Thanks Cloudyskiesahead, grapejuice101, and Brookeworm3 for all the help, you rock!

Oh btw, I am opening up a poll and I would really like it if you guys could check it out. It's a poll on who you think Jane should be with. Damon, Klaus, and a few others that I'll be putting up there for fun. I know some of you mentioned Elijah or Tyler.

You can pick up to two and the poll will be open until the episode with the Mikaelson Ball. Then I will close the poll and share the results when I put up that episode.

FYI, this is for fun! I already know who she is going to end up with and this will not change my mind. I just know most of you say in your review who you like her to be with and I wanted to see how many of you are Team Damon, Team Klaus, or Team something else.


Chapter 52

"Are you dumping me?"

"I don't want to, but I can't be with you if you're only with me to hide your feelings for Elena."

"No, I love you, Jane. I do."

"I don't believe you, Damon. And it hurts, it hurts that I can't."

Jane leaned against the front door, trying not to cry

"Janey, please open the door." Damon said from outside.

"No, go away." Jane said and he sighed.

"Please, Janey."

She opened the door a bit and he shifted. "I just…I need some time, okay? We need a break."

"No, we can work this out. Don't shut me out." He pleaded, taking her hands. Jane felt tears sting her eyes. She felt just the tiniest bit guilty for making him look so lost. "We'll work this out like always."

"I think we need to take a break."

"Jane."

"Please, Damon. Don't." She stepped back from him, letting his hands fall. "I…I just need some time, okay?"

"Yeah…all right."

"I'm sorry, Damon, but I need some time." She shut the door on his disappointed face and then covered her face with her hands.

The light above the staircase flicked on.

"Jane? Is that you?" Rob asked and came down in the stairs. He looked disheveled, his hair standing up slightly, and it was slightly comical to see him wielding the same baseball bat she had on numerous occasions, but he was in a white t-shirt, green, red, and black flannel patterned boxers and a black bathrobe.

He saw her and ran the rest of the way down. "Are you hurt? Are you all right? Water in the lungs? Anything?"

"I'm fine, Uncle Rob." She said. "Just tired." He nodded and then awkwardly patted her.

"Good. I'm… Good. Great."

A pain went through her again and she couldn't stop the sob that bubbled up. Rob hugged her gently.

"You're safe in here, Jane. I promise." He told her, thinking she was worried about the ghosts. The ending bond and the breakup with Damon was hitting her hard.

Rob shifted when she cried more. Awkwardly, he reached for the box of Kleenex. "Tissue?" He offered and she gave a small laugh.

"Thanks."

"Was that Damon?"

"Yeah…He…he brought me home."

"Good. you, eh, want to talk about what happened?"

Jane shook her head. "I'm just going to go to bed."

"Okay." He said and she trudged up the stairs.


Jane blinked at the sunlight coming in through her window and she sighed. She didn't want to get out of bed. Tears prickled her eyes again and she slammed them shut. Her eyes were already puffy and swollen from crying all night. She had thought she had run out of tears from crying herself to sleep.

There was a soft knock at the door and it opened slowly.

"I'm heading to town in a bit. You want to come?" Rob asked.

Jane wiped at her eyes. "No, thank you." She whispered. She didn't want to run into Damon just now. That and Klaus kept trying to get in touch with her and both of them just made her angry. It was why she turned her phone off. Both of them had been trying to call her. She was tired of being used by both of them and they obviously didn't care about her at all. Damon should have told her about the kiss and not acted so defensively, Klaus shouldn't have bonded with her and tried to coerce her into leaving home again.

"We need to talk about some rules around here."

Jane sat up and blinked at her uncle. Rob was frowning, leaning against the doorframe, arms folded across his chest. Felix was circling his legs again.

"Rules?" She repeated.

"Yeah. This staying out late with vampires has got to stop."

"Oh, okay."

"I'm living here now, Jane. I am your sole guardian. It's my job to protect you. From now on, I want you home as soon as school and cheer practice is over and your dance class. And I want to know where you are at all times. If you plan on being with friends for the evening, I want to know which friends and where you are going."

"Okay." She quietly.

"I can't make you stop talking to vampires, Jane, but I will limit the amount of time you spend with one. Damon is only allowed over until your curfew which is at eleven. Most would say ten, but you're a good girl." He smiled at her and she only nodded her head again. As if she'd invite him in anytime soon. "That all right with you?"

"Yeah…"

"I'm just trying to protect you. I heard about last night. You almost died and I was the last person to know."

Jane sighed. "I'm sorry."

Rob nodded. "It seems harsh, but you'll get used too. I think your parents would have wanted to keep you away from vampires too, Jane. And Stefan knocked me out." He scowled. "I still feel off balance. He better hope that I don't see him, or I'll be knocking him out with vervain."

"Don't start anything, Rob. Stefan is not a vampire to be messing with."

"You sure you won't come to town? I'm going to support the Historical Society. It's the Night of Illumination."

"Oh, yeah..." She could at least go and hang out with Caroline and Bonnie. Right? That would be okay. "Um, yeah I will. I'll be ready in thirty minutes." She told him and he nodded. He left the room and Jane covered her head again. Felix meowed and moved around her head until she lifted the covers.

