So because I'm curious I love checking the stats on this story and I just realised that there were more viewers clocked in from France than the UK! I am shook! So lmao hello to anyone living in France! Or is using a VPN and has it set to France!

*Update, now that we're in February, in 2nd place is Sweden? Man, hallo to Swedish and Swedish set VPNers!

We're taking a quick break from the upcoming drama of the masquerade ball for a bit of extra plot... Hope you enjoy it!


Waking up the next day and finding out Jenna had 'walked into a knife' would have been hilarious if not for the fact it was actually Katherine - again! I'm getting sick of her! - compelling her to stab herself. She had to stay in the hospital for a day or so, just to make sure everything was alright but she was going to be released today.

Over the last few days though, aside from visiting Elena and Jenna at the hospital and checking in on Tyler to make sure he was doing okay, one particular thing may have happened that might be worthwhile mentioning...

"I'm sorry, you want to what?" Stefan said, a look of disbelief on his face. He crossed his arms over his chest in discomfort.

He and Elena had "broken up" although as I like to see it they're just taking a break until Katherine stops being rude. Which, well, I guess would mean never but listen! Once she's out of our hair then she doesn't get a chance to be rude and so! All is well in the world!

And well, since Damon is in a huff and those two are "on a break" I figured this may be the best opportunity...

"Listen, I just need my memories back from you," I tried to explain.

"And the way to do that is...to sleep with each other?"

"The platonic way thankfully," I said, rolling my eyes at how dramatic he was being. "Just need some skin on skin contact and then snooze time and we're golden!"

"Uh-huh...and we have to do this lying underneath a table why?" he asks, pointing to the dining table in the dining room which I was currently trying to convince him to get under.

I guess I can understand his confusion, it is a bit of an odd request.

"Well," I begin, ready to give my very good explanation, "if Elena or Damon walked in, would you rather they find us lying under a table, cuddling on the sofa or - god forbid - in bed?"

After a moment's pause, Stefan nods his head once. "Good point, let's do this."

The pair of us slide under the table, moving the chairs out of the way before settling down on the floor, staring at the underside of the table. It looked good for how old it probably was, not a single piece of gum stuck to the bottom of it, although I guess it hasn't been placed in the middle of a high school.

"So, uh, how are we doing the whole...skin contact thing?" Stefan asked.

I shrugged, "Hold hands? I figured if we get caught that would look the least incriminating."

"Good call," he agreed, holding a hand out for me to take.

I grab his hand, receiving a quick squeeze, laying it in the middle between us before closing my eyes and trying to go to sleep. I'd stayed up all night last night, not wanting to not be able to fall asleep.

However, it seems I've come across the problem anyway.

The floor wasn't exactly comfortable, the rug kind of scratchy with how old it was. Plus, I was never too keen on sleeping on my back.

...and it was incredibly awkward.

"Do you want a pillow?"

"Yes please."

Stefan and I scootched out from underneath the table, grabbing a pillow or two each and laying back down, this time with some semblance of comfort.

We lie there for a moment before Stefan snorts, making me burst out laughing.

"This is ridiculous," Stefan says, shaking his head.

"It's a genius idea," I disagree, grinning.

"I swear if this is some stupid prank you and Damon have come up with..."

"It isn't, but it's nice to know you're so willing to give me ideas."

He groaned, making me start laughing again.

After another quick giggle at how ridiculous this was, we take a deep breath to try and calm ourselves, sending me into another laughing fit. Once I was composed, we grabbed hands again, this time more determined to fall asleep.

And, after a few minutes of silence between us, of just listening to the wind gentle wind outside, the ticking of the clock, it worked. I could practically feel myself drifting back through time, my eyes fluttering slightly before...


The first thing I could remember in this life...was dancing.

Ever since I could stand on my own two feet - and maybe even before that - I danced. Whether it be on the bed, holding onto my mother's hands to keep me standing or in the kitchen, standing on my father's feet, twirling us to the music.

My parents were able to provide lessons for me from a young age, and I loved it. Like a duck to a pond, my first teacher had said.

Growing up my dancing came first, every other responsibility second. I would practice every day while doing - although more like instead of - things like part-time work or chores around the house. Anything that disinterested me could be made more interesting with some music and a swing in your hips.

