Elena's POV

Lily drove carefully, which surprised Elena- but that was probably because she had gotten used to Damon's suicide speeding. And Lily was a mom, she had to be careful all the time, not wanting to scare her child.

Damon's child- Elena's mind threw at her cruelly.

Why does it bother me so much?- Elena thought. It's not as if I'm in love with him, I love Stefan. I don't love Damon... do I? No, she quickly thought. But she cared about him, yeah, that was it.

"So, how are you? We haven't really had a chance to talk," Lily said to her as she rounded a corner. She smiled at her.

Elena gave a tiny smile back- but she was slightly surprised at how Lily seemed to be so nice all the time. Well, she's a mother. But even Elena herself knew that she'd been a complete bitch when they had first met.

"I'm okay," Elena sighed.

"Ooh, that bad, huh?"

There was no getting past another girl with the Damon issue, was there?- Elena thought bitterly.

"I- I'm not in love with him," Elena protested, slightly angrily. Lily was making assumptions too quickly!

"Oh, I know that. I just want to know why you're so upset whenever you see my son," Lily said, but she wasn't angry, like Elena had expected her to be. In fact, she sounded... pitying?

Elena was silent. She didn't want to talk about Damon, but she couldn't deny that she cared for him and everyone will have probably noticed by now. Stefan did. Her heart swelled at the thought of him- he must be heartbroken! My Stefan... but it's not as if I'm in love with Damon!- she thought. I just... care about him, that's all. But should I tell Lily that? No, I can't, it's my secret!

But then when Elena looked at Lily, her common sense kicked in. Lily had a right to know why Elena was being awkward around Jamie, and in addition- Damon was his father. It would be completely unfair to keep it from here.

"I'm not in love with him. I just..." Elena couldn't find the words to finish her explanation. "I just care about him... more than I thought I did,anyway," she said, looking out of the car window and trying to find a distraction. Margaret's face came to her mind, then Aunt Judith's and Robert's. Oh god- Elena fought back tears, not wanting to cry in front of Lily, however nice the girl was. They could be dead- Elena's mind threw at her cruelly, all of them could be dead. Margaret, little Margaret. She was just a baby! And Aunt Judith... she had taken both Elena and the baby Margaret in when their parents died, not knowing how hard the years to come would be. Robert too, he was a good man- and Margaret saw him as an Uncle, if not a temporary father figure.

Jamie reminded her slightly of Margaret, they were around the same age. Elena leaned her head against the window- thinking about the boy. They were both sweet, loveable, and undeniably adorable- and they would get on so well together if they would meet. Stefan would like that- and maybe they would play games together and laugh, play and... be children. Like the way Bonnie and Elena had been when they were children. Maybe they would become a miniature Stefan and Elena and fall in love- Elena nearly gave a sad laugh at that thought. Perhaps Stefan would want for Jamie to learn about his Italian heritage, and return to Florence to see where he and his brother had been born. Margaret would like that... it would be like a little holiday for her.

Maybe they would meet, someday. But Elena knew that although Margaret knew that she was still alive, the risk of the town finding out would be horrid. But maybe...someday?

Jamie needed to be comfortable around everyone, because kids need stability- but he wasn't getting it from Elena.

"I'll make an effort around Jamie, I promise. He's a good boy."

"Thank you. And I really appreciate that. Jamie's a very perceptive boy, he picks up on these things- he'll think it's his fault if you avoid him," Lily said, stopping the car and smiling sadly at her.

Elena gasped. Jamie had already picked up on it? And thought it was his fault? Oh god! Elena may have to take a while to get used to the boy, but she hated the thought of him being hurt over her! He was just a boy! Damon's little boy, but still...

"Oh god! I'm so sorry! I'll tell him when we get back to the house that I've been...er..."

"Don't worry! He's been too preoccupied with Stefan being his Uncle to notice anything wrong," Lily said comfortingly to her.

The car had stopped- Elena noticed, surprised. Then the realization hit her:

Her family.

Oh god- she thought as Lily stepped out of the car. This is it. Little Margaret could be dead...Elena nearly burst into tears at the thought of her little sister being so scared. She felt entirely responsible- if they hadn't gone away then their lives could have been spared.

Or maybe Elena, Bonnie, Damon, and Stefan would have all died with them.

Elena couldn't stop praying as she stepped numbly out of the car. Margaret... little Margaret...

Oh god- she thought do this as she looked at Lily shakily- I can't do this.

"I can't do it. I can't go in there, I just can't," she croaked out.

Lily's pretty face turned sympathetic as she put a hand on Elena's arm.

"Elena, you don't need to see them. To be honest, I have a feeling that it's not them. You just need to take a look at their belongings. But if you don't want to, you don't have to," Lily said soothingly.

Elena took a deep breath. She had left Margaret when she had needed her the most- she wasn't going to do the same again. Somehow, it would be like letting Margaret down again if she were to leave now.

I have to do this.

Elena looked at Lily determinedly, but shaking like a leaf.

"I'll do it."

Lily nodded encouragingly, then squeezed Elena's arm for comfort before leading her into the house which that car had stopped in front of.

Hopefully it wouldn't be them...Elena didn't know how she'd cope if it were...