"At least you love me, right?" She whispered. Felix purred and rubbed his head against her cheek. She smiled faintly. "I know that Rob, Care, Matt, Ty, Bon…Alaric and Jenna…I know they care about me, but…It still hurts. I mean…He didn't even tell me." She said, tearing up again. "He covered it up and then…Elena…I thought she was my friend. We've been friends for so long." Jane sniffed. "I should have seen it coming, Felix." He purred and laid next to her. "Anytime I tell someone I love them…Something always happens." She sighed.

"That was one of the last things I said to my mom before she went into a coma. Then I said to my dad before I went to the parade. And I said to Damon and every time I said it to him, something went wrong…" Jane hugged her cat to her chest. "Felix, what am I going to do?" He meowed and she giggled before tossing off the covers and getting out of bed. "At least I have you."


"Hey, Janey!" Caroline squealed and hugged the girl a one armed hug, her other hand on the ladder in front of her. "Are you okay? I heard about last night. I cannot believe that Vicki tried to drown you."

Bonnie sent her friend a look from her position at the top of the ladder. She was hanging lanterns for the Night of Illumination. "Care."

"Sorry." The blond vampire winced. She didn't mean to bring it up.

Jane shook her head. "No, it's okay. I'm fine." Bonnie frowned.

"What's wrong? Something's wrong. You looked tired."

"I can smell gossip a mile away, so spill." Caroline told her.

"No, there's nothing wrong." Jane told her. She wasn't about to burden her friends or make them think they needed to confront Elena. Why start something between all of them? Plus, she really didn't want to see Elena just then. Or Damon either.

Caroline looked her up and down. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah." Jane nodded and looked at Bonnie. "So…how are you and Jeremy?" Bonnie sighed. "That bad?"

Caroline nodded and looked up at his friend. "So when you did the spell to send Vicki away, did you get rid of Anna, too?"

"I wish. All I did was block the magic that was helping Vicki get a physical foothold here." Bonnie responded coming back down the ladder. Jane frowned a little.

"How about me seeing my ancestors?"

The witch shrugged. "I'm not sure…but maybe when you died you started seeing them like Jeremy. They are connected to you which is why you can see them and not Anna."

"I haven't seen them lately though. So Jeremy is still seeing Anna?"

Bonnie sighed. "Jeremy's still got a direct line to the other side, and as long as he wants to see Anna and she wants to see him, she's still here."

"Okay, you don't think I can actually resist commenting on that." Caroline told her and Bonnie rolled her eyes.

"There. You commented." She retorted.

Care scoffed. "Bonnie-"

The witch whipped her head around after taking one of the lanterns from Jane's hands. "What do you want me to say, Caroline? I went against the balance of nature when I brought Jeremy back to life, and now I'm paying the consequences."

"Well, I want you to say you're not okay with it." She frowned.

"I'm a thousand times not okay with it." Bonnie said quietly. "I just don't know what to do about it." Jane bit her lip and kept quiet.

A car pulling up had them all looking over and Jane quickly looked down at the lantern in her hands with a frown. It was Damon, one of the people was trying to avoid.

"Greetings, blondie, witchy. I think you got your voodoo wires all crossed when you got rid of Vicki Donovan."

Jane didn't dare turn around. He hadn't seen her yet which was good.

"What do you mean, why?" Bonnie asked, frowning.

"Because I'm pretty sure I just got spit-roasted by Mason Lockwood's ghost." He answered her.

"What?"

"And why would you think that?" Caroline scoffed.

"Maybe because he changed me to a chair and shoved a hot poker in my chest." He said rapidly and Jane turned around. She had to see if he was hurt. She may be angry at him but that didn't mean that she didn't care. He didn't look hurt, just annoyed. "Let's just say I'm having déjà vu."

Caroline turned to Bonnie. "I thought you said that ghosts couldn't physically interact with people."

"They can't."

"Yeah, well, I don't have time for a vengeful Lockwood. When I kill someone, they're supposed to stay dead. Whatever you screwed up, fix it." He glanced behind Bonnie and spotted Jane. "Hey, Janey." He said softly and the girl looked down at the lantern in her hands. "Can we talk?"

"No." She said suddenly, almost crushing the lantern when she clenched her fists. "We talked last night."

"You were more upset last night." He pointed out and she scowled. "Listen, I…"

She lifted her head to look at him. "Just go away. I don't want to see you."

"Would you rather see Klaus?" He snapped and she inhaled sharply.

"No, I would not, but I will say this, at least Klaus wouldn't treat me like an old shoe."

Damon rolled his eyes. "Ouch, Janey."

"Well, it's true. Sorry isn't good enough this time, Damon. You hurt me." Tears prickled her eyes, but she blinked them back. "Like I told you yesterday, I want a break from you. I need to know that I can trust you to wait."

"You can."

"Tell that to yourself when you're thinking about Elena." She retorted and Damon frowned.

"Yeah, I'll do that." He muttered sarcastically, trying not to let on how much her retorts hurt worse than Mason jabbing him in the chest. "Are you okay then?" He was referring to the blood bond. Jane nodded, shuffling. "Later then. I hope you have a good day." He told her and drove off.

Jane watched the car leave, frowning slightly. She was trying not to start crying again.

Caroline turned around. "Okay, what was that?"

"He told you about the kiss then." Bonnie guessed.

Jane shook her head. "No, Elena did."

"Did you really dump him?" Caroline asked and Bonnie hit her arm.

"Caroline."

"Well, come on Bonnie. He hid it and didn't even tell her."

Jane sighed. "Yes, we're taking a break for however long it takes for him to find out what he wants."