I would have gone the whole way, all the way to the grandest theatres, if not for the war. Instead, I was recruited to entertain anyone and everyone who needed it. War was a hard time, and people needed something to boost their morale, so they turned to the theatre for an escape. And despite my name never being known in the history books, I was able to bring some spark of joy to at least some people in a time of need...

After the war, well, it was 20's, what else was there to do?

Chicago was a wonderful city, and it had plenty of great places to dance...

A friend from home - Judith - and I were on a double date together with a couple of gentlemen, having a good time when this blonde, British woman had walked up to us, acting quite familiar with me in particular despite never having met before...

"Let me buy you both a drink," she had said over the music after a few minutes of general chitchat, leaning over the counter and managing to get all of us a round of free drinks.

"You have got to show me how to do that," I said, taking a sip from the colour concoction.

I didn't think she would live up to it.

Judith hit it off a lot better with her date than I did with mine, and she was happy to leave with him. My date, whose name I couldn't remember, was happy to part ways. We wished each other a pleasant night and he left me with the blonde woman who seemed to control the room around her with ease.

"What did you say your name was?" I asked her after the second drink, realising I had forgotten, not thinking we would still be chatting this long but not hating the company.

"Rebekah Mikaelson," she replied confidently, looking at me from the corner of her eye, "Heard of me?"

I shook my head with a smile, "I can't say I have. Should I?"

She nods downward, "That's an interesting tattoo you have. Quite risky though, isn't it?"

Again, I shook my head. "Birthmark," I corrected.

And then she smiled, "Is that so? How interesting. Do you want to go somewhere else?"

"What's wrong with this place?" I asked although I didn't have an issue finishing the rest of my drink off in preparation to go.

"We need somewhere with a little more energy," she replied, leading the way to the cloakroom where we grabbed our coats and left into the night.

The alcohol in our systems helped keep us warm the journey to wherever it was Rebekah was leading us to.

If it were perhaps any other person, I'm not sure I would have left with her. She didn't appear to have any ill-intentions but also she was still technically a stranger, no matter how well we got along right off the bat, no matter how familiar she seemed...

True to her word though, the speakeasy we had entered was a lot more lively than the last place we were, and the energy was certainly more up our street. The music blaring was exciting and I could already see people dancing and enjoying themselves.

We handed our coats in and it didn't take long to realise Rebekah seemed to be a regular here, greeting patrons as she passed by on our way further into the establishment.

Instead of heading to the bar like I assumed we would, we headed towards a booth at the very back of the place, towards a pair of men, both blonde and dressed in sharp suits, grinning to each other as one seemed to be telling a story to the other, both of them finding it quite amusing.

One of these men happened to be who I now know quite well as Stefan Salvatore.

"What on earth have you two been up to?" Rebekah asked the pair as if knowing they had been causing trouble just by the way they were acting.

"Sister, so nice of you to join us," the other man said, British accent included. His eyes then landed on me, and it felt like a sudden pressure was placed on my shoulders, all from that one look. "And who have you brought with you?"

"Brother, let me introduce you to my dear friend Mary-Ann Jones," Rebekah said taking a seat on one side of the booth, next to Stefan who wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into his side. "Mary-Ann, my brother Niklaus, and our friend Stefan Salvatore."

Somehow I figured she and Stefan were a little more than just friends, but I didn't comment. And also...I don't know if I would have called us "dear friends" in the short amount of time we'd known each other, but I smiled, playing polite because well, maybe we would become dear friends. "It's nice to meet you both."

"It's lovely to meet you too," Stefan said, indicating a hand to the other side of the booth, next to Rebekah's brother. "Please, sit."

"Thank you."

I took a seat next to the man in the sharpest looking suit in this place, a little nervous at the proximity. He was attractive, no denying that, but the confidence he exuded was nothing like I'd ever encountered before. I mean, I'd met cocky men before, men who thought they ruled the world, but this man...he seemed like someone who could back that claim up.

"So, Mary-Ann," Niklaus said, resting an arm behind me. "What can we get you?"

It became apparent that this group of people was well known enough to have special service in this place, having their own personal table service and everything. It was quite impressive.

The four of us drank together that night, heavily.

