A/N: So this has been in my head for days and days and I just needed to get it out. I'm taking it back to the beginning, and I'm going to write the story of Delena. From Damon's POV and Elena's diary entries, although that might change in the future. I know people might not want to read this because it's all old stuff that we all know but I'm really writing it for myself and putting it here in case anyone does. Having said that I'm not planning on writing anything further than this Prequel until I've finished Redemption. Sorry for the MASSIVE note, I own nothing related to TVD.

Prequel – Warning
"Count your blessings, seduce a stranger.
And she called out a warning; don't ever let life pass you by"

Damon's POV – Pre Pilot

I was, morbidly, lying in the middle of the road. This is my modus operandi of course, existential crises are an almost everyday occurrence in my existence, and then I heard her voice.

The voice.

It sounded a lot like Katherine, a little different inflections but it was Katherine. And then I looked at her and she looked a lot like Katherine, was in fact, identical to Katherine, and how the fuck is this happening? How did she get out? What's going on? I stared at her for a minute having apparently lost the power of speech but then I'd found my voice enough to say;

Katherine, like a prayer her name fell from my lips.

Only she wasn't fucking Katherine, of course she wasn't, I could hear her heartbeat, the voice was just a little off, her eyes reflecting differently than Katherine's. For a nanosecond I considered taking her, this slip of a girl, whoever she is, keeping her, eating her but the thought just made me feel repulsed and I quickly shut it out.

And then she started, flirting, with me. Telling me, a (devastatingly handsome, yes) stranger in the middle of the road, about her fight with her boyfriend and her concerns about the future, she didn't know what she wanted out of life, apparently.

Different images started flashing in my head then, me with this girl, this replica of Katherine, living some kind of twisted future, her kissing me, wanting me, loving me, turning her. Before I could get too caught up in those thoughts I pushed them away as well, I'm here for Katherine not some imposter with her face. Head in the game, Salvatore. So I returned to the topic at hand, I knew what she wanted out of life, of course I did, she wants what everyone wants. So I told her.

"You want a love that consumes you. You want passion and adventure, and even a little danger" from what I could tell by the look she was giving me I'd read her accurately but then she shocked me, she actually asked me what I wanted!

I almost laughed out loud, no-one's asked me what I want in, well, a long time anyway. I didn't even know what to say although my mind was screaming at me you, I want YOU. Which again, ridiculous, I am here for Katherine.

Anyway I was saved from having to answer that particular question by her parents showing up in their car to collect her so instead I told her what I had to;

"I want you to get everything you're looking for. But right now, I want you to forget that this happened. I can't have people knowing I'm in town yet. Good night, Elena" I compelled her and disappeared in a flash. I hope it doesn't come back to bite me in the ass.

I don't know why I did it, it's not in me to be nice to people but she was just standing there, all, alone, and Katherine-like, but so very different at the same time. I guess I just took pity on her.

Elena's Diary – 1 Month after the Accident – Pre-Pilot

Dear Diary,
Things are finally beginning to settle down a little bit. Aunt Jenna is looking after Jeremy and I now, Jer is not coping...AT ALL, but I don't suppose any of us are really.
I miss my mom and dad so much, it's easy to get wrapped up in the grief and the loss, and it's easy to lose yourself in it. I'm so grateful that I have another 2 months before I have to be back at school, I just can't deal with facing anything or anyone in the world right now.
I feel like this is all my fault, if I hadn't gone to the stupid bonfire, if I'd just stayed home for family night, if I hadn't gotten into a fight with Matt, my parents would still be here. I just feel all this blame, not that anybody else has given ANY indication that they feel like this, it's just me, but I don't know...
I keep thinking about that night, there's something that just feels OFF about it, it's like something else happened and I just can't figure out what it is. Every night, when/if I finally get to sleep I hear a voice, there's someone speaking to me but I have no idea what they are saying. I'm probably just going crazy because I've not been sleeping or eating, and the grief and the guilt is clawing at my mind. It's not like I just wouldn't remember something else happening that night. I remember it like it was yesterday.
Elena

If you do happen to want to read the story or like what I've written here then do review. Still nice to hear from people.