Hey guys! Hope you all enjoyed the holiday period! Uncle Mason is back for a bit here, helping to progress Brea's character in future chapters and hopefully make her stronger. I hope you guys enjoy this, it's a bit of a filler chapter. Next chapter should have a lot of flashbacks as it starts to heat up for season 3! Don't forget to review and let me know your thought and any ideas you might have. Thanks guys xx

Mimi: Maybe! Or maybe not, you'll have to wait and see

Liz: Next chapter is definitely going to have a lot of flashbacks based on the nature of the episode and the fact that most of the flashbacks in the episode I've already written in, so get ready for your fluffy goodness haha

JDMichelle2626: Rebekah and Brea's relationship is going to be a huge thing next chapter and they'll talk through a lot. Jeremy is going to leave unfortunately, I can let you know that now :(

bookbunnyx: I definitely have a plan for all that, so stay tuned

Coco11: A part of her does like them as a pair, but a huge part of her wants Brea for herself, but she mainly wants her sister to be happy

Oz: Oh, I will use that line!

Guest: I think she's more in denial about his feelings, she knows but she chooses to ignore them

starlight: You'll have to wait and see :)

Shae: Glad I could help! Hope your finals went well

Klarolinelove: I haven't got a set plan for if I took it into the Originals, but if I did I reckon I'd stick with the show at least until Kol comes back and maybe combine TVD in where possible

Amy: That could be tricky because I follow the show pretty much and they aren't friends in the show but maybe I could hint more at their Denver friendship?

: Yeah, I'll try include some in the next chapter!

"So when you did the spell to send Vicki away, did that send Anna away too?" Caroline asked as she supported the ladder that Bonnie was climbing on.

"I wish. All I did was block the magic that was helping Vicki get a physical foothold here. 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," she said as she climbed down the ladder and Brea scoffed and rolled her eyes, "you ok?" Bonnie asked.

"Yeah, I just can't believe he didn't tell me," Brea muttered. "And talking to Anna? She's dead, he has a girlfriend, what is he doing? I couldn't even get in the car with him and Ric this morning to go listen to Tobias Fell's speech speak this morning, well firstly because the man actually has no idea of this town's true history and I am not in the mood to listen to the council's glossed over version of events and two, I didn't want to ride in a car with Jeremy."

"I don't want this," Bonnie said. "I don't want to damage your guys relationship because of me."

"I mean come on, you don't think I could actually resist commenting on this," Caroline said.

"There, you commented," Bonnie said dismissing Caroline before walking.

"Bonnie," Caroline whined turning around.

"What do you want me to say, Caroline?" Bonnie asked exasperatedly. "I went against the balance of nature when I brought Jeremy back to life and now I'm paying the consequences."

"Say you're not ok with it," Caroline suggested.

"I'm a thousand times not ok with it! I just don't know what to do about it," Bonnie said looking at Brea. "I don't want to bring you or Elena into this, he's your brother, it's not fair, I'm sorry."

Just as Bonnie finished her rant, Damon pulled up beside them in his car. "Greetings, blondie, witchy, grandma," he said smirking.

Brea rolled her eyes before she caught sight of Matt, "hey, there's Matt," she said to the girls, "we're going to the Grill for lunch, so catch you both later?"

"Woah, hold up," Damon said reaching out of his car and grabbing her arm, stopping her walking off, "think you got your voodoo wires crossed when you got rid of Vicki Donovan."

"What do you mean? Why?" Bonnie asked.

"Because I'm pretty sure I just got spit-roasted by Mason Lockwood's ghost," he said.

"What?" Brea said, snatching her arm out of his hand at the mention of Mason.

"Why would you think that?" Caroline asked.

"Maybe because he chained me to a chair and shoved a hot poker in my chest," Damon said. "Let's just say I'm having deja vu," he said and Brea's eyes widened and her breath hitched.

"I thought you said ghosts couldn't physically interact with people," Caroline asked.

"They can't," Bonnie said shocked.

"I don't have time for a vengeful Lockwood, when I kill someone, they're supposed to stay dead," Damon said. "Whatever you screwed up, fix it," he said.

Before he could drive off, Brea finally found words and whispered in shock, "that's how you killed Mason."

"We'll talk later," Damon said looking at her sorrowfully, before driving off.

"You ok?" Matt asked coming up to Brea, placing a hand on her back.

