Anelie

That same night Nadia told Mom and I about her daughter she also told us that Molly would be flying into New York. Though she would not be in till later the next day we thought it might be good to take a break from the headache of Mystic Falls and spend a few days in the city which, not just my mother, but also I favorited the most out of any other that we had lived aside from New Orleans, possibly.

Just as we were about to leave Stefan had asked where it was that we were going. I told him and he insisted that he accompany us. I liked the idea of having some quality time with the man that I named my dad. Nadia and Mom were not that thrilled to hear that he wanted to come along, but upon getting into the car they came to be okay with it. Seeing him sitting in the driver's seat and my mom in the passenger's seat I pretended like we were going on a family vacation.

Though Nadia did not like Stefan and only wanted to stick to the plan, I fanaticized about being humans and what this trip might not so likely entail for us. But that was my fantasy: to be a family, a real, loving family. A family where Mommy and Daddy were still married, a family where Stefan was my biological Father and Nadia's too, a family where we were all normal human beings. In an alternate Universe, maybe that is who we are, but here, in this universe we are fucked up and horrible creatures and though I say I like being Vampire, truthfully, I loathe the creature that I am, but this is who I am and I continue to give loyalty to those like me.

We would not reach the city until before sunrise the next morning. I leaned my head against the cool window and closed my eyes. The radio softly hummed in the background, the sound of my daddy's low voice added to the calmness, as did Mommy's. Their voices together were comforting beyond words. Especially when I heard them laughing.

When I awoke beneath my body was warm and soft. I turned onto my back and looked on either side of me, I was tucked between my mom and dad. I had been cuddled up to my mom who had her arms around my body holding me close. I was surprised to see them in the same bed. I slowly sat up and looked over at the other bed, Nadia had her back turned to us. Carefully trying to not wake either my parents I crawled down the bed and made it off safely. I tiptoed to the bathroom and carefully closed the door.

There was a small window, I lifted up the curtains and my breath caught in my throat. The sun was rising an orange glow reflected off of buildings, the sky was pink; I looked down, out hotel was close to the empire state building. We seemed to be on one of the higher floors, I could see central park and just from this small window. I rushed out of the bathroom and threw open the curtains. There it was, the beautiful central park, the Empire State building, the Hudson River, and many other structures that made up the city that is Manhattan.

The sun flooded in brightly, I looked over my shoulder and smiled happily seeing that Mommy and Daddy were wake and squinting tiredly at the bright light.

"Good morning happy girl." Mom said sitting up and yawning.

"The happiest I have been in a very long time." I said climbing on the bed and jumping into her arms hugging her tightly.

I looked over at Dad, "Good morning, Daddy." He smiled softly, "It is a good morning."

I leaned over and kissed him.

"Where should we go first?" Stefan asked looking across the table at Katherine and Nadia, Anelie sat beside him.

"Well, actually…when we return to the city the first place that we visit is the 9/11 memorial." Anelie informed.

"Why is that?" Nadia asked.

"Anelie and I were living not far from the towers when the planes crashed into them, I, like many others watched the plane crash into the South tower. But, because we lived so close we knew many people that worked in the both towers. A young woman that lived in the apartment right next door to us; we became very close with her and her husband. When we first moved in she had just given birth to their daughter. She also worked in the South tower." Katherine informed Nadia and Stefan.

Anelie looked sadly at her mother, "Stubborn girl she was, her husband tried to tell her to stay home. She insisted that she get a few things from her office."

The four sat in silence

The waiter came up to the table, "How is everyone doing?" he asked with a friendly smile.

Stefan gave a nod and sent the waiter away.

"Anyway…" Katherine began, "We go to remember her." She smiled softly across the table at Stefan.

They left the café and began their journey through the city streets. The sun was just over the buildings though rays did not touch beneath the roofs of the skyscrapers.

Anelie smiled and took in a deep breath of the New York air. She loved nothing more, aside from her mother of course, than the aroma and atmosphere of this city. Anelie felt at home here and as did her Mother. Nadia not so much however, she was from Czech, but New York felt nothing like home; home was remote, a small town outside of the city.

JFK Airport is just a half hour from where the four were going to be and after a little visiting around the city later that day they would go back to the hotel, grab the car and go pick up Nadia's daughter, Molly Petrova.

Katherine and Anelie were very popular with other Vampires that lived in the city. A good friend worked as the security guard at the World Trade Center Memorial. She had called him earlier and made arrangements to be let in without having to wait in line.

Anelie spotted their friend wearing a police uniform. He had changed occupations since they last saw one another. He went from security guard to being a full-time police officer.

