Hellooo, this is my most prized possession, which is why I keep rewriting this story constantly lol. I hope you guys like it! It's a Klaus/OC fic, with an early relationship between my OC and Bonnie (wlw); I want to set a backstory for my little Gia before we get on with Klaus, so this will start in the beginning of season 1 and keep going from there, following most of the events of the show in canon fashion.

Trigger warnings: This story will approach triggering themes, such as canon-expected violence (blood and gore), explicit sex, crude language and mentions of abuse. I don't think I should put a trigger warning for homosexuality but this is meant to pass in 2010. I know the show is overall very straight, so if wlw bothers anyone, leave. :) This fic is not for you. TVD is kinda really toxic in its themes and relationships and scenes... so if you ended up here, I really hope you know what you're doing, even if these first ones are really, really light chapters.

I like basing my chapters off of songs, so every chapter will be named after one that fits either the mood (melodically) or with the lyrics; I think it really adds to the whole experience, especially for me, to write while listening to music, and if you guys ever wanna follow along, you're more than welcome.

This is Golden - by Harry Styles

I do not own TVD or any of its characters, only my story and my OC.

June 22nd, 1998

"Papi, uncle Stefan! A ladybug flew on me, look!" she cooed, her small frame rushing towards them like the wind until she stopped before them, bouncing up and down in excitement as the little red dot crawled its way around her hand. The sun shone brightly in the Mexican sky, a landscape of green fields and tall lemon trees surrounding them in the park and filling the air with the scent of spring.

"It's so pretty!"

Stefan looked at the child affectionately, kneeling down to her height as he inspected the animal she held, a proud smile on his face.

"Yes it is Gia. Just like you".

Soft strands of raven black hair fell out of her ponytail to brush against her eyes as she leaned her head down to pet the insect with a delicate finger, offering it a wide smile as she spoke up. "Ms. Marshall told me that ladybugs have six legs, like squids have six testicles. Octopuses have more, they have eight testicles".

Stefan's eyes widened as he tried to stifle a laugh, more practiced in that action around her than he would like to admit. He shook his head instead, grinning at her innocence, the girl's tone carrying as much scientific certainty as a six year old could convey.

"I think you mean tentacles, Bee".

"How cool is it to have six legs, can you imagine that?" she answered, ignoring his correction as she continued with her excited rant. "And people eat octopus too! Jer said it's really squishy and that their pee is black ink, but I didn't believe him. He's never been to the ocean, I bet he's never even seen a testicle".

"What are you two talking about?" Zach asked as he walked in, the girl's eyes lighting up with warmth as she ran to him, her father meeting her halfway to lift her up into his arms with an extraneous grunt, overdramatizing how big she had gotten.

"Testicles" she answered simply, hearing him splutter and look at Stefan, eyes wide in shock. "I found a ladybug, look! They have six legs, like squids have six testicles".

"Tentacles. She means tentacles." Stefan ran a hand over his face with a sigh, clearly stressed while Zach looked at the vampire with an amused grin, shaking his head and leaving a small kiss over his daughter's forehead.

"I see. You're getting so big, G".

"I'm not big, I'm tiny and I like being tiny. I'm never gonna grow old" she answered with a bright smile. "Just like Peter Pan and Uncle Stefan".

"No, don't say that. You're gonna grow and have a beautiful life here, just like your mother did".

Her face fell at the reminder of her father's departure, Gia looking away from his eyes and back to the bug as she petted it almost sorrowfully, sighing before she hugged her father tightly, the insect long forgotten as Stefan watched it fly away freely from all the commotion.

"Do you have to go away?"

"You're gonna love spending time here. You have your aunt Valentina and your grandmother, I... it'll be better for you. I promise you, honey".

"Are you leaving me forever?"

Her voice was a quiet, sad mumble, and Stefan felt his heart breaking for the small girl, watching her father hesitate. Not forever, he thought, pulling away slightly to meet her tear-filled brown eyes as they searched vehemently for his own. He didn't give her an answer, so she took the silence as all the response she needed, burying her face in his shoulder, knowing it wouldn't be there anymore when she woke up the next day.

"I'll miss you, papi".

"I'll miss you too, sunshine."

...

September 2nd, 2009

The cold, rainy day didn't take her by surprise at all, and it was something she had definitely not missed in the past years while she was away from Mystic Falls, the town having become a distant memory that often visited her in her dreams until she had moved back by the end of the summer. Gia rested her head on the window, drawing flowers with her fingers over the fog and smiling slightly as she looked around the landmarks.

Eleven years.

It had been eleven years since she had last stepped foot in this town, eleven years since she had seen her father, having grown up with a new part of the family in a new country, almost exiled by her own for a mistake that hadn't been hers in the first place. She couldn't help feeling like she wasn't supposed to be back, as if he didn't want her back, but at seventeen and with nowhere else to go, she had found her way to Mystic Falls once again.

'It's gonna be fine' she told herself, the anxiousness squeezing her chest despite the self-assurance, looking beside her at the only constant in her life as she searched for his gentle gaze; Stefan. Almost as if sensing her troubles, he reached for her hand, giving it a small squeeze.

"Excited for your first day back?"

"I'm trying to look at it as a new chance, you know? Be optimistic in all this mess."

"You were always good at that," he remarked, watching her smile down to the floor.

"I just hope they like me. That I'm not by myself again".

