Circumstances

Pairing: OC/Rebekah

Summary: As much as everyone thought they knew, Jacqueline always managed to prove them wrong. People claim to know who she is, what she's done, what's she's been through - and yet none of them can see all of it. What happens when she meets a certain Original Vampire who sees every little thing about her. From the way she walks to the way she acts... but will Jacqueline allow her supernatural mate to see her past as if they experienced it themselves. Elena bashing..

.

"Oh yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it, or learn from it."

Rafiki, The Lion King

VENTITRE

Jaqueline = 21
Elena = 18
Jeremy=16

SIX MONTHS LATER:

Jacqueline was glad to be back with the coven in all honesty. She hadn't realised just how much she missed being surrounded by magic until she returned. Jacqueline, or course, would do anything for family as she had shown... but it was nice to do something for herself every now and then.

Living with the coven was freeing.

Jacqueline didn't have to be wary about anyone looking into what she was doing. She didn't have to hide who she is and her abilities. She didn't have to limit her magic or fear being hunted for it. When she was with the coven Jacqueline was free to be exactly as she is and wants to be.

Florida was great too!

Jacqueline and Giovanni had arrived at the Florida coven location about 5 months ago.

It was great catching up with Giovanni again too. The woman had very much become the adoring grandmother Jacqueline almost missed out on having. Their relationship had improved greatly over the years.

They're family after all.

In fact, Giovanni was what Jacqueline hoped she would grow to become. Giovanni was the epitome of a powerful and wise witch. The woman remained elegant and prideful in her old age. Jacqueline had realised over the years that she was already a lot like Giovanni. All those traits that she wondered how she had got were from the Mancinelli blood in her veins.

Cause she is a Mancinelli at the end of the day...

Jacqueline had also grown to appreciate the last name. She even preferred using her birth name rather than Gilbert.

Gilbert represented pain and hurt.

Mancinelli represented the woman who and endured and prevailed through it all.

Jacqueline enjoyed being a Mancinelli despite the fact she still considered Jenna, Jeremy and even Elena family. It wasn't their faults that Jacqueline had been deprived of her birth rights. It wasn't as if they had even known she had been adopted anyway. Jacqueline would always hold them in her heart as family but she no longer felt like a Gilbert.

Jacqueline was perfectly okay with that though.

She didn't want to be a Gilbert.

Jacqueline sighed as she rid herself of the thoughts. Sometimes she started down that tunnel of thought and struggled to get back from it. Especially since it had been so long since she had seen Jenna or Jeremy.

But today she would be getting to see Enzo and that lifted her spirits.

Jacqueline smiled.

Enzo had been enjoying his time in the sun and going clubbing. It turns out those types of things hadn't been invented before he was captured by Augustine. Enzo was determined to make up for the lost time though. Jacqueline fondly referred to it as his 'party boy' faze. Though she doubted he would be growing out of in her life time!

And that was okay.

Cause if anyone deserved to be able to spend a century partying without judgement- it's Enzo.

After surviving around 70 years of torture without once turning off his humanity... well, Enzo deserved to have anything he desired. Jacqueline could barely believe he was able to cope as well as he his after what he endured. Though she knew full well Enzo only allowed her to see half of his struggle.

Still... she doubted if it had been her that she would have been as strong as him.

Jacqueline picked up her keys and waved silently to Giovanni who was mid conversation with someone before she left. Jacqueline had already introduced Enzo to Giovanni and the coven a few months back. It had made her proud the way Enzo sought to meet the people she had grown to care about. It had also made her immensely grateful seeing the way the coven had welcomed Enzo just as much.

Enzo is family.

Jacqueline headed to the car outside the coven with a small grin. They were going to have brunch at a small little cafe.

They'd developed a routine.

Jacqueline pulled up outside the cage and spotted Enzo's car already parked. She jumped out and headed inside. The bell jingled overhead as she pushed the door open. Her eyes went straight to their usual table. A rare genuine smile stretched onto her face when she locked eyes with the vampire she viewed as a big brother and best friend.

"Hey, Enz" Jacqueline greeted the man with a hug before she slid into the booth.

