AN: I do not own the Vampire Diaries; all rights belong to the CW, Julie Plec, Kevin Williamson, and L.J. Smith, I only own what you don't recognize.

Full Summary: Bulgaria 1492 Katrina and Elizabeth Petrova; identical twins, except for one difference; their eyes. While Katrina had warm brown eyes, Elizabeth had eyes the color of shocking lapis lazul. When Katrina had a child out of wedlock, her family banished her to Europe; not wanting her twin to be alone Elizabeth followed her. Once in England the two easily became English and one of the Lords that resigned there took surprising interest in Katrina's looks and Elizabeth's powers. Modern day; Elena and Aileen Joelle aka A.J. Gilbert exact copies of Katrina and Elizabeth. After the deaths of their parents A.J. fled to a preforming arts school in Boston and Elena stayed home with what remained of her family.

Nyde! Njuta! Enjoy! :D

The Secrets of the Girl

Chapter Nine

ROSE

A.J. POV

I woke up to someone shaking me, "Get up, you'll be late." Jeremy said.

I groaned and got up, walking over to my closet. I grabbed a pair of destroyed dark wash skinny jeans, a dark purple corset top and got dressed. I grabbed my cropped leather jacket and slipped that on along with 3 inch ankle boots. I quickly did my hair and makeup and grabbed my bag before going out to my motorcycle and hopping on.

When I got to school I quickly went inside and hurried to my locker which was unfortunately right next to Tyler's. I saw him rip his combination lock off his locker and my eyes widened. I hurried over to him and shoved the lock down out of sight of the people around us, "You need to be more careful, you're stronger now." I hissed putting the lock back in place.

"So the whole psychic thing, can you read people's thoughts?" He asked.

I rolled my eyes, "If I could then I'd be in an insane asylum." I said moving over to my locker and getting out my history book.

"What do you mean?" Tyler asked leaning against his locker.

"Well for one my brain would probably hurt like hell, and two I really don't wanna know about everybody's sexual fantasies do you?" I asked closing my locker and walking off.

I was half way down the hallway when Stefan came up beside me, "We have a problem." He said.

"Damon's illegitimate great great grandson showed up and he's panicking?" I asked sarcastically as I turned into the history wing.

"No." Stefan said shaking his head.

I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms around my history book. "NO! Listen, have you seen Elena today?" Stefan asked.

My eyes widened, "What happened? Is she okay?" I demanded.

"I don't know." He answered.

"This has Katherine written all over it." Stefan said as we stood outside with Damon.

I began to pace, biting my lip worriedly. "Katherine's in the tomb, trust me, I'm the one that shut her in." Damon said

"Did you?" Stefan demanded angrily.

"Did I what, Stefan?" Damon spit.

"Well I know the hold that Katherine has on you." He said and my stomach lurched.

"She's in the tomb, end of story." Damon snapped.

"Stefan trust him." I said, "He wouldn't do anything that would hurt me or Elena."

"But she did say something to me right before I shut her in," Damon said, "I thought she was lying!"

"What did she say?" Stefan demanded.

Damon's eyes went to me and I stared at him expectantly, "She said the twins are in danger." He said his eyes never leaving mine.

"And you didn't think you should ask her to elaborate?" Stefan asked angrily.

"Everything she says is a lie! How am I supposed to know when she starts spouting out the truth?" Damon said angrily.

"Damon calm down." I murmured touching his arm.

"We have to go talk to her." Stefan said desperately.

"No, no, no. Let me tell you how that is gonna go. We're gonna ask her for help, she's gonna negotiate her release, which you're gonna be dumb enough to give her and she's gonna get out and kill us. That is exactly what she wants." Damon said.

"I really don't care." Stefan said walking away.

"It's a bad idea Stefan." Damon warned.

"Stefan, don't we can find her some other way." I said

"Its Elena." He said continuing to walk off.

"Damon he might be right." I said turning to the older Salvatore brother.

"Oh no, you are in danger too there for you are going to stay right next to me until we get Elena back." He said grabbing my arm and dragging me off.

I waited, pouting, in the backseat of Damon's mustang sketching and waiting for him to come out with Stefan. "Hey, Steffy." I said as he got in the car with Alaric's weapons bag.

"You're letting her come?" He asked Damon in disbelief.

"Stefan they've already got Elena, I'm not letting them take A.J. too." He said as we exited the parking lot.

"You still shouldn't have brought her along, Bonnie could have watched her." Stefan said.