We started off sitting together in the booth, happy to do a bit of a get to know each other, Niklaus being more than happy enough to share some embarrassing stories about Rebekah to which Stefan had to hold onto her to stop her from smacking her brother, who jokingly tried to use me as a human shield.

They were a nice group I found and I was happy that the night took me here.

Rebekah had to drag Stefan up for a dance, though I guess the alcohol in his system made him a bit more open to the idea, leaving me and Niklaus alone in the booth together.

I also felt the alcohol in my system, the slight buzz making the hand that stroked my cheek feel twice as nice, enjoying how it continued into my hair until it found the nape of my neck, pulling me gently in for an intoxicating kiss.

My fingers brushed against his cheek, feeling the stubble underneath my fingertips as he took control. I was practically able to taste the alcohol he'd been drinking straight from his mouth.

We pulled back after a moment, catching our breath. The smirk he gave me somehow made me more breathless.

"Care for a dance, love?" he asked, extending a hand to me in the small gap now between us.

I smiled, placing my hand in his. "I'd love to."

As the night had gone on, the band began slowing down, beginning to bring the evening to a close, and so couples joined on the dance floor for a time, swaying side to side to the beat of the music.

At some point, I caught Rebekah's eye as she and Stefan were grabbing their coats. She gave me a wink before linking arms with Stefan and heading towards the exit, leaving Niklaus and I by ourselves.

I didn't know whether to curse her or thank her at that moment.

Later on in the night, well, a decision could definitely be made...

Not able to stay at the speakeasy all night, I offered up my apartment, not sure what the living situation was for the trio. We had hardly made it to the building when we were back at it, my back pinned against the cold wall, my hands running through his hair, his hands running up my legs, reaching my thigh and finding the birthmark etched into my skin.

He pulls away, allowing me a moment to breathe, placing kisses along my neck and collarbone when he suddenly stops.

I go to ask what's wrong, his eyes trained on the mark on my thigh, although finding myself unable to get the chance as he turns to kiss me once more, this time somehow with more vigour, the hold he had on my waist tightening further.

The sudden urgency encourages me to pull back, wanting to get out of the open and into a more private setting.

I'm thankful to finally reach my apartment, struggling to unlock the door between my shakey hands, shaking from being out in the cold and the distracting man pressed up against me.

"You know," he said, lips trailing down the side of my neck. "I wasn't sure why Rebekah referred to you as a "dear friend" but...I do now..."

Curious, I grinned as I finally managed to get the door open, placing a hand on the arm around my waist. "Hm, and why's that?"

His breath on my ear, "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

"Please," I said, half rolling my eyes. "Come in, make yourself at home."

I could practically feel him smiling against me, "With pleasure..."

The door gets kicked behind us, and I nervously turn round to face him, planning to take a step back. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

"Not yet," Niklaus said, placing a hand against my cheek, seeming to stare deep into my soul. "Just...relax for a moment."

Without wondering why, I do it. Either he's very convincing or...I don't know what.

He closes his eyes, and I do the same, although not expecting him to just place his forehead against mine.

It's impossible to tell how much time has passed, but then I suddenly take a step back, eyes widening.

"Nik..."

He smirks, "Hello, love."

And then I practically throw myself at him, wrapping my legs around his waist, so sure that he'll catch me, which in all fairness he does, carrying me into the back room as if I were made of glass.

And that was the first night of many for the pair of us, somehow becoming so close in such a short period of time, acting as if we'd known each other for many years. We were so familiar with each other, so happy in one another's presence.

The days I spent working in a little shop down the road, my days off with Nik, and sometimes with Rebekah or Stefan too. We took trips together, taking the time to go treat ourselves at little cafes and boutiques. No matter what though, it was always the four of us at night in that speakeasy bar, where I too became quite the regular.

Rebekah and I had gone shopping earlier that day after she too had gently placed her forehead against mine and someone brought us even closer together. She had picked out a gorgeous dress for me to wear tonight which just so happened to compliment the white one she wore. A little gold number, a flapper dress that made me feel majestic with the way it seemed to swish and sway around me.

The pair of us danced together, like we had done many times before, loving the melody of this particular song.

"Should we join the boys?" she asked me, looking over to where Stefan and Nik were sitting together in our usual booth.