"Uncle Jared!" she cried

He heard the familiar voice instantly and held his arms out wide for Anelie to jump into and give him a tight hug. Jared was like Katherine's brother and Anelie had taken to calling him "Uncle" or "Uncle Jared".

"Anelie, it is so wonderful to see you again!" he answered with his low British accent.

It was Katherine's turn to hug her dear friend, "Katerina." He welcomed and pulled her in for a friendly embrace, "Looking beautiful as always, both of you." He said to the girls.

"And you—looking very handsome in that Uniform. Congratulations once again." She returned

"Thank you, that means the world coming from you, Katerina."

Katherine smiled and turned to Stefan and Nadia.

"Jared, I would like you to meet my oldest Daughter, Nadia Petrova and my husband Stefan Salvatore."

Jared had shook Nadia's hand and then looked to Stefan.

"It is wonderful to meet you Stefan, I have heard nothing but the very best."

Stefan chuckled, "Is that so?" he glanced at Katherine quickly

She continued to smile and grasped hold of Anelie's hand that found way into her own.

"Yes, she talks about you and her girls more than anything else. And the four of you make a lovely family." Jared complimented.

Katherine and Stefan blushed

Nadia shook her head and crossed her arms while Anelie scooted closer to Katherine.

Jared laughed and then gestured with his head for them to follow him.

"Come on, I'm sure you guys would like to get this over with."

They began to follow him; he moved a gate over and let them file inside. Artificially planted trees were spread out around the memorial. The foundations of the towers now were black Matte Marble walls; within the walls water came slithering down the inside.

Anelie had remembered the side where their friend's name was engraved.

She found it quickly and ran her hand over the name.

Faye Eversong

Many people around the memorial looked at names, they were tourists having no connection to this memorial besides the fact that they had witnessed it on television in 2001, read articles, and heard stories. But for the some that held a connection to a person whose name was engraved in this marble, this was more than just a memorial. This was a grave.

Katherine ran her fingers over the name and smiled softly at the letters. Stefan who had been wondering around the memorial approached up behind her glancing over her shoulder at the name which she was starring down at. "I'm sorry for your loss, Katherine. Really I am."

The girl shook her head, "I cannot tell you how many times I have heard those exact words…it happened so long ago almost a decade ago…I still can't believe it's been so long."

Stefan looked at the Brunette Vampire; her features were soft and hurt. Whoever this girl was, Stefan had not a clue—what she looked like, what she deemed funny, her personality—he knew nothing, but to Katherine and her young daughter this girl was more than just a friend she had been family.

Suddenly Katherine smiled and a laugh escaped her lips, "Just after her daughter was born, Faye and her husband were in desperate need to get out of the house so Anelie and I babysat. We were just across the hall so they brought the baby over…Faye was completely dressed up. Wearing this beautiful Wine colored dress,"

Katherine turned facing Stefan a wide smile across her features, She looked so beautiful when she smiled like that the Salvatore boy thought.

"Faye had just fed the baby and being a new mother had forgotten to burp Alison. And right when she stepped into our apartment holding her baby, Alison threw up all down the front of Faye's dress.

"Oh god she was so mad, she handed me the baby and desperately tried to clean herself up but she ended up having to go back to her apartment and change while the rest of us were laughing—we all were practically crying." Katherine told turning her eyes up at him, "took her another half hour to find the right dress and pull herself back together and because of if I insisted that Alison just stay the night."

Stefan smiled at her, "You do love kids."

Katherine chuckled, "When they get past the age of four they become a handful and gross."

Stefan laughed, "Well what about Anelie?"

"Anelie was never gross as a toddler, always clean and respectable…well mannered. But she grew up in renaissance Europe so she was different." The mother bragged

Stefan gave a nod, "That's true—and what of Alison?"

"After Faye died, Marcus couldn't take living in the apartment where they had built a life. It was too painful and I didn't blame him. He moved and we lost touch after a few months, Anelie and I moved to a different part of Manhattan shortly after."

"I see." Stefan said

"Mama!" Anelie called racing over to the two

"What is it?" Katherine wondered

"Nadia said that Molly is less than a half hour from landing, we must get back to the car and head over." The young daughter informed

"How does she know how far away Molly is?" Stefan wondered

"Molly gave her flight information and Nadia was able to track the flight through this application on her phone. But come on, come on!" Anelie insisted pulling on Katherine's hand, "We cannot leave my Niece waiting—let's go Mommy, Daddy."

They arrived at the airport just in time to meet Nadia's daughter at baggage claim. Nadia spotted her little girl almost immediately.

"Mommy" the girl cried running into her own Mother's arms, Nadia wrapped her arms tightly around Molly having been away from her for what felt like ages.

"Molly, come, there are people that I would like for you to meet." The mother informed

"Who?"