"No," she hissed turning into him for a hug.

"Have you seen Vicki? Damon thinks that Mason Lockwood's ghosts haunting him, but it could be Vicki," Bonnie asked Matt.

"I haven't seen Vicki, I swear," he said, looking down at Brea concerned. "I sent her back like you told me to."

"Are you sure?" Bonnie asked again. "She has just as much reason to haunt Damon as Mason Lockwood does."

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

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

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

"I've had enough of this ghost stuff to last forever. So you guys can leave me out of this one, I'll keep Brea safe at the Grill in the meantime," Matt said pulling Brea out of the hug.

"Keep me safe? I'm not going to fall, Matt," Brea laughed confused.

"You've been hanging around vampires for 1000 years right?" he asked and Brea nodded. "Well, if this ghost thing is by some reason true, then no doubt there will 1000 years of Klaus and his families enemies lurking around, so a crowded area like the Grill's probably the safest place for you until Bonnie works out what's going on." Brea nodded at him and said bye to Caroline and Bonnie before the two of them walked across the road to his truck and drove off.

Brea's phone began ringing as Matt and her waited for their burgers and she pulled it out to see Elena ringing, "yo," she answered.

"Where are you?" Elena asked.

"Yeah, I'm good thanks," Brea said sarcastically.

"Seriously! Where are you?" Elena hissed.

"In the Grill with Matt, why?"

"Get to the boy's bathrooms now!" she said before hanging up.

"Umm, ok, I'll be back Matt, don't touch my drink," she said ordered, standing up and walking to the bathrooms. "Lena," she whispered knocking on the entry to the boy's bathrooms, unsure if she should go in, before the door was ripped open and Elena grabbed her arm and yanked her in. "Anna!" Brea said in shock as she spotted her old friend. "What the hell?" she said before she caught sight of Jeremy and realised how close the two were standing to each other, "oh my god," she hissed. "That ass whooping I promised you if you screwed with Bonnie again, that'll come tonight you absolute ass," she hissed. "I can't stay," she said turning to Elena, "you got this?"

"Yeah, just thought you should see," Elena said glaring at Jeremy.

"It's just great to see you again, Anna, although people who die are meant to stay dead for a reason," Brea hissed in anger before storming out of the bathroom. As she headed back to her booth with Matt she froze. Mason was standing at the bar with Damon and Ric. "Oh my god," she whispered and Damon's eyes flicked to her. "Mason," she said slightly louder, he heard her and turned around and his eyes lit up with joy.

"Brea!" he said relieved and held his arms open for her. A large smile took over Brea's face and she laughed, before running toward Mason and jumping off the ground into his arms and he held her tightly.

"Is it really you?" she asked shaking as he put her down.

"Yeah," he said hugging her again. "I missed you," he said before releasing her, he placed his hand on her elbow and guided her closer to the bar so she was standing between him and Damon, "one of you will pay for this, right? Cheers," he said to Ric and Damon as he grabbed a whiskey shot and drank it.

"Let's get to it," Damon snarled. "I killed you, if you want revenge, get in line."

"Actually, I want an apology," Mason said.

Ric laughed in amusement before turning serious, "good luck with that."

"Don't you have a family to haunt?" Damon asked.

"Can we do that?" Brea asked excitedly. "If you're going to be around a while we could get Tyler good!"

"You know your nephew just turned into a mindless hybrid minion," Damon said and Brea glared at him.

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

"Well sorry to break it to you buddy, but Tyler can't be helped."

"Shut up Damon," Brea snapped.

"At least not while Klaus is alive, which is, like, always," Damon said and Brea's eyes flickered down.

"Not necessarily. Not if you found a weapon that could kill him," Mason said, he was talking about the white oak stake, a weapon Brea had feared for 1000 years.

"There is no weapon that could…" Damon retorted before going silent as he worked out Mason knew something. "What do you know?"

"I know you need to apologise."

"You got to be kidding me," Damon groaned.

"Are you incapable of remorse? Just apologise," Ric snapped.

Damon groaned, "you're right. I didn't have to kill you. I do a lot of things I don't have to do," he said before shrugging.

Mason just burst out laughing, "that's good enough," he said. "Meet me at the old Lockwood cellar. Bring a shovel," he said before looking at Ric, "come alone."

"What, you going to bury me alive?" Damon asked.