The pair of them seemed to stare over towards us, making me smirk.

"Hm," I said, pretending to think about it. "Let's leave them a little while longer... I did miss dancing with you, love."

"Let's not make your man jealous now," Rebekah said, rolling her eyes in good humour.

"Oh, but it's so fun," I grinned, taking her hand in mine, twirling her around. "Especially if I can make your man jealous too."

She rolled her eyes half-heartedly. "You're not as tall as you used to be, dear."

"No, it's a shame really, I do miss being able to reach the top shelves."

Stefan then appeared in front of me, taking Rebekah's hand in his and spinning her a lot more smoothly. "Don't go trying to steal my girl now, Mary-Ann."

I smirked, "Wouldn't dream of it, Stefan."

And then I feel arms wrap around my waist, pulling me against a chest causing a warmth to spread through me.

"Miss me, love?" Nik murmured in my ear.

I turn to face the man that had once been sitting at the side, placing my hands in his to dance. "Always."

Rebekah and I danced throughout the night, never seeming to get tired to the amusement of the boys we kept in our company. Neither of them was happy when others tried to dance with us though, and it never really bothered me much until a couple of days after an incident that I saw one man's face on a missing poster.

Mentioning this to Nik only brought a smug look to his face, annoying me slightly. Although he was able to change my mood easily enough.

We were happy, all of us, for a while.

The night it all went wrong though...it was horrible.

I insisted that Nik and I get a photo together, not happy that he decided to get his picture taken with Stefan first.

With a roll of his eyes, Nik pulled me beside him, an arm snaking around my middle, chin resting on my shoulder as I leaned against him. I waited eagerly at the bar for the picture to develop, unable to contain my excitement for modern technology.

And then there was the sound of gunfire.

And for a moment unimaginable pain.

And then nothing.


I gasped, taking in a deep breath, hardly feeling like I had breathed at all before my eyes rolled back into my head, sending me spiralling back once more.


...I grew up in a small town a few hours outside of Chicago. I'd only been the windy city a handful of times though growing up, always as a family treat to travel and see the sights for a week or so.

My mother was a kind and attentive woman who always made sure I dressed proper and tidy, giving me a bright smile and kiss on the nose every day before I left for school until one day she found she couldn't reach and tried not to cry.

My older brother was quiet, didn't like big crowds or noises, but loved feeding the birds. He would spend hours in the summer outside drawing; the fields, the town, the people walking past, the birds who sat on by him. He was even able to get one to sit in his hand to accept food which was always a sweet sight. He was perhaps the most gentle soul I had ever met.

My father was a happy man, thankful for the life he had been given after almost dying from some disease as a teen which cost him a lung. He chased off any boys who came chapping at our door, only half-joking he'd run them over until he found one he thought would suit me.

The boy in question was a good match; he was kind, attended our church, made my parents laugh, and wasn't bad on the eyes. He too was happy with life, quite content. And that was fine for him.

But not for me.

My life was simple. I attended a small school, went to church every Sunday, helped out at my family's bakery, caught the attention of a boy...

If I were perhaps any other girl then maybe I would have settled down with that boy, we would have had a family together, our parents would have been happy for us, and we would have been one big happy family.

But my life was already so...repetitive.

And I hated it.

And so I gave it all up, feeling like there was more to life than this small town, feeling like there was something out there worth seeing, worth experiencing. Even if it was perhaps just for a short while, I packed up my bags and headed out for the city.

My parents didn't stop me, although they were sad to see me go. They gave me my savings, all those hours I had helped at the bakery being counted for, and sent me on my way.

I'd stayed in a hotel for the first week in the city until I managed to find accommodation at the college, finally getting the acceptance letter I had been desperately waiting on. I applied to study textile and design, eager to start something new and exciting.

My roommate and I met the day after where I bumped into her while trying to unlock the door to our place as she was leaving.

Her name was Margaret although she preferred to go by Margo.

She was special, I could tell right off the bat she wasn't like anyone else I'd encountered before, but then again I had come from such a small town.

At first, she thought I was a pitiful burglar unable to pick even the simplest of locks, which is something we would end up laughing about with other students and people in dorms when socialising. We became fast friends. Unlike myself, she had grown up a little closer to Chicago and so knew it a bit better, able to show me different places to dine and dance, and more specifically where to avoid.

