**flashback continues**

Bella and Stefan were in a bar that was known for being a vampire hangout.

Stefan orders another drink, "Are you sure he will be here?"

Bella rolls her eyes, "Do I have to go over this again?"

Stefan shakes his head and laughs, "I will look around."

Bella nods and takes a sip of her ginger ale. She turns around and scans the dance floor. He had to be here. The last four places they had checked, they had just missed him. She wasn't in the mood to do that again. This was her last resort and if he didn't show she figured she would be fine without him.

"Why hello there. You are a sight for sore eyes."

Bella turns around and is stunned by beautiful blue eyes. She freezes for a moment, mesmerized.

She closes her eyes and smiles, "Hello, Damon."

Damon stares, shocked, "I see my reputation precedes me or are you just really good at guessing names?"

She laughs, "I will never tell."

Damon smirks, "Mystery. I like it."

Stefan walks up behind him, "I guess you win."

Damon turns around and growls, "What are you doing here, brother?"

Bella stands up, "Oh. He is with me."

Damon turns around to leave, but Bella puts a hand on his arm.

"Please, listen. I need your help."

Alaric laughs, "Wow. Why was it so important for you to get his help?"

Bella shrugs, "I was in denial over giving up my daughter. I thought that if I could just get everything under control, I would be able to get her back. I also wanted to be able to get you back, but I didn't want your lives to be in danger. Little did I know Klaus had compelled me to leave everything behind."

Alaric frowns, "But you still checked up on us?"

Bella nods, "I was unable to go to you and tell you how much I wanted to be a part of your lives, but he never said I couldn't watch you from afar. Sounds a little creepy. I just wish I had known that was what stopped me all these years then."

Alaric grabs her hand, "I am glad Elena got me to talk to you. I shouldn't have been so horrible to you."

Bella smiles, "I am glad that we can fix our relationship. It means a lot to me."

Damon greets Bella when she gets home. She smiles and walks into the kitchen. Damon frowns. How had he been so stupid? She was so different from every girl he had ever met. She was kind and caring yet strong and fierce. He had to find a way to win her back. Bella walks back in and sits on the couch with her glass of blood.

She smiles, "I have great news."

He watches as her face lights up, "I can tell. I haven't seen you this happy in a long time, if ever."

She laughs, "Alaric and I made amends. I finally have my brother back."

Damon grins, "That is great. How did that happen?"
Bella sighs, happily, "Elena gave him the push he needed and we talked. She is great. I can see why Stefan loves her. And why you do, too"

Damon frowns as she gets up and heads for the stairs.

She turns around, "Good night, Damon."

Damon waves and sits back down. He tries to figure out when he had managed to mess everything up. He had to figure out a way to fix things so that he could prove to Bella that he was different from the last time. He sighs and walks into his bedroom. He lies down on his bed and stares at his ceiling. Planning what he needed to do.

Elena sits in class after school with Bella, waiting for her to finish tomorrow's lesson plan.

Bella looks up, "You know you don't have to wait for me."

Elena smiles, "I know, but I want to. Plus I wanted to invite you somewhere."

Bella waits and when the silence continues, "Ok and where is that?"
Elena laughs, "Well since our first girl's night was such a success, Caroline, Bonnie and I thought we could have round two only this time we spend the whole night at my house drinking and baking cupcakes or brownies or something. Talk boys."

Bella laughs, "You want to know about me and Damon, don't you?"

Elena feigns innocence, "What? No."

Bella rolls her eyes, "Sure whatever. But that sounds perfect."

Elena jumps up, "Good. This Saturday. We will have so much fun."

She walks out to her car and Bella laughs shaking her head. So much for wanting to wait for her.

An hour later, Bella finishes grading some papers and is about to leave when Kylie walks in.

Bella frowns, "Kylie, what are you doing here so late?"

Kylie hesitates for a second, "Well I-I was going to surprise my boyfriend after football practice, but when I got to the locker room he was kissing some other girl. I saw that you were here and you seem so nice. I thought you could help me."

Bella sits on the edge of her desk trying hard to hide her anger towards the boy. She gestures to a desk for Kylie to sit at.

"How long were you two together?"

Kylie sits down, "For 5 months, almost 6. I thought I was in love with him. He seemed so perfect."

Bella smiles comfortingly, "Well you are still young and so is he. Boys at this age don't always think straight. Of course, that is no excuse."

Kylie starts to cry, "I just want him to love me."

Bella hands her a tissue, "I know and one day you will find the love that you deserve, but until then you are going to deal with guys who aren't smart enough to give it to you. That is all part of life's journey. And one day in the future you are going to look back and be thankful that you didn't end up with your high school boyfriend."
Kylie looks up, "You really think so?"

Bella laughs, "I know so. There is a guy out there waiting to meet you. He will make all your dreams come true."

Kylie smiles, "You are right!"

Bella nods, "Of course I am! And that guy deserves a strong, smart woman who stands up for herself when someone wrongs her."

Kylie smiles wider, "That is just what I am going to do. Thank you so much, Ms. Swan."

Kylie hugs her and a tear slips out of Bella's eye, "Anytime. I am always here to help my students."