Merry Christmas Everyone!

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The air was getting thicker as the summer months approached.

But in a way, Elena was glad for the warmer weather, as it meant she could start walking to work again, and wear some of her cuter clothes.

She'd gone shopping with Caroline and Rebeka plenty of times, through malls, boutiques, even thrift shops. And her wardrobe had grown exponentially. Not that Damon cared about the lack of closet space. In fact, the only thing he cared about, when it came to her clothes, was how easy they were to get off.

The thought had her shaking her head as she finished applying a final layer of nail polish to her toes. Summer also meant flip-flop season.

Once she was done, she admired the outcome. The neon orange was a good color, but it would look so much better once her tan was back in place. Damn sunless winter.

She waited for them to dry before going downstairs.

"Anyone got plans for the rest of the afternoon?" She asked the members of her family that weren't at work.

"Nothing important," Mason offered, "What's up?"

"I want to go to the lake," she insisted. There was one about thirty minutes outside the city that her mother use to take her to when she was little. She remembered the pretty blue water and the gorgeous open beach.

"Sure, I'm game," Mason answered.

"Me too," Stefan added, looking over.

"I'll come," Kol grinned.

"Awesome, "Elena smiled, "Klaus?"

The man looked up from the phone he'd been texting on.

"Sure, love. And Caroline said she and Beka will meet us out there once there shift is over."

"Sounds good," Elena smiled.

"Oh, and text Elijah too, in case he's interested when he and Damon get off."

Klaus nodded, and Stefan pulled out his own phone, "I'll let Tyler know."

Elena followed his example, "I got Damon."

Then she grinned, "Looks like we all needed a day of sunshine."

Mason smirked, "Fuck the sun, I'm going for the babes in bikini's!"

Elena rolled her eyes as Kol high fived him, "Hell yeah."

"Well you two can wing man each other once we get there," she pressed, "I'm gonna grab some towels. Mason, can we take you're jeep?"

"Sure," he answered, "We should all fit, as long the stuff rides in the very back."

She nodded, then went to grab some towels for them, and a few extra in case the others did meet up.

They walked out to the car.

"Shotgun," Stefan insisted.

"Nope," Mason pushed, "Elena's giving directions, so she's in front."

"No way am I squishing in back with those two," Stefan argued, "And I'm not riding bitch seat."

The other two agreed.

Elena rose a hand, "Hey, it's fine. I'll sit there. And I can still lean forward enough to show you where to go," she told Mason.

"Alright, alright," he agreed, "Just get in, it's getting hot."

The others complied and soon they were on their way.

"God, it's just like I remember it!" Elena smiled, looking over from their parking spot.

There was a good group of people out, but it was later in the day, so not too many, thank goodness.

"Not bad," Kol agreed, checking it out.

They grabbed the towels and a cooler of water they'd brought, and walked down to the sand.

"I'm going in," Stefan called.

"Right with you," Kol insisted.

The two ran off, hitting the water with a splash.

Elena smiled, "You guys can go too. I'll set up."

"You sure?" Mason asked, and she nodded, "Yeah, go have fun!"

He smiled at her, motioned to Klaus, and the two took off to join Stefan and Kol.

Elena stretched a towel out for herself, then one next to her for Caroline, then opened the cooler.

Huh, seems like the guys had grabbed a few sandwiches too. She laughed at how surprised she was. Guess they were a little responsible, even if they were the biggest kids she'd ever seen.

Her phone beeped and she checked the message while laying down. She really wanted her tan back.

It was Damon, agreeing to meet them after he left the office and changed.

She shot back a quick reply, before putting her phone down and closing her eyes.

It was hot, but the sun felt good on her exposed skin.

She laid there for a few minutes before a voice called out, "Elena?"

She opened her eyes, looking around.

A few feet away, she was shocked to see her mother.

"Uh...Isobel, hey."

The older woman was making her way over, "I deserve that...I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

Elena measured her face, she looked a little different somehow, "Dido."

"May I?" Her mom asked, motioning to the towel next to hers.

"Sure," Elena answered, still a little shocked.

She did so, then looked her daughter over, "New suit?"

Elena looked down. She'd went shopping for a bathing suit with Caroline just last week, and they'd gotten matching bikini's, only Elena's was neon green, where Caroline's was hot pink.

"Yes...it is," she confirmed, shooting her mother a confused look.

Isobel sighed, looking at her, "I was worried about you, Elena."

"Were you?" Elena tried to keep the sarcasm from her voice, but it was hard.

"Of course," her mother insisted, "We may have had our differences, but I never wanted you to leave."

Elena swallowed, "Well, I'm not sorry that I did. I couldn't spend the rest of my life taking care of you."

Isobel actually looked ashamed.

"I know...and I'm sorry for that. But...I don't want you to disappear from my life...and I'm trying to do better."

Elena gave her a questioning look.

"I quit drinking," Isobel insisted, "And I've been job hunting."

Elena was a little shocked. Her mother hadn't held a job in years.

"Really?" She inquired, "That's...good."

Her mother nodded, "Yeah, Richard is covering the rent until then. I promised to pay him back, so..."

"Richard?"

"My boyfriend," Isobel nodded, pointing over to the place she'd come from.

Elena squinted in the direction, then swallowed. It was the same man from that night.

"Really? You're still with him?"

Isobel gave her an almost scolding look, "Elena. I know you didn't really like him-"

"He tried to rape me!" She insisted.

Isobel sighed, "Well he says differently..."

"And you believe him?" Elena pressed.

"I...I don't know. But I need him, Elena. I can't...he says he loves me."

For the first time, Elena actually felt pity for her mother.