Unfortunately, none of that last bit of advice helped, because no matter where you go there would always be someone...

Taking a break from my studies, I agreed to go out on a date with one of my seniors, a foolish decision leading me to storm out of the bar sometime later after realising why I'd been asked out in the first place. Men...disgusting pigs, the lot of them.

And that's when I met one Stefan Salvatore.

After a horrible half a date, feeling utterly humiliated and to top it all off it starting to rain, I was feeling quite upset. Crying under a shelter of a shop closed down for the night, wondering how on earth I was to get him in this weather with no car, having been picked up.

And then he appeared...

"Are you alright?"

I'd flinched at the sudden sound, at being caught crying in the rain. After trying to brush him off, insisting that I was fine and just had a horrible date, we ended up talking for a while. He said he wanted to make sure I was alright and wasn't going to go lie down on the train tracks or something and walked me home.

And I normally wasn't that kind of girl but...

"You're going to invite me in for a drink, right?"

...there was just something about the way he said it that made me agree.

"Of course, please, come in for a drink."

My roommate came out of her room, probably wondering why I had returned sooner than expected, and gave me a look knowing this wasn't the person I had left with.

And that's where things turned...

This awful feeling of dread seemed to simmer in my stomach, watching as the man I had decided to let into my apartment was now somehow in control of my roommate and I's movements.

Despite my body being unable to move, my mind was racing, wondering how this was possible, cursing myself for being so stupid, and wondering how the hell we were going to get out of this alive.

Little did I know, we weren't...

Stefan walked around the room with half a bottle of tequila in hand, moving around and between Margo and me, taking the time to look around at the pictures hanging on the wall, the trinkets we had lying about, the magazines on the table...

Silent tears ran down Margo's cheeks, this wasn't the night in she had been looking forward to. If I hadn't cried so much earlier, I would have probably done the same. But now I just felt numb, guilty, and terrified.

"Nice place you got here," he said, taking a swig from the bottle. "So, is it just the two of you?"

Neither of us replied we'd been told not to speak, not to scream, not to move.

"That's right, my bad, you, speak," he pointed at me, and it's like a weight was lifted and I knew without having yet spoken that I could.

"Yes," I said shakily, trying not to let my voice crack.

"Hm," he nodded, spilling some of the contents of the bottle without a care in the world. "Good. Now, let's have that drink, shall we? Whose offering?"

Neither of us replied, one of us unable to reply, the other too confused to. He'd already practically finished a whole bottle, what more could he want?

"No takers?" Stefan said, sighing and dropping the bottle onto the table gently. "Well then, fine, I'll decide. Since the lovely Lisa has already had a terrible night, I think it's only fair that you go first, dear."

He pulled Margo back by the hair, exposing her neck.

"Oh, feel free to scream," he said, grinning before his face took on such a monstrous look, sinking fangs into her neck just as she began to scream, cutting her off.

It's then I began to cry, "No!"

With a sudden movement, Stefan pulled back from Margo, ripping a chunk of her neck from her body, the blood rushing down his face. He dropped her, letting her collapse harshly on the floor.

I cried, hearing her choke on her own blood a couple of times as she desperately held on to her life, knowing that would be me soon.

"You know," Stefan said, his back facing me as he poured himself another drink, this time into a spare glass. "I've had a really shitty week. My supposed friend is trying to get me through this rehab thing, apparently, I'm off the rails. I think that's a little harsh. And you don't seem to have a whole lot of good alcohol here, I mean, come on! I thought you college girls were supposed to be party animals!"

I don't think I could have spoken even if I wanted to.

He smashes the glass on the wall, making me flinch as he then bends down and picks up my roommate who lets out a strangled cry.

"I guess you'll have to do," he says, looking me in the eyes before taking one more vicious bite out of her neck, feeding and feeding on her until I could see the life finally drain out from her eyes.

She was dead, and it was my fault.

I'm able to close my eyes after that, not wanting to see when it'll be my turn when I hear not one but two thuds. Opening my eyes, I stare in horror as I see her head roll across the room.