Bonnie touched her arm. "Why didn't you tell us, Jane? I wouldn't have gone on about Jeremy"

"You were worried about Jer, I didn't want to say anything."

"Look, Elena was wrong to treat you that way, Jane, and so was Damon."

Jane sighed. "I don't want to talk about it anymore, okay?" She looked over and saw Matt coming towards them. "Do…Do you still think Vicki is here?"

"Well, she would have a reason for beating up Damon." Bonnie murmured.

"Don't we all?" Caroline added darkly and Jane walked over to Matt when he crossed the street.

"Hi, Matt."

"Jane, I am so, so, sorry about last night." He said and hugged her. "Vicki said she needed your necklace so she could come back and I…I didn't know she'd do that to you."

"I'm fine, Matt." Jane reassured him. "I'm okay I promise." He nodded, still looking guilty.

"I'll make it up to you I swear."

"You don't have too, Matt. I know you loved your sister. She…She just wanted to stay here with you."

"You haven't seen Vicki anymore have you?" Bonnie asked warily and Matt frowned.

""I have seen Vicki, I swear. I sent her back like you told me."

"Are you sure? Because she has just as much reason to haunt Damon as Mason Lockwood does." Bonnie frowned.

Matt looked pained. "She's gone, Bonnie. If she was here, I'd know it."

"Why do you think it's Vicki and not Mason?" Caroline asked Bonnie.

"Because if any ghost other than Vicki Donovan has a physical foothold on our side, then that means Damon's right and something has gone really, really wrong." Bonnie told her vampire friend.

"I've have enough of this ghost stuff to last forever. So you guys can leave me out of this one." Matt murmured and Jane hugged him. "I'll see you later." He told them and walked off.

"I feel so sad for him." Caroline said softly as they watched him walk back across the street. "It took a lot for him to send his sister away."

"Yeah." Bonnie agreed sadly.

"So much strength for a man."

The witch rolled her eyes. "I've got a ghost problem to deal with, Caroline. Save the Jeremy lecture for later." She picked up her handbag only for it to spill out her grimoire. As she reached to touch it, a gust of wind blew it open and flipped pages, startling the girls.

Jane gasped. "Um, did your grimoire just-"

"I think so." Bonnie whispered and picked up the book, looking at the page the wind had opened it too.

Caroline bit her lip. "Okay, please tell me that's a recipe for witch cookies."

"It's a manifestation spell. It's used to reveal veiled matter." Bonnie read over the text, her brow furrowing.

"What's veiled matter?" The vampire asked.

"Ghosts." Bonnie and Jane said at the same time.


Bonnie led Jane and Caroline down into the basement of the abandoned witch house.

"So this is where you brought Jeremy back to life?"

"Yeah." Bonnie nodded at Caroline. "Sorry, I know it's creepy, but we needed a private place around here to do the spell."

"Hmm. There's not chance it's haunted by the hundred dead witches who were horrifically burned to death in this very spot, is there?" The blond vamp asked nervously. Jane was looking around, sensing something odd.

Bonnie sighed. "They're not here anymore. And they made it clear they were never coming back."

"Right. You pinky swear?"

The witch rolled her eyes and saw her elemental friend gazing around with an odd expression on her face. "Jane? What is it?" Bonnie asked.

"I don't know. I feel something. Something's here."

"Okay, you're freaking me out." Caroline told the girl.

Jane looked at her. "Sorry, Care, but it's…There's something here." The girl looked confused and she felt confused. Whatever it was felt safe, familiar too.

"Caroline, light those candles, while I get the spell ready." Bonnie said, still watching Jane, and Caroline nodded.

Jane turned to her. "Do you need my help? Since the other witches won't help you?"

"If you don't want to, you don't have too. I can do it on my own."

Jane nodded. "I'd rather sit this one out if you don't mind."

Bonnie nodded at her. "It's okay."

"I have to head back to the square or Rob will flip out. but let me know what's going on okay?"

Caroline hugged her before she left. "You call us if you need anything, okay?"

Jane smiled and headed up the steps.


"Well, hello Uncle Rob. What brings you here?"

"What did you do to my niece?" Rob snapped at Damon. Alaric arched an eyebrow. "She cried all night long and I had a hard time convincing her to come out of the house this morning." Damon shook his head.

"I didn't do anything."

Rob scowled. "I'm warning you right now, Salvatore. I don't like your brother hanging around Jane and I thought I could trust you. So what did you do?"

"He kissed Elena and tried to cover it up like an idiot." Alaric chimed in and Damon sent him a dirty look.

"Gee thanks."

The teacher shrugged with a smirk. "Just trying to help, buddy."

"Teen drama and boyfriend trouble." Rob frowned. "Not my forte."

"Is it anyone's?" Damon retorted. "Besides, give her a few days and she'll be all right." Alaric snorted.

"If she was smart she'd dump you and let you wallow in your guilt."

"She did dump me."

"Good for her."

Damon started to say something when someone snatched one of his shot glasses from the bar top.

"Mason." Alaric murmured, his eyes widening in shock.

"God, I miss whisky." The werewolf stated and tossed back the contents of the drink. He looked at the empty glass a moment and then slammed it against Damon's forehead. The vampire hissed in pain and then faced Alaric.

"Told ya."

"Friend of yours?" Rob smirked and Damon scowled. "I like him already."


"Ready?" Caroline questioned as the final candle was lit and she turned around. "Do you need to do-" She stopped seeing the witch concentrating. "Right. Okay." She looked around with wide eyes as the wind began to blow throughout the house.