Enzo smiled charmingly, "Jaq, always a pleasure seeing you, little love"

Jacqueline shook her head in amusement at the nickname he had given her. Little love was his way of calling her his little sister. Jacqueline wasn't usually the type of person to show the emotions she feels, but that always got a smile.

"How was your week?" Jacqueline asked conversationally

Enzo shrugged, "I met a pretty little blonde this week"

Jacqueline smirked, "Flavour of the week is blonde... that's three in a row, Enz! Have you got a type?"

"Don't get cheeky" Enzo scoffed as he chuckled. "I don't discriminate. A beautiful woman is a beautiful woman" he grinned devilishly

Jacqueline snorted.

The elderly waitress who owned the small little cafe brought over their usual orders without prompt. Sliding a hot tea in front of Enzo and a sugary ice latte in front Jacqueline - the woman smiled fondly at them.

"You both look well" the elderly woman said smiling at them both. "It's always nice to see you two in here"

Jacqueline nodded, "It's nice to be here. I always like places like this to sit have a good conversation at"

Enzo nodded in agreement, "How's the business been Mary-Sue?" He asked

Mary-sue as the woman prefers to be called just waved him off dismissively. The tiny little cafe was a wonderful spot but not too popular. The woman barely made her rent payments on time to keep the business afloat.

It was a shame.

Enzo had compelled the debt collector to pay Mary-Sues debt from his own pocket. The guy had been an ass who had taken too much enjoyment from threatening an elderly lady.

Though Mary-Sue didn't know that.

Nor did she know that Jacqueline was the one who suggested Giovanni use the cafe for her catch ups with locals. Jacqueline only hoped that helped some.

And they always leave a big tip every fortnight she and Enzo meet here.

"Dont you worry about that" Mary-Sue assured him. "I'll die before they take this place from me"

Enzo just smiled at the woman's protectiveness and passion for her cafe. It was sweet. They might not necessarily be good people but it didn't mean they couldn't do a few nice things. If anyone deserved to reap the benefits of their abilities it was Mary-Sue in her effort to keep her pride and joy.

Not that the woman would take a dime she hadn't worked for though.

It was admirable.

Jacqueline watched as the woman left them and went black to the kitchen. Jacqueline looked back at Enzo and shared his fondness for the elderly woman.

"Im glad she'll keep this place" Jacqueline nodded with a shrug. "I like it here"

Enzo chucked, "It sure is a lot calmer than the joints I've been frequenting lately"

"Mhmn" Jacqueline hummed with a smirk on her lips. "How's the party boy life treating you?"

Enzo rolled his eyes and shrugged, "Well I thought it would be more fun. I find myself a little bored now though. It as great for the first few years..."

"And now it's just repetitive" Jacqueline guessed easily.

Enzo nodded.

"Maybe you should get a job?" Jacqueline suggested as she thought about it. Getting a job would give him something to do and learn.

It could be good for him.

Enzo frowned, "I don't need money though" he pointed out as if nobody got jobs cause they liked the work.

Jacqueline rolled her eyes at him.

Shaking her head she sighed. "You could find a job that you enjoy. Something your interested in doing. You don't always have to work just for money"

"I never thought about it..." Enzo trailed off thoughtfully before he started nodding. "It's brilliant! What job should I get, love?" He asked looking excited about the new idea

Jacqueline grinned, "You shouldn't do anything in media or celebrity work - don't want your face out there in the public. Maybe you could start a restaurant or something?"

Enzo shrugged, "I don't know, love. I'm not the biggest food person" he grinned, "I prefer my distance straight from the vein"

Jacqueline snorted.

"What else could I do?" Enzo promoted

"You could fly a plane? Become a sailor? Go to school? Or be a teacher about whatever era you were born in?" Jacqueline rattled off ideas. "You could be a firefighter or maybe a doctor?"

Enzo grinned, "I could own a nightclub"

That - that wasn't where she had been going with her ideas...

Chuckling she echoed him, "Or you could own a nightclub" she agreed grinning a little at him. Jacqueline had certainly not been thinking along the lines of owning a nightclub, but if it was what Enzo wanted to do then she'd support him.

It wasn't like he could only do one thing anyway!

