so we were virtually secluded from the rest of the house.

He bowed slightly as he opened the door and I expressed a soft 'thank you' as I entered the room. I flicked the light switch and they came on effortlessly. The only words that entered my mind at that moment were,

"Holy Shit!" This was a palace. The bed was on a freaking platform! The window was floor to ceiling overlooking the gardens. This place was bigger than my entire apartment and it was all mine? I noticed my bags on the floor and I turned to throw my jacket on the floor.

I dove at the bed and sunk into the luxurious mattress, sighing in contentment at the feeling of soft, silky sheets. I shimmied down and unbuttoned my pants. I kicked my shoes, socks, and pants off before ripping my shirt off. The feeling of this bed against my body was like heaven and I nearly purred in contentment.

My mind immediately turned to the sexy man living in the room next door. As I remembered his piercing blue eyes and the feel of his fingers on my skin, I tried desperately to remember he could be dangerous. Apparently my body didn't care. My fingers tingled as they inched down my body to unclasp my bra and it fell to the bed. Maybe I needed to remove some...tension?

I rolled over to get comfortable and saw something laying on the end table. I reached out and picked up the envelope. I noticed my name scrawled across the front and I turned it over to open. Perhaps Giuseppe had left it for me.

I let out a yell when the picture tumbled out onto the bed. A picture of my sister lying in a puddle of blood was there. Across it was written,

"You wouldn't want to end up like her, would you?"

Just as I reached out to turn the picture over, Damon flew into my room. Before he could say a word, his eyes dropped to my bare breasts and he smirked.

"You know, you could have just invited me over," he said smugly.

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So I'm going to try and update my two stories alternatively. So next will be TBL.

Follow me at: Tsukikomew(dot) blogspot (dot) com

Trustelenagilbert (dot) blogspot (dot) com

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I'm still working on review replies as well as the next chapter of TBL. I love feedback though so please leave me some.

Thanks!