I'm unable to scream, although I'm sure I would if I hadn't been compelled. I'm sure I would have run by now if I could too, at least tried to fight back.

Stefan's eyes are filled with mockery and strike fear into my gut as he steps over the body, licking the blood off his fingers.

"And now you," he says, gripping the hair on the back of my head harshly, like he had done to Margo not so long ago. "Let's see how good you taste."

He bites down on my neck, and tears stream down my face, hating how I could feel my own blood being pulled out of me.

Just as I feel he was about to rip my throat from my neck, there's a knock on the door, making him freeze and pull back slightly, a dark look in his eyes.

"Are you expecting somebody?" Stefan asked lowly.

"No," I whimpered, wondering who would be here at this time.

He smirked. "More the merrier, invite them in," he instructs before biting down on my neck again.

"Come in!" I called, unable to mask to pain in my voice.

And then suddenly, in a whirlwind blur, Stefan is removed from my neck and I collapse to the floor.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"God, you're such a buzzkill, Lexi!"

It all becomes a little blurry after that, a little hard to focus from the pain and blood loss and...and...


I wake up the hungriest I've ever been in my life.

But also the strongest, the fastest, completely unstoppable.

Lexi explained to me that she had fed me her blood in hopes of healing me, instead, I died with it in my system and I was now a vampire. We were both surprised I think with how well I took it.

She was surprised at how well I managed to adapt, already seeming to know how to compel, the general tactic of feed, heal, erase.

Stefan on the other hand, well...he was in "rehab" for vampires.

Lexi and I became fast friends, considering we were both stuck inside during the day with each other, trying our best to get Stefan to see some rhyme or reason in his ways, make him feel something, and to get him off the human blood. It wasn't good for him, it caused him to become what is known as a ripper.

I was...honestly quite sad, I wasn't able to visit my family now that I was like this. But also, any sense of a normal life had been taken away from me, and that fact alone somehow made me smile.

And despite the fact Lexi didn't want me wandering off too far, especially for being a newbie vampire, I did miss my family. So, with my new supernatural speed, I ran home. Just to check on them all.

I had to do all my travelling at night, hiding away during the day unless I were to burn to death.

And that's when I saw him, my big brother, sitting on the fence with a bird of his, as usual. A new sketchbook in hand, he was paying close attention to some detail on the page and never spotted me.

Despite Lexi's scolding and future warnings, I continued to return home every so often. I never visited more than twice a year though, just in case.

It was hard finding out my father had died a month after my mother had. She had died of some horrible disease that would never affect my now vampire state, he had died of a broken heart.

And that's when I decided to forget Lexi's rule, and I approached my brother, wanting to make sure he was okay, that he wasn't alone.

He looked at me as if I were a ghost, and to him, I may as well have been. I hadn't changed much since he had last seen me.

But then he hugged me. He never was one for hugs, not keen on physical affection much, but he hugged me. And I broke down, not realising how much I had missed him and the simple life I could have had. If I hadn't died then I would have been able to have been there more often for my family, maybe my father would have lived a bit longer, maybe my mother too.

I felt guilty about having to go, but I couldn't stay with him unless I were to be trapped in the house.

When I told Lexi about the interaction I had with my brother, she was furious. Although she understood, having had a brother herself many years ago, ending up becoming a vampire in order to try and provide for him.

I didn't learn until much later that her brother then died because she had become a vampire. The very thing she became in order to protect him ended up getting him killed. She didn't want her story to repeat itself with me and my family.

I understood, and I kept my visits minimal throughout the year, taking extra care to be discreet and ensure he wouldn't tell anyone.

It was strange though, spending most of my days with Lexi and Stefan, once he became more himself, the three of us never ageing, and then going to visit my brother who looked older, and older as time went on.

The day I decided to bring Lexi and Stefan to meet him though, the first outing for Stefan in a while, I came home to find him dead.

He wasn't murdered or anything horrible like that, he was just laying in his bed, his sketchbook tucked underneath his arm. He'd continued his art until his last day it seemed... The last thing he had started drawing was a family portrait.

Somehow, even though we had never taken a photo like this before, he had managed to draw all of us, together, our family...

I couldn't stop crying, clutching onto my brother's hand, Lexi wrapping an arm around my shoulder and allowing me to cry into her shoulder.