Jacqueline was sure this would just be one of many things he goes on to do. If she could be immortal she knew that she'd find all sorts of cool things to occupy her time. Jacqueline doubted any of them would involve school - they'd be more along the lines of Enzo's idea too.

She'd own a gym first, of course!

Then she'd buy an art studio and fill it with her own artworks!

Maybe even own a bar or two?

Certainly she would have a tattoo parlour or rather a chain of them!

And a radio station to play all her favourite songs!

"I'll be first in line to check it out!" Jacqueline agreed easily as she offered Enzo an encouraging smile.

Enzo grinned.

Jacqueline was excited to learn from Jasmine Lei - a witch who had been staying at the covens Florida location. Jasmine was leading the way into the 21st century functioning of magic.

It was amazing!

Jacqueline was ashamed to say she had a full in fangirl moment when Giovanni had subtly mentioned Jasmine would be here. Jacqueline had choked on her vanilla latte and everything. She immediately felt stupid for the reaction but it hadn't diminished her excitement.

Jasmine Lei was the Steve Jobs of the BloodWitch community.

A BloodWitches magic has is so much more capability than any other witches magic. They didn't have to rely in old spells or even spells at all to perform magic. There were hardly any limits to the magic and yet few had sought to apply it to more modern situations.

Like cars, for example.

Jasmine Lei had been the first from their Coven to look into that. Jasmine had found ways to use magic to protect cars from ageing or damages. It was a rather simple use of magic but the idea had been overlooked until recently. Jasmine had gone on to test the boundaries of a BloodWitches magic in relation to modern technology ever since.

Jacqueline felt stupid every time she was surprised by something Jasmine accomplished.

It reminded Jacqueline of the time she had learnt how to cure a hangover with magic. In theory the idea had been simple - if she can cure a broke arm why couldn't she cure a hangover? Yet Jacqueline had completely overlooked the possibility without realising she had done it.

Sometimes people get caught up in the big things magic is used for.

Like resurrection.

Or fighting.

It often makes them forget about the simple wonders of magic.

Jacqueline had got caught up in the big things fairly quickly. She'd thrown herself into learning anything and everything, after all. Now years later Jacqueline had finally allowed herself to calm down and enjoy the smaller things. Like the simple ability to make fireworks appear in the sky. Or the ability to make the silverware dance like the scene from Beauty and the Beast.

Now Jacqueline was attempting to replicate Jasmine Lei's work.

It was fun.

A lot of fun... especially when she moved onto flying motorcycles.

Jacqueline felt like she was in a scene from Harry Potter or something. She could hardly believe it was real. Nor could she believed that she hadn't wondered about this sooner!

Her phone ringing caught her attention from flipping through the list of tasks she wanted to practice. Curiously Jacqueline grabbed her phone and smiled when she saw who was calling.

"Hey, Jeremy!" Jacqueline grinned into the phone.

Jeremy had kept in contact over the years she had been away. Though he usually went through stages of sometimes rarely calling or calling daily. Though most of their exchanges were done over text nowadays. Especially since Jenna had texted to say things were getting really busy in Mystic Falls.

But Jacqueline didn't really hear much from Jenna anymore.

At least not in the last 6 months...

"Jacqueline" Jeremy greeted with a discreet sniffle.

Jacqueline frowned, "What's wrong, Jer? Are you okay?" She quickly questioned

"I-" Jeremy hesitated

"Tell me, Jer, don't shut me out" Jacqueline nearly begged him. She knew that while they stayed in touch that they weren't nearly as close as they once had been.

She hated that.

"I don't know what to do! I just keep getting hurt!" Jeremy finally broke down, sounding very much like he had been keeping it all in for along time. "Please, Jacqueline! Just come home! Everything was better before Elena made you leave!"

Jacqueline wasn't really sure what was going on, but she knew he needed her with him.

That was all she really needed to know.

Jacqueline didn't care how small the issue is but if it had Jeremy crying, then she'll be there to fix it. No matter what. When it comes to family then everything else pails in comparison. Jacqueline didn't think there was a single thing she wouldn't do for Jeremy if he only asked.

"I'll be there" Jacqueline promised.

"Really?" Jeremy asked as he sniffled again in embarrassment.