"Good plan, need any help?" Brea asked with a smirk.

Mason laughed, "don't tempt me," he said before turning to Brea, "come with me?" he asked and she nodded following him.

"I have to tell Matt, I'll meet you outside, please don't disappear," Brea begged, grabbing his arm tight.

Mason nodded, "I'm not going anywhere, at least not until I help you and Tyler, don't worry," he said and walked outside.

"I thought he was just here to help Ty, what do I need help with?" Brea muttered as she walked over to Matt. "Hey."

"Where did you go?"

"Oh my god, so, you missed a lot. Elena caught Jeremy kissing his ghostly vampire ex-girlfriend Anna in the bathrooms and then I just ran into a ghostly Uncle Mason. So we can see ghosts now apparently, so that's fun."

"What!" Matt asked leaning forward.

"Yeah, so I'm sorry Matt, I have to talk to Mason."

"Yeah of course, just make sure he keeps you safe,'' Matt said and Brea nodded before getting up and running out of the Grill.

"Mason!" she yelled not seeing him immediately.

"I'm here kid," he said, he'd been leaning on her car. "I'm here," he said and she breathed a sigh of relief and walked up to him.

"Mason I…"

"I know," he said hugging her. "I know."

"I didn't know, I swear. They kept it from me. All of them. They told me you moved back to Florida."

"I know, don't stress kid," he laughed ruffling her hair.

"You said just before you have to help me and Tyler, why do you have to help me?" she asked and he looked away.

"Let's go wait at the Lockwood cellar, we'll talk there," he said, "drive me?"

"Hop in," Brea smiled.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Brea asked as she and Mason walked down the steps to the cellar.

"Alright, just hear me out ok? Then you can talk, but you can't say anything until I'm done, deal?"

"Ok…" Brea agreed confused.

"You interrupt me, I'll stop. And what I'm about to do with Damon will contradict everything that I'm about to tell you right now, so I'm not going to let you come in with us."

"What! Mason! No, I'm not leaving you, not again."

"Brea," he said grabbing her arms, "I'm a ghost, I'm not meant to be here. It'll be easier this way. This way, we'll get to actually say goodbye, you won't have to watch me disappear when this all ends. Trust me. This is the best way."

"Don't tell me what's best," Brea snapped before she sighed and nodded at him, "but you're right. I'll leave, I promise."

"Ok kid," Mason said sitting down and Brea took a seat next to him. "What I really want to tell you is just let it go."

"Let what go?" Brea asked confused.

"Hate, anger, resentment. Everything you're holding onto. It's not you. You're not like that. I don't want to see you become that. You're the sweetest kid I've ever known. I'm not saying you don't deserve to be mad, you do. But don't let it destroy you."

Brea looked down, "who exactly are we talking about here?" she asked.

"Pretty much everyone," Mason laughed. "Damon, Stefan, Elena, Rebekah, Klaus…"

"Klaus?" Brea snapped standing up. "You're telling me to forgive Klaus?"

"No," Mason said standing up. "I'm not saying forgive, I'm not saying let go of all the emotions that eat up your heart. I'm saying let go of all the feelings that go against your nature. I can see it in your eyes, Brea, it's destroying you, don't deny that. I've been watching over you. I see the turmoil in you. As much as I may hate it, this man has been your closest friend for 1000 years, you can't hate him. And that's ok, sweetie. I've seen the way you look at him, it takes everything you have not to smile. Same goes for the sister, Rebekah. I know you want to be sisters with her again but you feel like you can't because it will betray Elena."

"Rebekah betrayed me," Brea said.

"I know, but you forgave her long ago. Admit it. You know the truth, she didn't betray you to hurt you. Inside she's just a girl scared of her brother and his power, you can sympathise with that. And you do. So let go of the resentment. My final word of advice I will ever be able to give to you," he said grabbing her shoulders, "don't worry about what all your Mystic Falls friends feel and say to you. Do whatever makes you happy. If you want to be friends with these guys, be friends with them. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't be. You're one of a kind in this universe Brea, you have wisdom they could only ever dream of having, embrace it, don't hide it for their sake, for the sake of fitting in. You're special and you're powerful, and you're the bravest person I know. Don't hide it," Mason said pulling her forward and kissing her on the forehead, "you're Brenna Mikaelson, be Brenna Mikaelson, let go of Brea Gilbert, she's not who you really are. Go, please," he whispered. "This is going to be too hard on you if you stay much longer."