But before she could say anything else, Isobel changed the subject.

"So, uh, where are you staying now? I assumed it was with Caroline."

Elena shook her head, "Actually no. I uh, I'm staying with my boyfriend and some friends, well, Caroline's there too, but I didn't move in with her."

"Oh, that's good, I guess...but I was hoping you'd reconsider, and come home?"

Elena shook her head, "No thanks. I am home. And I'm happy."

Isobel nodded, "I wasn't holding my breath...you seem different."

Elena gave her a look, "How so?"

Her mother shrugged, "Not sure, you just do."

"Maybe I'm just not weighed down anymore," Elena offered, and Isobel swallowed.

"So, I see you aren't working at the library anymore?"

Elena shot her a look.

"I wanted to find you, so I went up there to look," her mother explained, "And they told me you had quit."

Elena nodded, "Yeah I did. Why were you looking for me?"

Isobel swallowed, running her toes through the sand, "I...I just wanted to see you. I was angry at first, when I realized you'd left, but then I started to worry about you, and...I missed you."

Elena blinked. Her mother hadn't shown interest in her in years. And now she was being all maternal.

"And I needed to apologize," Isobel continued, "For treating you the way I have over the years...and I wanted you to know that I really am trying."

Elena looked at her. This was a moment of clarity, she realized. Her mother needed her. She could tell her to fuck off, and never deal with her, or that sleazy boyfriend again, or try to make some sort of a relationship work out.

She sighed, "Well, I'm glad. And...if you're ever around, I'm working at the Chez Bazan Cafe, down on West and 9th."

Isobel smiled, "Maybe I'll drop in sometime."

"Okay," Elena smiled back, just as Stefan jogged up.

"That water is cold as hell!" he complained, grabbing a towel to wipe off his face.

Elena and her mother both stood.

"Whose this?" Stefan asked, noticing the guest.

"Um...my mom," Elena offered, and Stefan blinked at her before turning back to Isobel.

"Oh...nice to meet you."

Isobel looked between them, "You too. Are you Elena's boyfriend?"

Elena smirked as Stefan shook his head, "Nah, the boyfriend's brother. But I should be, I mean, I am much prettier."

Elena laughed, "Don't let Damon hear you say that."

"Say what?" A voice called over.

Elena spun around, just as Damon walked up.

"Hey babe," he threw her a signature smirk, leaning down to claim her lips.

"Hey back," she answered as his arm slipped around her waist, "I didn't think you'd be here so soon."

He shrugged, "My girl tells me she's gonna be dressed in a scrap of cloth, soaking wet, laying out on a beach, and you think I didn't rush to leave work?"

Elena smiled, but blushed a little when Isobel cleared her throat.

"Oh, right. Um, Damon, this is my mother."

Damon looked over at the woman, his gaze hard.

Elena suddenly grew nervous.

Damon knew all the grimy details of her past, including the ranting she'd done on her mom. And he wasn't known for filtering his thoughts before they left his mouth.

"Mom, this is Damon," she shot, hoping he wouldn't do anything questionable.

Isobel seemed surprised at him, "Pleasure."

Damon nodded, "I'm sure."

Elena grabbed his arm, "Yeah, so we were just finishing up here. Why don't you go down to the water with Stefan, and I'll meet you in a few."

Damon looked at her for a second, then nodded.

"But I don't want to go back out yet," Stefan complained.

Elena shot him a look, "Yes. You do."

"But, I-"

"You do."

"Fine," he grumbled.

Damon smirked a little, before kissing Elena again, throwing off his shirt and offering to go down with his brother.

"He's ridiculously good looking," Isobel noted as Elena watched them leave.

Damon didn't get in the water, instead, walked along the edge, throwing a glance back at her.

"Yeah," she agreed, "He really is."

She turned back to her mom then, "What happened to his back?"

Elena shook her head, "Long story...and I really should get down there."

Isobel nodded, catching the hint, "Of course. Maybe I'll see you around."

"Yeah," Elena agreed, "Maybe."

Isobel left then and Elena sighed. That was definitely unexpected.

But before she could meditate on it too long, her phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Elena, hey!" Caroline shot, "I'm was on my way down, but I think my car overheated! There's smoke and stuff coming off, I'm about ten minutes out, I can text you directions. Can you have one of the guys come look at it?"

"Yeah, I think Damon's still dry, and he works on his Camero all the time, so he'll probably know what to do."

"Okay thanks! See you guys soon!"

She hung up, and noticed that Damon was already on his way over.

"What's up?" He asked.

"Caroline. Her car overheated or something. Think you can go check it out?"

"Sure," he offered.

She nodded, then began walking up the hill, but he grabbed her.

"Babe, you were the one that wanted to come to the beach, and you haven't even gotten to the water yet."

"Yeah, I know, but-"

"I'll go take care of Caroline. You go have fun."

She smiled at him, "Okay, thanks."

He smiled back and she pecked his lips, "I'll text you her location when I get it, but she's not far out, so just head back the way we came."

He nodded, "Alright, see you in a bit."

Half an hour later, Elena was running out of the water. It was perfectly cool, and just right for the weather, but her thirst had built on the second round of chicken that she'd been playing with Kol, Mason, and some random red head.

She went to the cooler, glad to see it was still untampered with, and grabbed a bottled water from the half melted ice.

"I thought that was you," a man addressed from behind her, and she jumped.

Turning around, she saw her mother's boyfriend, Richard?, and his eyes were soaking her in.

"What do you want?" she insisted.

He grinned, "You and I have some unfinished business, sweet-cheeks."

What will happen next?

Review please! :)