Nadia led Molly to Katherine, Anelie, and Stefan.

"This is your grandmother Katherine and her daughter Anelie, guys this is my daughter Molly."

Molly and Katherine hugged without a second thought, "It's wonderful to finally meet you Molly."

"You as well—I can't believe I am finally seeing you in the flesh." Molly informed and then Anelie shared a hug with her, "I suppose you're like my Niece but you can call me Anelie. We seem too close in age for you to name me your Aunt." Anelie giggle

"Oh and this is my Dad, Stefan Salvatore." Anelie said

Molly grinned at him and looked to Nadia, "Mom, is he your dad too?"

Nadia shook her head

Stefan chuckled

"Oh," Molly smiled shyly, "sorry."

"So, where are we off to?" Molly wondered sitting in the backseat of the car between Nadia and Anelie, Stefan glanced at her through the rear-view mirror and then returned his gaze to the road "We are staying at a hotel about a half hour from here, unless you guys want to go some place else?"

Anelie shook her head softly, Katherine looked over at Stefan, "I'm fine with going back to the hotel, what about you guys?" she turned in her seat looking at the girls in the back, "I'm fine with returning to the hotel, and if you guys do not mind Molly and I are going to get a room of our own."

"One more person the room would make it too crowded, so no, not at all." Stefan said speaking for Anelie and Katherine as well.

Anelie laid her head against the headrest and closed her eyes.

"So tell me what Mystic Falls is like, Mom." Molly said

"There isn't much to say about it—it's a one horse town filled to the brim with Supernatural beings and oblivious humans." Nadia replied

"Do you like it?" her daughter wondered

Nadia shrugged a shoulder, "It isn't a place that I want to stay forever." She explained truthfully.

Katherine chewed on her bottom lip and starred out the window trying to block out the conversation going on just behind her.

Anelie opened her eyes and gazed at the front passenger window seeing her mother's face in the reflection.

"Why wouldn't you want to live there forever? Katherine and Anelie lived in Mystic Falls, right?" Molly asked.

"I'm not focusing on future whereabouts, Molly." Nadia insisted and leaned in whispering something in her daughter's ear. Molly gave a nod and dropped the subject.

Stefan glanced at the Vampire sitting beside him, her hand resting on the armrest he reached over and entwined their fingers. Katherine turned her eyes from the window and down at their hands and up at him; Stefan had picked up on her worry. He did not know Nadia well nor did he know how long the three had been together, but what he knew for certain that Nadia meant the world to Katherine and the idea of her daughter leaving scared Katherine.

Nadia had gathered her things and left with Molly to their hotel room a couple floors down. Anelie had said multiple times how tired she was in the car and Katherine was feeling the exhaustion that New York brought upon people. Stefan left to a store a few blocks away to grab a few things to make dinner at the hotel and to munch on if they decided to watch a movie later.

Anelie kicked off her shoes, changed into pajama shorts and crawled into bed, it was just around one in the afternoon but she could not care any less. Katherine came up behind her daughter and snuggled her tight, "I had a dream last night, Mommy." Anelie reported softly.

"What was it about?" Katherine asked.

Anelie turned on her back so she could look at her mother, "It was about Klaus." She told watching Katherine's eyes grow a little wide, "What of him?"

"He took away my compulsion, said that he loves me, and that he is coming for us."

"He took away your compulsion?"

Anelie gave a nod, "I know everything, he's the reason why we came to Mystic Falls in 1864…and we aren't running from him. We have come back to this town to get him the doppelganger so that he and I will be hybrids."

Katherine sat up and turned away from Anelie, "And you were going to go against him for me?"

Katherine stayed quiet for several moments pondering how to respond to her child.

"Does Elena really need to die for the curse to be broken?"

"That is what the Original witch for told in her spell. The only reason he did not kill me or even preform the sacrifice was because I became pregnant with you…and he had fallen in love with me, but rarely showed in until…"

"Until you died…" Anelie finished.

She set her hand on her Mother's shoulder, "Klaus is a complicated person, and that it also why he compelled me to be frightened of him and to forget that he is my father."

Katherine reached her hand over and set it on Anelie's that continued to rest on her shoulder.

"But Mama, what I don't understand about it…what was the purpose of making me forget?"

Slowly Katherine looked at Anelie in her eyes "Where is he, Anelie?" she asked slowly

"All I know…is that he's coming. I don't know exactly where he is."

"Now that you know," Katherine began, "do you miss him?"

"I wish to see him more than anything, but we need to get Elena to him Mom. This curse needs to be broken." Anelie reported

"And we will, don't worry. In no time you will be living up to your full potential." Katherine leaned her forehead against Anelie's, "I love you, Mommy."

"And I love you, my little hybrid."