Brea nodded, tears falling down her cheeks and she pulled him into a hug, "I love you, Uncle Mason," she whispered before letting him go and running out of the cellar.

"Hey grandma," Damon greeted as she nearly ran into him.

"Hey," she sniffled.

"You ok," Damon asked crouching down to her eye level, "do I have to kick some ghost butt for you?" he smiled.

"No, it was just saying goodbye," she smiled. "You should go. I'll talk to you later," Brea said pulling away from him and started to make her way to her car.

"Brenna," Damon called and she turned around to look at him, "you sure you're ok?" he asked genuinely and she smiled and nodded. "Come around later, we'll talk," he said giving her a small smile which she returned before walking off.

Brea walked through the town square hoping Rebekah had shown up for the lighting ceremony that was a part of some Founder's Celebration when a voice spoke from behind her that made her blood run cold, "well well. Brenna Pierce," he said and Brea slowly turned around.

"Fredrick," she whispered in fear.

"Shouldn't have left the werewolves side," he taunted. "No one is here to protect you now."

"Leave her alone," Annabelle said coming from behind Brea to stand in front of her protectively.

"If it isn't Pearl's daughter, little Annabelle," he taunted.

"Anna!" Jeremy's voice called from the distance and both girls heads whipped around in search of him.

"Still hanging around the Gilbert kid," Fredrick said. "Guess you've forgotten the fact that their family killed you and your mother," he said to Anna.

"There you are," Jeremy said as he reached the girls, "oh, hey Brea," he said sheepishly but Brea didn't respond unable to take her fearful eyes off of Fredrick, "you ok?" he asked her turning his head to see who she was looking at. "Hey is everything alright?" Jeremy asked standing up tall.

"Ask your ancestors," Fredrick replied.

"What are you doing here Fredrick?" Anna asked. More tomb vampires came to stand behind Fredrick and Brea gasped in fright, grabbing onto the back of Anna's jacket.

"Well it's a founders celebration, and we," he said looking around to gesture at the other tomb vampires, "have got some unfinished business with the founding families." As he said that the lanterns in the town square lit up and a woman let out a scream as Fredrick stared at the two girls knowingly. Anna and Brea turned to look at what the commotion was and Jeremy grabbed his sister and pulled her to his side as he turned to look, so that she was out of sight of the tomb vampires.

"Oh my god," Brea whispered as she stared at Tobias Fell's body, impaled and dangling from a tree.

"We need that necklace," Jeremy said whipping out his phone and calling Bonnie.

"You sure you want to call her Jer?" Brea asked glaring at her brother.

"I have to," he said. "Caroline?" he said as Caroline obviously answered Bonnie's phone.

"Oh no," Brea said, if Caroline was answering the phone, that meant Bonnie knew.

"Did you find that necklace?" Jeremy asked. "The ghosts of the tomb vampires killed Tobias Fell, I found them confronting Brea, she's not safe while they're here Caroline. We might want to find that necklace before they start going alphabetically through the founding families." Caroline said something on the other line Brea couldn't quite make out and Jeremy asked "who?" before turning around to look at Anna.

"I didn't," she said.

"Didn't what? Didn't what? Guys," Brea whined, not enjoying being out of the loop.

"She said she didn't take it," Jeremy said to Caroline.

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

"Someone please fill me in," Brea begged.

Jeremy shushed Brea before he said, "you know what? Yeah, I do believe her," he said before hanging up.

"Woah, where'd she go?" Brea asked turning her head to see Anna gone, "now what is going on?"

"Brea, Jeremy," Elena said walking up to the siblings, "what happened?"

"Tomb vamps," Brea answered.

"They killed Tobias Fell," Jeremy said. "They're going to go after all the founding families and Brea as well."

"What!" Elena asked shocked grabbing onto her sister's arm.

"Bonnie and Caroline can't find the necklace to send the ghosts away," Jeremy said before he sighed and said, "they think Anna took it."

"Oh," Brea said, just know understanding his conversation with Caroline, "yeah, well, she would've taken it," Brea nodded.

Elena groaned, "where is Anna now?" she snapped.

"I don't know. I don't even know for sure if she took the necklace," he answered.

"She was the only person who heard us talking about it. Of course, she took it," Elena snapped at their brother.