"Bonnie, I don't like this." She said nervously. "Bonnie…" The wind blew harder and harder and then…it stopped.

"Oh, my god is that your-" Caroline began in shock.

Bonnie opened her eyes to see…

"Grams." Bonnie whispered. "I can't believe you're here!" She started crying and Shelia smiled at her sadly.

"Now stop your crying, we don't have time for tears." She told her and Bonnie nodded. She turned her head to acknowledge the blond vampire. "Nice to see you again, Caroline."

"Hi, Ms. Shelia." Caroline murmured nervously. She wasn't too sure about seeing the dead witch.

"A fine mess you've made, honey." Sheila told Bonnie with a worried frown. "The witches told you there'd be consequences to bringing Jeremy back and you did it anyway."

"I didn't have a choice." She said, tears going down her cheeks. "I love him and I... I couldn't just let him go."

"I understand." Sheila nodded gravely. "But you cracked open the door to the other side. There's an old witch here. She took advantage of it. She took advantage of you, honey. When you did the spell to send Vicki Donovan away, she wedged the door wide open. Giving a free pass to anybody with unfinished business."

"How do you know this?" Bonnie frowned.

"Witches talk." She said. "Even on the other side. Who do you think makes all the rules?"

"What does the witch want?"

"That's Original vampire business, not yours." She told her firmly. "I don't want you getting in the middle of that. I'm here because you upset the balance of nature. And it's your duty to set it right. You need to close that door."

A cry came from upstairs and Caroline blinked.

"It's Janey." She zoomed up the stairs and Bonnie looked at her Grams.

"Grams, who was let out of that door?"

She gave her a knowing look and Bonnie gasped.


Caroline came to a halt to see Jane being sandwiched between two familiar people.

"Oh, my god…Jane, your parents…"

Melinda smiled. "Hello Caroline, thank you for taking care of my daughter."

"Y-your welcome." She was still in shock.

"I can't believe you're both here." Jane smiled. For the first time in a long time, she felt whole again. "I've missed you."

"We've missed you too, sweetheart." Rich murmured and kissed her head.

"I'm going to head back down with Bonnie." Caroline said and went away, leaving the family alone.

"How are you here?" Jane asked.

Rich sighed. "There is a lot going on that even we don't understand, Janey."

"But there is a witch trying to get over here. A powerful witch." Melinda stated, frowning. "She is the reason that you're cursed to be an elemental. Only the doppelgangers of Luciana are elementals. Everyone else is not."

"Can't we talk about this later?" Jane asked. "I want to spend time with you. I've been alone."

Melinda cupped her face. "I know, my Jane." she said soothingly. "But we don't have that much time. and there is something very important that we have to discuss with you."

"What do you mean?" She asked Bonnie and Caroline came up from the basement. "Why don't we have time?"

"We have to send them back." Bonnie stated.

"What? No, you can't." Jane shook her head. "I-I have them back…No, you can't!"

"Jane, I'm so sorry." Bonnie murmured. "But we have too."

"We can't stay, Jane. You are our unfinished business." Melinda told her daughter sadly. "We're only here for a little while."

Jane shook her head. "No!"

"Janey!" Caroline called as the girl ran from them. "Jane, wait!"

"I'll find her." Melinda ran after her daughter without hesitation.

Rich sighed and they looked at him.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Evans." Bonnie stated.

He nodded. "I know. She has to let us go." He turned and went to follow her.

Caroline wiped at her eyes. "I feel so horrible."

"So do I, but there are dangerous ghosts out there too, Care. We have to send them back."


Jane was sitting on a log, hiding her face into her knees.

"Jane, please try to understand. We don't want to leave you, but we have too." Her mother told her soothingly and sat down next to her, Rich sat on the other side.

"They can't send you back, I don't want to be alone again. Please don't leave me." Jane was hugged by her parents and Rich stroked her hair.

"Hey, it's okay. You're doing just fine, my Janey. You're our strong girl." He soothed.

"Please stay." She whispered.

Melinda kissed her head. "I know it doesn't seem fair, but we don't belong here anymore." She cupped her cheek. "But there is so much left for you here, Jane. You'll find happiness, honey. You just have to trust it. Have to trust yourself."

Rich sighed. "Jane, I…I chose to stay in that building and not be a vampire. It was selfish choice, but I made it. This is my chance to tell that you it wasn't your fault."

"And I made the choice to save you, by hiding your existence. We love you so much and we just wanted to protect you."

"But you left me! I didn't want to be alone!"

"I know, sweetheart. I know. We are so sorry for leaving you."

"Then please don't leave me." Jane whispered. "I want you to stay."

Melinda sighed. "That's not how it works, baby girl." She stroked Jane's hair and they sat in silence, savoring their time together.


"So…Damon finally fessed up." Melinda stated. They were sitting on swigs in the park. Just like they used to do.

"Yeah…"

Rich snorted. "I told you he was bad news."

Melinda rolled her eyes at him before looking at her daughter. "Do you love him, Jane?"

"I…I'm not sure anymore."

"Because of Klaus."

"What? No." Jane frowned. "I don't like him."

"Jane, you do feel something for him."

Rich shook his head. "I don't like either one of them, Janey. But that's because I don't like vampires."

Melinda took Jane's hand. "I know you think that telling someone you love them is a bad thing, but sweetie, nothing bad happened because you told us that."