"Of course" Jacqueline said. "All you ever had to do was ask"

"I know" Jeremy sighed, "But things are worse then you know. I think I'll have a lot of explaining to do when you get here... and I don't know if your going to believe me"

Jacqueline frowned, "I'll always believe you" she said but his statements raised red flags in her mind.

What could she possibly not believe him about?

Jacqueline drove past the Welcome to Mystic Falls sign with a wry smile. She was filled with equal parts dread and excitement to be back in town. Jacqueline had hated the small town when she was here - had wanted to get out of it and live. Then even though it had been under less than ideal circumstances... she'd done just that.

It made coming back slightly enjoyable.

Cause she knew the sleepy town held her little brother and sister and her aunt. Seeing them again could never be a bad thing in Jacqueline's eyes.

Though now with a new perspective on life coming to the tiny little elitist town filled her with dread. Jacqueline had never fit in here. She didn't care much to fit in either but she doubted she would swallow that pill as easy as she once had. Not when she was able to see just how awful the leaders of Mystic Falls truly were.

And how blind the residents are to it.

Shrugging she pulled up to the house she had grown up in. Smiling a little at the fond memories, she made her way up to the house. Jacqueline stood on the porch unsure of whether or not she should be knocking.

It wasn't like she lived here anymore...

It's not her house - technically well, it is her house. But she hasn't lived in it for years.

Sighing she shrugged and turned the door handle. It was unlocked thankfully. Jacqueline pushed it open and walked inside. Her magic reaching out for anyone in the house. Jacqueline could feel the zap of her magic latching onto to someone in a familial bond. Furrowing her brow she wandered into the kitchen.

Jeremy wasn hunched over at the table.

"Jeremy!" Jacqueline called to him, unable to contain her excitement.

Jeremy head shot up and his eyes widened before he practically threw himself into her arms. "Jacqueline!" Jeremy looked shocked and relieved as he clung to her tightly.

Jacqueline just held him.

Jeremys shoulders shook a little as silent tears escaped him. Jeremy clutched her as if his life depended on it.

Jacqueline just held him through it all.

Her gut churned as she realised just how upset he really was. Jacqueline felt immediate guilt. She should have come back sooner and made sure he was alright. She should have stopped in over the years. Jacqueline should never had trusted that if something was wrong he would speak up about it.

She should have known he wouldn't after what happened with Tyler!

Oh god!

Jacqueline should have realised sooner, should have put the pieces together already. Suddenly Jeremys comment the other day on the phone made sense. Jeremy had found himself caught up in the supernatural - just as Tyler had.

How could she not have thought about this already?

Jacqueline never put much thought into how exactly Tyler had came to trigger his werewolf gene. Tyler hadn't really wanted to talk about it much. Jacqueline never pushed... and she should have. Cause otherwise she would have realised the supernatural had come to Mystic Falls!

She would have gotten Jeremy, Jenna and Elena out of here kicking and screaming if she'd known.

If she'd only of stopped to think for 5 seconds...

Once again Jacqueline had failed one of the very few people important to her and she hated herself for it. Jacqueline was supposed to protect Jeremy. Her little brother had always been her best friend, a mini version of herself, a son. Jacqueline blinked back her own tears and hugged him a little tighter as she tried to regain her composure.

Jeremy needs her.

Jacqueline might have left him in his own for this long, but she wouldn't again.

Whoever had hurt her Jeremy was in for a rude awakening... and a painful death. Jacqueline was going to tear this town apart if it meant making this right again. There was nothing she wouldn't do for Jeremy and now was her chance to prove it.

"Tell me what happened, Jer?" Jacqueline said as she pulled away from him. A fierce look in her eyes as she met his again. "There'll be nothing left of them when I'm done. I promise. I'll make this right"

Jeremy looked surprised by her declaration.

He blinked, his lip trembled as he nodded and sunk to the floor. "I'm glad your back" Jeremy said

Jacqueline smiled a little but her eyes were still burning with a rage that could only be quelled by someone's death. Whoever had been unlucky enough to hurt Jeremy had some serious pain coming their way. Jacqueline sunk to the floor next to him and braced herself for what she knew would be a long story.

.

.