We waited a few days, hoping for somebody to come by and notice so that we could then attend the funeral from afar. A week passed and no one did. And I felt angry. How could nobody care? Why hadn't someone come to check on him yet? Weren't they worried?

Lexi sent Stefan to town to compel someone to come check on the house, to come to find my dead brother so they could lay him to rest.

It was raining the day of my brother's funeral, so we were able to stand out in public.

Despite how long it took anyone to find him, the service was larger than I expected. I cried again, thankful for Lexi more than I had been in the last couple decades I had known her for being there for me at this moment in particular.

My brother had had some impact on all these people in our now not so small town. People shared stories throughout the service about how kind he was, how he would always lend a hand, how special he was to them all...

I no longer felt angry at them, I just felt so incredibly sad.

At the end of the service, as they were lowering him into the grave, I caught sight of a familiar face. A boy who had turned into a man, looking the same as the last day I had seen him and yet so different.

After the service, as people began to scatter, I caught his eye, as I used to do many years ago, and his jaw dropped. I gave him a watery smile before turning and leaving with Stefan and Lexi, glad no one else seemed to have recognised me.

Much alcohol was drunk after that, for a good month or five at least.

The pain was still there, and I'm sure would always be there, but it became a little easier to breathe each day.

As much as I had wanted to, Lexi and Stefan thankfully convinced me not to switch off my humanity.

And time went on, and I never returned to that small town. The three of us decided we had had enough of the area, and wanted to see some more of the world, especially now that Stefan was completely back on the rails.

After a while though, Stefan went on his own, leaving Lexi and me to our own devices. We all made sure to visit on his birthday though.

It took a little longer for me, but I too eventually decided to go off on a trip by myself. It was overdue, and I wanted to see more of the world. And maybe find me a witch who would make me one of those fancy daylight rings.

I never did find one of those daylight rings, but it never became too much a problem.

The first place I went to was South America, not wanting to travel across the oceans only to realise that I didn't actually want to leave. But I loved it. Meeting new people, experiencing new cultures, new food, new everything - it was almost addictive.

Of course, I could only experience more of the nightlife culture, never able to come out much during the day unless I were to be completely covered, head to toe.

I got asked more about my birthmark here than I did when I was in Chicago, or anywhere else for that matter. I asked in return what they though of this mark, but they never talked much back after that.

No matter how much I was enjoying life running solo though, I always managed to return for Stefan's birthday...

"Come on, we're going to be late!" I yelled impatiently, waiting by the open door, fixing my hair in the mirror while waiting for the pair to hurry up, making sure the rocker makeup I had on was dramatic enough to cover up the birthmark around my eye a bit more. I'd had enough people asking me about it for the next month, it was in such an inconvenient spot... "Guys! We've already missed the opening act, we aren't going to get a good view at all"

"We're coming, you worry too much," Lexi said coming around the corner of the apartment, her makeup immaculate and her hair perfect for the concert we were about to go to.

"Yeah," Stefan said, putting on a jacket as he came around the corner, wiggling his shoulders, "Loosen up."

I rolled my eyes, locking the door behind me and hurrying after the other two vampires.

With it slightly darker now, we're able to leave the building, and we use our vampiric powers to rush to concert, not even having to show so much as a ticket and heading straight for the centre of the action.

And there they are! The myth! The legend! Bon Jovi!

The lights, the music, the atmosphere! It feels amazing!

We're singing and dancing, happy to be in each other's presence again, definitely having missed each other, and I end up on Stefan's shoulders at some point despite being right at the front, ignoring security as they try and tell us to stop, Lexi managing to compel him to leave.

"Is this a good enough view for you?" Stefan yells over the music.

"Fantastic!" I cheer happily.

The whole concert was amazing, and we decided we didn't quite want the party to stop there...not yet anyway.

And that's how we end up on the list for the after-party.

The three of us end up in some extremely fancy hotel suite that must expand the full length of the building, watching as Stefan approaches the keg stand and drinks and drinks and drinks until no one else can keep up, laughing afterwards when he's won the mini-competition and looking completely carefree.

"Lisa, up," Lexi says, grabbing my hand and making me get up, "Time to dance!"