"I don't need a baby sitter!" I said continuing the sketch the picture of a crow in front of me.

"Yes, you do." Damon said smirking at me.

"Eyes on the road!" I said eyes wide, "God, only two of us can survive a car crash and neither of them is me!"

"I am 169 years old, I'm pretty sure we'll be fine." Damon replied dryly but turned around anyway.

"What are you drawing?" Stefan asked me.

"A crow." I replied simply, "He keeps popping up in my dreams."

I saw Damon stiffen slightly and furrowed my eyebrows, what was his deal? Stefan gritted his teeth and smiled, "Can I see?" He asked.

"Nope, it's not done yet." I said closing my sketch book and shoving it in my bag.

I grabbed a small wooden box from my bag and unclasped my necklace. I opened it up and a small smile ghosted across my face as I saw a picture from 1864. Damon had curly hair and was actually smiling at the camera. He was in a Confederate soldier's uniform and had his hat off. I popped it out of the locket and smirked, "What do you have there?" Damon asked

"Well before I moved I found this box that said, 'give to Elena and A.J. when they're older' so of course I opened it and found several small boxes and one of them labeled to me had this locket in it. Ever since I found out about Elizabeth I was suspicious but when I opened it and found this," I turned it so he could see it, "I knew for sure, my favorite part is the hair." I teased.

"Give me that." Damon said snatching at it.

"Nope, eyes on the road grandpa." I said tucking it in my pocket.

"Alaric sure likes his weapons." He said turning to Stefan who was fiddling with something in his hand.

I opened the wooden box and pulled out a sprig of vervain which I tucked into the locket before clasping it back around my neck. I put the box away before grabbing a blanket out from under the seat and lying down across the back seat. I draped the blanket over me and felt my muscles relax one by one. "What the hell is that?" Damon asked.

"A vervain bomb or grenade launcher, something like that." Stefan said.

"Grenade." I said, "It's a vervain grenade, now shush, I'm sleeping."

"How much farther is it?" Stefan asked causing me to sigh and hit the back of his seat.

"Shh." I scolded and closed my eyes.

"About 80 miles." Damon said louder than necessary.

"Who do you think took her?" Stefan asked.

"Someone from Katherine's past, she said she was running from someone; maybe they got the wrong girl." Damon answered.

A few minutes past and I could feel myself on the verge of sleep right before Stefan spoke, "Thank you, for helping me." He said.

I rolled my eyes behind my lids and pretended to be asleep, "Can we not do the whole road trip bonding thing? The cliché of it all makes me itch." Damon said.

I suppressed a smirk, here comes the brother banter, "Oh c'mon Damon, we both know you being in this car has nothing to do with me and Elena anyway." Stefan said hinting at something.

I resisted the urge to furrow my eyebrows, okay Damon reply so I can figure this out already! I thought impatiently. "And the elephant in the room lets out a mighty roar." Damon said sarcastically.

"Well, it doesn't have to be an elephant, let's talk about it." Stefan prodded.

From his tone of voice I could tell he was reaching for some kind of reaction from Damon. Damon laughed, "There's nothing to talk about." He said.

"That's not true. Sure there is. Let's get it out. I mean, are you in this car because you want to help your little brother save the woman he loves or is it because...because you love her sister? I mean, come on. Express yourself. I happen to like road-trip bonding." Stefan said.

I frowned, what the hell? "Keep it up Stefan, I can step out of this as easy as I stepped in." Damon said and I could tell he was smirking.

"Nope," Stefan sighed patronizingly, "You can't because you know that the girl asleep in the backseat right now, would never forgive you." He said.

"We're getting close, Jeremy said there's an access road just past mile marker 6." Stefan said about 20 minutes later.

Damon reached back, brushing my knee to get a blood bag. I heard slurping and knew that Damon was going into 'let's tease Stefan' mode. "If you want some just ask." Damon said sarcastically.

"I want some." Stefan said surprising me and Damon.

"Aw that's so sweet, you wanna be all big and strong to save your girl." Damon said patronizingly, "Don't worry I got your back."

"I'm not joking; I've been drinking a little every day. I'm slowly increasing my intake and building up my strength." Stefan said.

I heard more slurping and assumed Damon had given Stefan the blood bag. "Does Elena know you're drinking human blood?" Damon asked.

"I've been drinking hers." Stefan said

I sat up, "Okay I'm gonna cut this off before Damon says something stupid that gets him punched." I said.