"Even the incident with Damon, which I should stake him for," He said a hint of a smile and Jane smiled faintly. "Reacted badly, but it had nothing to do with you, Jane. You just startled him."

"Well, I don't like Klaus or Damon right now."

"Maybe, maybe not." Melinda told her. "But I think you'll decide that on your own."

"I bonded with Klaus accidently so anything I feel now or that he feels, might not be real and it scares me."

"You'll know what's real, Jane. You will. You just have to listen to your heart." She said wisely and Jane sighed.

"Hey, no being sad about boys." Rich nudged her. "Who needs them?"

Jane laughed and hugged him. "I love you, Daddy."

"I love you too, sweetheart."

"Picture time." Melinda smiled and pulled out a camera.

"Where'd you get that old thing?" Rich snorted.

"The attic. That's why I asked to go by the house."

He laughed and shook his head before looking at Jane. "We do like your cat. He's an excellent bodyguard."

"He is." Jane smiled.

"Now hold still." Melinda told them and snapped the picture. The photo came out of the bottom and she took it out, waving it about until the picture came into view. Jane smiled at the picture and then hugged her mother.

"I love you, Mama."

She kissed her head. "I love you so much."

Jane looked over and frowned. "Pearl?"

"Anna." She said. "Have you seen Annabelle?"

"No…But she might be with Jeremy."

"Please help me find her. I've been looking for her for so long. I don't want her to be alone anymore."

Melinda smiled at her. "We'll help you look for your daughter." Jane nodded.


Mason motioned to the glass in his hand. "One of you will pay for this, right?" He smiled and tossed back the contents. "Cheers."

Damon rolled his eyes. "Let's get to it. I killed you. You want revenge. Get in line."

"And we get front row seats." Rob quipped to Alaric who chuckled and Damon glared at the both of them.

"Actually, I want an apology." Mason stated. Immediately Alaric and Rob began laughing hysterically.

"Good luck with that." Alaric snorted. "That's not going to happen."

"Don't you have a family to haunt?" Damon mocked Mason. "You know your nephew has turned into a mindless hybrid minion."

"That's why I'm here." Mason nodded. "To help Tyler."

"Well, sorry to break it to you, buddy, but Tyler can't be helped. At least while Klaus is alive. Which is, like, always." Damon rolled his eyes. He was still angry about Klaus blood bonding with Jane.

"Not necessarily." Mason answered slyly. "Not if you found a weapon that could kill him."

"There is no weapon that-" Damon stopped mid-sentence and looked over at him "What do you know?"

"I know you need to apologize."

"You got to be kidding me." He snorted.

"Are you incapable of remorse? Just apologize!" Alaric snapped and Damon rolled his eyes.

"This will take all day." Rob scoffed.

"You're right. I didn't have to kill you." Damon began. "I do a lot of things I don't have to do." He made a face at Mason who started laughing.

"Good enough." He said and stood up. "Meet me at the old Lockwood cellar. Bring a shove." He eyed Alaric and Rob. "Come alone."

"What, you're going to bury me alive?" Damon mocked, though he was slightly concerned.

"Don't tempt me." Mason smirked.


Alaric felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Ric, where's Jeremy?"

"Hey, Jane." He said and then froze. "Rich…"

"Ric It's good to see you." The man smiled at him and shook his hand.

"Hello, Alaric." Alaric blinked at Rich's wife, Jane's mother.

"Hey…What's going on?"

Jane tugged on his arm. "Where is Jeremy? I have to find Anna."

"I haven't seen him, but I'll help you look."

"Richard? Melinda?"

They turned around to see Rob.

"Little brother. It's been awhile." Rich stated and embraced his brother. Rob hugged him back in shock.

"How are you…"

"I'll explain everything, just come with me."


"Anna!" Jeremy called as he ran through the crowds. "Anna!" He bumped into a man in a leather jacket. "Hey, man sorry about that." He apologized.

"No problem, buddy." Frederick told him and Jeremy ran on.

"Jeremy!" Jane called and Frederick turned his head to see the sweet tasting girl he had caught and held captive. "Jeremy!" Smirking, he made his way over to her.


"Her parents?" Jenna stated, following Alaric. She had been told everything that was going on. "This is-"

"Weird? Going to hurt her in the long run? Yeah, I know."

"And Jeremy is seeing his dead girlfriend?"

"Yeah."

"So, where are they now?"

"I have no idea. Rich and Rob are talking and Melinda is looking for Jane."

"Have you seen Tobias Fell?" Carol Lockwood asked Alaric as she stepped up to them. "He's supposed to do the lighting ceremony."

"No." Alaric replied and she frowned.

"The ceremony is about to start. Will you come light us up?"

"Well, I-"

"Great."

Jenna sighed. "I'm going to find Jeremy and find out why Elena isn't answering her cell."


"Anna!" Jane ran over to her. "There you are. I've been looking for you. I found-"

"Well, well." Frederick said and Jane whirled around with a gasp at the familiar voice.

Anna slid slightly in front of Jane to protect her. "Frederick."

"If it isn't Pearl's daughter. Little Annabelle." Frederick smirked. "And my sweet blooded girl. I'm so glad to see your alive."

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen." Carol said from the stage and everyone turned to her. "Mr. Fell seems to have been detained, so the history department's very own Mr. Saltzman has agreed to fill in." She stepped back as everyone clapped and Alaric came to stand in her place.

"Anna!" Jeremy called, spotting her.