"She's right Jeremy," Brea agreed. "We need the bloody wretched necklace back. That thing has caused everyone enough troubles."

"We have to get it back, we have to destroy it and then close the door," Elena said devising a plan.

"I know, but…"

"But what?" the twins asked at the same time irritated. "What, Jer?"

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

"This was what Mason warned me about," Brea whispered. "Jeremy, people are dying because the ghosts are here. She's dead, Jer. She's been dead for a while now. You need to focus on someone alive, move forward, not back. It's not right."

"She's right," Elena said. "It's not real. She's dead. Gone."

"You can't love a ghost, Jer," Brea said sadly.

"Everything that you're holding on to is in the past, Jer," Elena said. "Are you going to love a ghost for the rest of your life?" Elena asked as Brea nudged her sister and gestured to Anna, who had now appeared not too far behind Jeremy. "He's at the beginning of his life, Anna," Elena said talking to Anna now. "You're just holding him back. You know that," Elena said and Jeremy turned around to look at his sisters shocked.

"It's true, Jer," Brea said. Jeremy sighed and turned back around to Anna and she slowly lifted her hand to reveal she was holding Elena's necklace.

"Call Bonnie. Tell her that you have the necklace. Get her to send the ghosts away," Elena said taking Brea's hand and walking them away from their brother. "I've got Lexie helping out with Stefan, so I've got to go, where's your car, I'll walk you to it. You've got to get out of here, inside, where you'll be safe."

"It's parked at the Grill," Brea said.

"Come on," Elena said running off.

"Running, really?" Brea huffed before following.

Brea drove without a destination in mind, but before she knew it she arrived at the Salvatore Boarding House's front door. She raised her hand to knock, but then sighed and lowered it and turned to walk back to her car. On her way back to her car something caught her eye in an upstairs window and she looked up to see Rebekah looking out. Rebekah gave her a small smile and a wave and Brea returned it awkwardly before walking again. She took two steps before she stopped and turned around. "I'll see you at school tomorrow," she smiled, knowing Rebekah could hear her, and Rebekah's face lit up in a huge smile as Brea got into her car and drove home.

Italy, 1494

"Brenna! Brenna!" a voice called through the town and Brenna froze. "My witches tracking worked, you are here," Kol said running up to her. "I've been so worried darling," he said embracing her. "I missed you, my love," he said holding the back of her head. Brenna's body started shaking and tears ran down her cheek, "don't weep my love," he said releasing her, but keeping a hold of her arms.

"Did you help?" Brenna whispered.

"Help what?" he asked placing a hand on her cheek, but she flinched away.

"Kill my family," she whispered, ripping her arms out of his hands.

"What?"

"In Bulgaria, did you help Niklaus murder my family?" Brenna snapped.

"Let's get inside," Kol said trying to usher her out of the street, "people are staring."

"No!" Brenna yelled. "Leave me alone!" she said as she turned and started walking away.

"Brenna," Kol groaned walking after her.

"That's not leaving me alone!" she growled.

"Well I'm not going to leave you alone."

"Yes you are!" she said as she quickly turned and ran down an alley, by the time she reached the end Kol was already standing there.

"Relax would you love? I've come all this way to find you and this is not exactly the reception I was expecting."

"Oh just… go away," she said walking around him.

"Whatever you wish," he sighed, and Brenna turned around to find him gone, she turned to face forward and he was nowhere in sight so she took off, walking quickly to the room Katerina and her were renting.

Brenna flung open the door to their room and heard a bang as Katerina threw herself out of the stream of sunlight Brenna let in, "door! Door!" she yelled panicking.

"Sorry," Brenna said quickly closing the door.

"You're crying," Katerina said walking up to her sister.

"We have to go," Brenna whimpered, "Kol found us, so Niklaus is probably not far behind him."

"He made you cry?" Katerina asked and Brenna nodded.

"I asked him about Bulgaria, about our family."

"He confirmed it? He confirmed he helped Niklaus slaughter our family?"

"Well he did not deny it," Brenna hissed.

"We have to leave," Katerina said. "Sit," she ordered her sister before she started zooming around the room packing up their belongings. "As soon as darkness falls we will run. I won't let that man upset you again. He's done enough damage, he won't hurt you again if I have anything to say about it. We'll get out of here," Katerina promised her sister.