"How long have you been awake?" Damon asked narrowing his eyes at me suspiciously.

"Well I fell asleep after someone mentioned an elephant and I woke up when Stefan mentioned a mile marker." I said innocently.

"Mhhmm." Damon said suspiciously.

I rolled my eyes at him, "So Stef a Roo, ready to kill some vampires?" I asked.

Stefan chuckled, "If it means getting Elena back then yes I am." He said.

"Good me too." I said excitedly.

"Oh no you are staying in the car." Damon said sternly.

I snorted, "1.) That's my sister in there 2.) You dragged me here so its your fault, and 3.) I can be bait." I said crossing my arms.

"Then who's gonna stop you from getting hurt?" Damon demanded.

"I'm psychic Damon, I can take care of myself you know." I snapped glaring at him in the rearview mirror.

"I know that." He snapped.

"Then quit acting like I'm defenseless!" I demanded.

Damon stared at me for a few moments and I glared back defiantly, "Fine," He agreed, "But the second I suspect you're in trouble, I'm pulling you out, clear?"

"Crystal." I said smirking.

Damon parked the car and we got out, "The house should be just beyond those trees." Damon said.

"Okay hold on." He said as Stefan and I kept walking, "I've got more experience at this than you two do."

I raised an eyebrow at him, "Okay so I have more experience than Stefan." Damon corrected himself.

"So what's your point?" Stefan said.

I could tell he was itching to get in there and get Elena back. "My point is whoever has Elena is probably whoever had Katherine in 1864-"

"Making them, a hell of a lot stronger than both of you." I cut in.

"Which puts them at 500 years and strong, you sure you wanna do this?" Damon asked.

I glared at him, "Yeah I'm certain I want to do it." Stefan said.

"Cause we go in that house, we might not come back out." Damon said.

"Well then let's go." I said making to walk on but Damon grabbed me.

I rolled my eyes, "Don't do anything stupid." He said.

"That's your job." I joked smirking.

"I'm serious, Aileen." Damon said sternly looking me in the eye.

I furrowed my brows and he looked away, "Damon," I said gently grabbing his face and turning him to look me in the eye, "I'll be okay." I said giving him and easy smile.

I kissed his cheek gently before unwrapping his arms from me and walking into the trees. I pulled a vervain dart from my jacket pocket as I approached the door of the house. I made sure to step on the creeky floorboards and slammed the door behind me.

I used my powers to break a vase and dashed over to the stairs and hid behind them. I heard a whimpering and saw a man and a woman come out with Elena. "Hello." I said stepping out of my hiding spot.

"Elizabeth." The man said throwing Elena to the woman and flashing in front of me.

"Try again." I said flying him back into a wall.

"Nice try." The man said appearing back in front of me.

I stabbed him with my vervain dart and he grabbed me; it didn't affect him. "How old are you?" I asked quirking an eyebrow.

"Tell me your name." He said trying to compel me.

"Tell me yours." I retorted glaring up at him as he held me in place.

His eyes flickered down to my necklace, "What is it with you doppelgangers and vervain necklaces?" He demanded ripping my necklace off and throwing it.

I watched as he threw away the one key to telling me more about Elizabeth other than Elizabeth herself. He grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him, "Tell me your name." He compelled.

"Aileen Joelle Gilbert." I found myself answering.

"Well, Aileen, you and your sister are coming with me." He said.

"But I still don't know your name." I said stalling.

He smirked, "Its Elijah."

There was a gust of wind and Elena disappeared. I used my powers to push Elijah away long enough for Damon to grab me and take me to a hiding spot. He put a finger over my lips and we heard Stefan call, "Up here."

"Down here." Damon taunted.

Stefan shot a stake through Elijah's hand giving Damon an opportunity to grab the woman and bring her back over to us. I nodded at him and used my powers to hold her immobile. Damon released his hold on her and instead grabbed me. "Excuse me! To whom it may concern, you're making a grave mistake if you think you can beat me; you can't." Elijah said.

"I repeat you cannot beat me. So I want the girls on the count of three or heads will roll. Do we understand each other?" He asked.

I heard Elena's voice and started to struggle in Damon's grasp. "I'll come with you; please just don't hurt my friends they just wanted to help me out." She said.

Tears fell on my cheeks as Damon kept me still, after going through all of this to save her, they were just gonna let her go? "What game are you playing with me?" Elijah asked.