Frederick heard him and looked at Anna. "Still hanging around with the Gilbert kid, huh?"

"There you are." Jeremy jogged over and saw Anna's and Jane's expressions. "Is everything all right?"

"Ask your ancestors." Frederick said lowly and Jeremy frowned at him.

"What are you doing here, Frederick?" Anna hissed and Jane gasped as two men joined him.

"Well, it's a Founder's celebration. And we..." He looked nodded at his friends. "Have got some unfinished business with the founding families."

"On behalf of Mystic Falls high school historical society, let's light 'em up." Alaric said, trying his best to smile and the lanterns began to light up the area. Suddenly a woman's scream cut through the oohing and ahhing. Hanging in a nearby tree was the bloody dead body of Tobias Fell.

Jeremy scowled as Frederick walked off, winking at Jane who frowned at him.

"I need to call Bonnie and warn her." He took out his cellphone and dialed her quickly. Jane bit her lip and went to find her parents.

"What do you want, Jeremy?" Caroline's voice came from the phone instead of Bonnie's.

"Caroline?" He frowned and then shrugged. "Did you find the necklace?"

"Not yet. Wait, what's going on?" She could hear the sirens going off.

"Ghosts of the tomb vampires killed Tobias Fell. You might want to find that necklace before they start going alphabetically though the founding families." He told her. "One of them was already eyeing Jane and they could start with her if they found out what her name is."

"Well, it's not where it's supposed to be. Unless someone took it."

"Who?" Jeremy asked.

"Well – who do you think?"

"I didn't." Anna told Jeremy suddenly.

"She said she didn't take it." Jeremy told the vampire.

"Oh, and you believe her." She snapped.

"I didn't take it, Jeremy." Anna insisted.

"You know what, yeah, yeah, I do believe her." Jeremy frowned.

"You know what, you're an even bigger idiot than I thought. So wake up, Jeremy, before you lose everything."

Jeremy scowled at his phone before looking for Anna, but she was gone. Elena showed up quite suddenly startling him.

"Jeremy? What's happened?" Elena asked concerned. "Where is Anna now?"

"I don't know, okay? I don't even know for sure if she took the necklace." Jeremy murmured.

"She was the only person who heard us talking about it. Of course she took it. Okay? We have to get it back." Elena snapped.

"I know, but-"

"But what? What, Jer?" Elena frowned at her brother.

"I can touch her, Elena. I can kiss her again." Jeremy told her. "And I know it's wrong, and I know that I shouldn't feel this way, but I do. I love her. I've always loved her."

"But it's not real. She's dead. Gone. Everything that you're holding on to is the past, Jer." Elena told him, trying to get him to understand. "Are you going to love a ghost for the rest of your life?" She looked at Anna, who was standing behind Jeremy. "He's at the beginning of his life, Anna. You're just holding him back. You know that."

Anna revealed that she had the necklace. "Call Bonnie. Tell her that you have the necklace. Get her to send the ghosts away." Elena told her brother and he sighed as she walked off.

"This spell is just going to break your foothold, right?" Jeremy asked Anna after Elena had gone. "You'll still be here, I'll still be able to see you. This... this doesn't have to be good-bye."

She sighed. "No. But it should be. Elena was right. I'm holding you back." Anna said softly, sadly.

"Anna-"

"I'm sorry I took the necklace." She blurted and began to cry lightly. "I just thought, with all the tomb vampires out, that maybe..."

"You might find your mother." Jeremy sighed quietly.

"I don't know where she is, Jeremy." Anna said frantically. "I don't know if she's moved on and found peace, or if there's even any peace to be found."

Jeremy took her hands to calm her. "Hey, there is, Anna. Okay, there has to be. I believe that, okay?"

"I just... I don't want to be alone anymore." She cried and he embraced her in his arms.

"Look at me." He commanded and she did with blurry eyes. "You're not going to be alone. I'm not going to let you be alone." She pulled the necklace out and handed I to him.

"Anna!" Jane called and ran up to them. "I tried to tell you earlier. I found her, Anna. Your mom, she's here." The girl told her and Anna and Jeremy both turned. Pearl was standing next to Jane's mother.

Anna couldn't believe it. "Mama?!" Anna ran to her and Pearl met her halfway, they embraced hugging and crying. "I've been looking for you."

"I'm here, Annabelle." Pearl told her. "I'm here."

Jeremy turned to Jane with watery eyes. "Thank you, Jane. Now, I know she won't be alone." Jane nodded at him.

"They have to go now, don't they?" She asked, looking over her shoulder at her parents. Jeremy nodded sadly.

"I'm sorry, Jane." He told her quietly and left her to go give the necklace to Bonnie.

"Thank you, Jane." Anna said and Pearl nodded at her gratefully.

"You're welcome."

She ran to her parents who were standing near Jenna and Alaric.

"I want you to stay with me." She whispered and they hugged their daughter.

"I know, sweetie, but you've got to let us go." Melinda murmured. "We love you so much and we always will, remember that."

"It's time we find peace." Rich sighed and he cupped the back of Jane's head. "And it's time for you to let us go."

Jane started crying. "Please stay with me. Please."

"Look at me, Jane." Melinda told her. "Remember what I told you. You are special and you are needed here."

She and Rich looked at the sky suddenly.

"Mama, Daddy, please stay."

"It's time to go." Rich kissed Jane's forehead. "We love you, baby girl. And we'll be watching over you."