"Are you sure about that?" I laughed, notorious for being a horrible dancer.

"Absolutely!" she replies, swaying and moving her hips side to side, spinning me around and motioning for Stefan to join in. "Happy birthday, Stef!"

"Happy birthday!" the whole suit cheers, toasting to a bashful Stefan coming towards us for a dance.

And now, let me tell you, a hungover vampire is never a good thing to have...

It's all fun and games though until somebody gets hurt.

The day after another Stefan birthday bash, a little less eventful than the Bon Jovi event, there's a harsh knock on the motel door. None of us wants to answer it. It's far too early to be dealing with people.

But then the door gets knocked in, sending Lexi and I flying back to get away from the sunlight.

"They're up!" someone yelled, gunfire going off.

Lexi and I cried in pain, wooden bullets flying into our skin, making us collapse on the floor. They got us good in the legs, we wouldn't be able to get very far with bullets through them.

Stefan was in the corner of the other room, eyes wide as he looked at the scene in front of us.

"Is there anybody else with you?" an officer asked, aiming the gun at my forehead.

I shook my head, keeping my eyes on Stefan, who looked furious and terrified at the same time. "Please, get her out of here, get her safe."

"No," Lexi said quietly, shaking her head slightly.

I gave Stefan a hard look, he nodded his head.

"Go!" I yelled, leaping forward and ripping into the officer's neck in front of me.

The man cried out in pain as I took a bite from him, fire bullets off left right and centre, giving Stefan enough of a distraction to grab Lexi and run.

The group only noticed Lexi had disappeared after they had shot almost every round through me.


Stefan and I both woke with a gasp, a split second later I yank my hand back from his, sitting up quickly only to smack my head on the underside of the table.

"Ah!" I cried, lying back down on my side and holding my head.

"Skye! Damnit, you okay?"

"Just peachy, Stef."

"That was...a lot."

"Yeah."

"Do you - "

The sound of footsteps approaching makes us freeze, the pair of us staring at each other in horror, as none other than Damon enters the room.

I give Stefan a wryly smile as if to say hey! Maybe he hasn't seen us?

"What the hell are you two doing under there?"

Well, the gig was up.

"We're just...chilling," I said, shrugging at the incredulous look Stefan sent me.

"Chillin, huh?" Damon said, suddenly appearing at my side of the table.

A hand reaches out and yanks me out and to my feet.

"Wow, thanks," I said, brushing myself off, any excuse not to look directly at him. We hadn't exactly talked since the night Mason Lockwood had been tortured. And some of the...memories I seemed to of had was a little. Well. "Well, you guys are probably busy, I'll just - "

"I don't think so."

Aw, dangit.


Wordcount: 7,436~
Proofread: yeah baby!

So. Did you expect all that? Because I sure didn't!

A little love would be greatly appreciated, this was a struggle to write for the first week but then last night I wrote a whole 5,000 words. How come it's so easy to write 200 thousand words of a story but I can't write 10,000 for my dissertation? Sighs, it's fine.

Honestly, there's more I could have written in this chapter surrounding Stefan, mainly his memories after Lisa died...sure is a shame Skye managed to yank her hand away before getting to do that, huh? The main reason for that was because this chapter was getting a little chunkier than I expected it to be but listen! It can work as plot too!

Another thing I'm finding is that the closer we get to officially meeting Elijah and the other Originals the more nervous I get like. I've had the meeting between Skye and Elijah planned even before the first meeting between Skye and well literally anyone else. Even writing Klaus and Rebekah in this flashback of a chapter was a little nervewracking...

Anyway!

PLEASE tell me what you think, I worked hard on this one, most of it being a lot of original plot and fitting it into the canon of the story and actual real-life history whew.

replying to your cheeky wee reviews

flawsome4ever - hey! thanks so much for leaving another cheeky wee review! It was a toss-up right to the last scene whether Damon would kill Mason or not, I had ideas for what would happen after both, and eventually, I arrived at the scene you read the last chapter! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, despite it not having much further TV plot and more fanfic plot lmao


I guess a little FYI/Fun Fact for you would be that Mary-Ann was the reincarnation before Lisa, and after Lisa died a lil Skye was born :) oh how the world goes round!

K I'm done, see ya!