I heard a click and then and explosion and I started to struggle more. Damon's face was pained for a moment before he put on a mask. I heard gun shots and knew that Stefan had gotten involved. There was more banging and suddenly Damon was gone and I heard Elijah crying out in pain before silence.

The woman left and I stepped out at Damon went to go after her, "Just let her go, Damon." I said before running up the steps to hug my sister.

"I'm officially never leaving you unprotected again." I said releasing her.

Elena nodded before running down to Stefan. I ran over to Damon and hugged him, "You okay?" I asked him as I held on tight.

"I'm fine, you?" He asked pulling back so he could check me over.

"I'm good." I said smiling up at him.

Once we got home I helped Elena up the stairs. Bonnie and Jeremy came out of his room and Bonnie hug attacked Elena and Jeremy latched onto me. "Next time you are not going." Jeremy murmured in my ear.

I laughed and hugged him tighter before switching with Elena so I could hug Bonnie, "You are staying with me next time. Damon so does not get to take you away." She said.

I grinned and hugged Bonnie tighter, glad that we could repair was was left of our friendship. "I think I'm going to just go to bed, guys. Today has been a little more than overwhelming." I said releasing Bonnie.

"Okay," Elena said over Jeremy's shoulder.

I smiled at Bonnie once more and walked into my room. I locked my door behind me and went into my bathroom. I changed into my pjs a black cami with Hello Kitty shorts and unmatching socks. . My curly hair was everywhere and I pulled it back into a high pony tail. I touched the place on my neck where Elijah had ripped off Elizabeth's necklace when I was trying to save Elena.

I sighed again and walked into my room to see Damon sitting on my window seat playing with the object in his hand, "Cute pj's." He said smirking.

"Damon I'm tired so please-"

Damon got up and made his way over to me causing that annoying stomach lurching thing again. "Brought you this." He said holding up the object.

I smiled at him, it was Elizabeth's necklace, "I thought I'd lost that forever." I said trying to take it.

He pulled it back, "Damon please give it back." I said surprise in my voice.

"I just have to say something." Damon said taking a step closer to me.

"Why do you have to say it with my necklace?" I asked eyebrows pulling together.

Damon had been acting strange since the Masquerade, but this was an all-time weird. What Stefan had said in the car made it seem normal but that couldn't be it, it just couldn't. Damon furrowed his eyebrows, "Well, because what I'm about to say is probably the most selfish thing I've ever said in my life." He said.

My eyes widened as realization hit me, Stefan was right, "Damon, please things are so complicated right now; don't go there." I pleaded tears stinging my eyes.

"I just have to say it once," He said walking until we were face to face, "You just need to hear it."

A few seconds went by as we stared at each other both slightly emotional, "I love you, Aileen. But I can't be selfish with you because of the fact that I love you. You are going to finish high school, go to college, and meet a nice human guy." He took a breath as a tear rolled down my cheek, "You are going to start a family, grow old and I'll just be a memory of a guy who used to love you when you were 17."

I gasped for a breath, "Damon you love Elena-"

"Before you came here I thought I loved Elena, I really did; but really I didn't. I loved her still do but as family, as the girl I love's sister." Damon continued, "I really wish you didn't have to forget this." He said cupping my cheeks.

I grabbed his hands with my own and brought him down so our lips lightly brushed in just a whisper of a kiss. "Don't do it Damon, please." I pleaded looking him in the eye.

"But I have to." He said, "You won't remember that I gave you the necklace or any of this conversation." He said pupils' dilating.

Then with a breeze he disappeared and Elizabeth's necklace was once again around my neck. I sat on my bed, Damon loved me, but he thought it was selfish of him so he decided to compel me to forget. A sob left my mouth and I smothered it with my hand. I grabbed my phone and with shaky hands dialed Stefan's number, "A.J.?" He answered.

"Stefan?" I asked shakily, "Can you come over here? I really need to talk to someone."

There was a click then a breeze and Stefan was sitting in front of me. I wrapped my arms around him and began to sob into his shoulder. "Shh." He said stroking my hair.

"Stefan it hurts." I sobbed, "Why does it hurt?"

I felt Stefan sigh, "Because you love him."

AN: So how'd you like it? A.J.'s drawing and dreaming about a mysterious crow, I wonder what that means? ;)

How did you like the end scene?

Anyway I just wanted to thank everybody for their reviews! Keep it up guys, I love hearing from yah!

-ConflictingLoyalities563 ;D