Jane tried to hold onto them, but they were fading. "No, wait. Don't go yet. Please!" Jane fell when they disappeared completely and Jenna ran over to her. The girl was sobbing into the grass.

"Oh, honey, its okay." She soothed and cupped the back of her head, keeping her against her shoulder. "It's going to be all right."

"I just wanted them to stay with me." Jane cried and Jenna held her tighter.

"Where's Rob?" She frowned up at her boyfriend.

Alaric sighed. "He said he had to go take care of something."

"He should be here, taking care of her." Jenna frowned.

"I'll take her home, you round up Elena and Jeremy." He said and Jenna nodded.

"Jane, you call me any time if you need something, okay?" She told the girl, brushing her hair back. Jane nodded, wiping at her eyes. "Ric's going to take you home."

Jane clung to Alaric, burying her face into his side as he walked her to his car. "I know you don't want to hear this, but…It was for the best you know. They've moved on to a better place."

"I-I know, but it hurts."

Alaric nodded. "Yeah, I know." He murmured.


"Do you want me to stay with you? Or send Jenna over?"

Jane shook her head. "I-I'll be okay."

Alaric nodded and then stroked her hair. "Hey, you can call us any time, okay? I promised your parents I'd take care of you, Jane. Did Rob say when he'd be back?"

"No…" Jane said quietly.

"So you and Damon ended things?"

She nodded.

"Well, I can't say he didn't deserve it. I told him to come clean and stop spending time with Elena."

"Did everyone know but me?"

Alaric sighed. "I'm afraid so. It was Damon's responsibility to tell you, Jane. We wanted him to do the right then."

"Well, Elena told me…I just didn't…She was my friend and he…"

Alaric ended up hugging her again. "You are the nicest girl I know, Jane. How anyone could hurt you like that is beyond me." His cell began ringing and he answered it.

"Yeah?" He scowled at Damon's voice. "Can't you get someone else? I'm a bit busy. No, I'm comforting Jane. She just lost her parents for the second time, thanks for calling to check on her." Damon's voice got a bit louder. "He wants to talk to you." Jane shook her head. "She doesn't want to talk to you. Yeah, I'll tell her. all right, I'm on my way." He snorted and hung up.

"Are you sure that you don't want me to stay? I can call him back and tell him to-"

"I'm sure…He's still your friend, Alaric. I don't want to make you stop being his friend because of me."

He shook his head at her. "That wouldn't happen. I'm still pissed he killed me." He stood up. "All right then, if you're sure you'll be okay."

Jane nodded. "I just…Need to process today."

"Yeah, all right." He nodded and headed down the porch steps. "Don't sit out here all night, okay?" He told her and walked to his car.


Klaus moved through the trees rapidly. How had he been able to feel her pain? Why was she in pain? Where the bloody hell was Stefan? Keep her happy and heathy two things that really shouldn't be so hard to accomplish. The pain he had felt and the fear…It still made him shudder. For a moment, and the reason he was sprinting across the woods as a wolf, was he had felt her dying last night. Her heart had stopped at some point yesterday and then when she hadn't called him back…Of course he should have known she would ignore him and then to call Stefan and find out that a ghost with help from his mother of all people tried to drown her and tried to burn Elena alive. If the witch were alive, he'd rip her damn head off!

He found Jane crying on her front porch and for a moment contemplated changing back, but he didn't want to startle her or send her running into her house. Instead, he came to sit at the foot of the stairs waiting for her to notice him. She was wearing a tank top and pajama pants, a purple blanket around her shaking shoulders. Next to her was a large photo album, opened up where she had been looking at it. He hated to see her crying. Something had upset her.

Jane looked up from her knees when something thumped against the porch and she gasped. At the bottom of the stairs there was a large black wolf. Scared, she held still, though her mind screamed at her to run inside. Klaus watched her curl into a smaller ball and tilted his head, trying not to frighten her further.

Jane watched the wolf tilt its head at her as if to say, "What's wrong?". She fidgeted and wiped at her eyes.

"H-hello…" She told it and the wolf stared at her. It looked friendly, but then again it might not be. Was this a regular wolf or a werewolf? Jane couldn't tell and she bit her lip. Surely a normal wolf wouldn't be here in front of her, although, she was alone… A werewolf then? The werewolf wouldn't be able to turn human again until the next morning, but still…Most of them wouldn't be running around town without Tyler's knowledge or at least the threat of Klaus being around here. Caution needed to be had either way. She moved a bit closer, slowly so not to disturb the wolf, but it didn't do much but growl softly.

The wolf watched her warily, its teal colored eyes on her, reading her body language as she tentatively held her hand out. Inch by inch, the wolf came closer until Jane's fingers brushed its nose. It sniffed of her and she almost giggled, making the wolf's tag wag like a dog. At least it seemed friendly. Jules certainly hadn't been, then again Damon had pissed her off. Maybe…Maybe it was just a regular wolf then.

"I'm Jane." She offered. Maybe she was crazy for talking to a wild animal. The wolf bumped his nose against her hand in greeting. She started to pet it when it growled, disappearing around the corner and she sighed.

It stayed gone for a while and she started to think she had been imagining it and she buried her face into her knees again.


Klaus came back from checking the area for any reasons she might be crying, but there was no other scent but the faint one of another human. He came back only to find her sobbing softly again and he came closer to her, whining to get her attention. What had upset her and why wasn't Stefan attending to her? Or his wayward sister for that matter?

She looked back up, surprised and relieved to see him which made him extremely pleased that she was happy to see him, although she technically didn't know it was him. She wiped at her eyes again and he stepped closer when she reached out once more. She was much more relaxed now and stroked his nose. It was an odd sensation, but she was very gentle and it felt good so he moved closer. She giggled when he bumped his head against her hand to encourage her to continue.

Wanting to find out why she had been crying, he sniffed of her hair and behind her ear and Jane laughed. The sound was just as sweet as he had remembered. She pushed him away playfully, but he didn't budge.

"Stop that it tickles." She protested. A stray tear caught his attention and he licked it away, whining at her again.

Jane sighed. "I guess you heard me crying." She whispered and Klaus nudged her to continue. "My mom and dad…" She choked up, the tears returning. "They left me again." She told her story to him, stopping every now and then to sniffle and wipe at her eyes, but he was patient and listened, occasionally licking away her stray tears comfortingly.

"I just wanted them to stay. I just wanted it so bad." She sobbed and hugged him, burying her face into its coat. Klaus nuzzled her head. She had people taken from her too many times, and he felt guilty for trying to convince her to take off with him again. It was apparent that she wasn't through grieving the loss of her parents.

"Then my Uncle Rob left." She continued. "I didn't tell him, but I'm scared of being alone. What if he doesn't come back?" Klaus growled lowly, shifting slightly, protectively. He seriously thought about changing back just to reassure her and comfort her, but he didn't. He knew she'd be angry that he had let this go on for as long as it had. Where the hell was that idiot Damon? Why wasn't he here to take care of the grieving girl? If he loved her so much, where was he? And why would her uncle take off, leaving her here alone?

She clutched at him tighter, needing someone there, and he nuzzled the back of her neck, knowing what she needed. Jane sighed against him and rested her head on him.

They sat there for the longest, not saying a word, but eventually she yawned. She knew she was safe, could feel that she was in no danger and she buried her face back into his fur and soon she fell asleep.

Klaus waited until she deep asleep and then gently moved out from under her. Stepping away, he morphed back into his human form, very aware that he was naked.

He picked up Jane very carefully and carried her over to the porch swing. He laid her down on it, making sure she was comfortable and then draped the blanket over her. He wished he could carry her into the house, but she hadn't invited him inside. Jane mumbled something in her sleep and he brushed her hair back from her face, fingers trailing along her cheek.

"Goodnight, my love." His voice quiet. She never stirred and he backed away from her. He picked up her photo album and picked up a picture that hadn't been put in the album yet. Jane was sitting on a swing between two others smiling brightly, but there was a hint of sadness in her gaze. The two in the picture must be her parents. Her mother had a kind smile, something that Jane shared. Her father was a bit familiar and he frowned in thought before carefully laying it on the little table near the porch swing.

Growling caught his attention and he looked up only roll his eyes. Felix was hissing at him from the top of the couch in the living room, eyes narrowed as he watched him. Klaus snorted at the cat and walked off the porch, heading to the woods to change once more. He would come back and stand watch until morning.


Jane bit her lip as she was laid down onto the silken sheets. A dark shape moved above her.

"Is this what you want, love?"

She nodded. "Yes."

Jane gasped sharply at the cool air as he literally ripped her jeans and her shirt away from her before covering her body with his. He pressed delicate kisses all over her face and then lower brushing his lips down between her breasts. Her heart raced and she wiggled against the mattress. He made quick work of her bra and cupped her gently, making her moan softly.

"Klaus." Her hand went into his hair.

"Yes, love." He murmured against her skin soothingly, lifting his gaze to her face. "What is it?"

"I need you."

"Just wait, love. Let me have a taste of you first." Klaus said and sucked a nipple into his mouth. Her hips rolled beneath his as she whimpered in want and he nuzzled his way over to her neglected breast, giving it a few sucks.

"Please." She begged, her legs wrapping around his waist and holding tight. "Please."

"Shh, my love." He murmured and nipped down her chest to her hips where he nipped and sucked marks on her skin.

Jane shook her head wildly against the mattress and tangled her fingers into his hair as he pressed kisses all along her thighs and nosed her panties, inhaling her need for him and making her whimper.

"Need you, please." He looked up when she gripped at his curls. Her eyes were wild and dark with lust and need. "Claim me, Klaus." She tilted her head, offering her neck to him. "Claim me now." She commanded, rubbing herself against him. Growling possessively, he flipped her over onto her hands and knees and ripped the flimsy remaining fabric off her body.

Klaus nipped at the back of her thighs, right below her little tight arse and she leaned her head down, submissively.

"That's a good girl. Waiting for her pleasure." He said lowly, spreading her legs a little wider. "Is this what you want, my love? Hm? You want me to take you?"

"Yes, please." She wiggled against him and he chuckled.

"Well, you'll just have to wait, my love. I'm not done enjoying you." He moved so that his head was between her thighs and made her sit up slightly and hold onto the headboard.

"Niklaus." She whimpered and he breathed cool air over her overly heated skin, kissing her thighs, running his tongue along her.

"Yes, love. Tell the world who you belong too." He told her and began lapping at her. Jane gasped and gripped the rungs of the headboard. "Scream for me, my love. Let me hear your pleasure and I will give it to you." He sucked at her, his wicked tongue piercing her with desire.

"Klaus!" She cried out.


"Jane!" Someone said and she woke up with a start.


Review?