"They're gonna love you, Bee. Don't worry. And what would it matter anyway if they didn't anyway?"

"It would be a crushing blow to my already low self esteem and my deep fear of abandonment" she half joked, watching Stefan frown at the sentence, even if her tone was light. "Sorry."

"You know you'll always have me, no matter what. Even if things with your dad right now are… complicated".

"I know. Thank you. And the same goes to you, Uncle Stefan".

Gia smiled up at him before turning away, taking in a nervous breath as he pulled up into the school's parking lot and turned off the engine, his attention now completely on her.

"You're my only niece, it's my job to spoil you".

"Oh I wouldn't go that far, in fact I'd say it's the other way around. How many waffles did you have this morning again? Oh right, six". He laughed at her casual tone, hearing her giggle along before her eyes met his again.

"I'm a vampire, I have to make sure I keep myself well-fed".

"You'd see me rolling como una pelotita on the way to school if I had even two, pero no, you don't gain any weight, ever. Ass".

"Oh come on, I need at least some perks for all this, don't you think?"

"No." she deadpanned jokingly, hearing him laugh, her kind eyes meeting him with curiosity after it died down.

"Are you sure you wanna do this? Be in high school for the 50th time?"

"I have to know her," he answered with a sigh. "I came back for her. I have to give this a shot."

"I get it. I think that's really sweet of you, Stefan. If anyone deserves someone to be sucked out of their brooding and glooming-" she teased, watching him roll his eyes, fighting to hide a smile. "It's you, and I'll back you up no matter what".

She met his smile affectionately, taking one last look in the mirror to make sure everything was ok before she walked out of the car. With her yellow backpack on her shoulder, Gia looked around at the bustling of the students on a Monday morning, immediately eveloped by the sound of excited conversation and a sharp breeze as they walked side by side to the admissions office. Although she fought to admit to her anxiousness, Stefan would occasionally steal worried glances her way almost as if he could sense it due to their years of knowing each other inside out, reaching for her hand as if to let her know it would all be ok, her heart warming up with his concern.

Every girl's eyes lingered on him when they walked past, a few whispers and curious glances not bothering him one bit, while she did her very best to face them all head on, grasping onto her posture of confidence until the illusion became a truth for her as well.

...

"Hold up. Who are they?" Bonnie asked, drawing the attention of her friend beside her as they looked at the strangers, a tall boy in a black leather jacket and a shorter girl beside him, her straight dark black hair contrasting against the light denim jacket she wore.

"All I see is back", stated Elena, only to have Bonnie answer with a "It's a hot back", making her friend laugh.

"I'm sensing Seattle, and he plays the guitar. She's probably from somewhere fancy and sunny, like L.A., look at the print on the back of that jacket".

"It looks like a painting of clouds over a blue sky" Elena pointed out, looking out at the window into the misty grey landscape, the two laughing lightly "Appropriate. Do you think they are together?"

"Only one way to find out." Bonnie shrugged, cocking her head to the side as she stared at the girl. "She's actually kinda cute".

"You don't even know what she looks like, Bon".

"I can tell. I don't know, there's just something about her. I can't quite put my finger on it".

Elena paused the conversation as she saw her brother walking by, rolling her eyes and excusing herself before going after him, leaving her friend behind to gawk. She in turn stayed for a few more seconds, waiting as she tried to get a glimpse of the strangers, pleading under her breath for them to at least be hot.

It wasn't every day that new people showed up at Mystic Falls, and the people that left tended not to come back.

Her eyes widened as she was met with the faces of the two beautiful strangers, her breath feeling as if it was knocked out of her for a minute as soon as they turned around, and although she knew the whole school would be looking at the new guy, her eyes were drawn to someone else. She wouldn't have usually noticed if it had been any other girl, but something about her just drew the witch in, Bonnie's breath only seeming to return once the stranger reciprocated her gaze, meeting her with a warm smile on the way.

Olive brown skin, full glossy lips, upturned narrow eyes and the cutest little button nose were the sight she was met with. Her hair shone in the light, going past her waist in thick and straight raven strands, framing her face like a work of art. She noticed the girl's eyebrows furrowing, watching her look around as if she was trying to figure out what had drawn her attention, before the newcomer spoke up.

"Hi, sorry, am I in the way?"

"W-hey, what? No I just..." It took a minute for Bonnie's brain to work again as she noticed she was just standing there, awkwardly gawking, hearing the girl giggle at the expression on her face while eyeing the witch up and down.

"You um… new?"

"Returning, I guess. I'm Gia" she answered smoothly, seeming unfazed by her stammering. "And you are?"

"Bonnie. I'm sorry for being weird, I... It's nice to meet you"

"Bonnie" she repeated, trying to trace the name in her head to someone she had known before, only to come up blank, watching the girl look down with a smile at the sound of her name said out loud like that, Gia finding the blush on her cheeks absolutely endearing. "It's nice to meet you too… could you point me in the direction of… Mr. Tanner's?" she said, checking the schedule in her hands for the information, looking up at her once she had it confirmed. "History?"

The witch swooned as she took notice of the subtle foreign accent the girl had, although she spoke nothing of it, extending her hand as if to ask for her schedule and inspecting it once she could. Gia's eyes lingered on her frame slightly, taking in her features with a small smile, looking away as soon as the girl looked up.

"Sure. We're in the same class, so at least you'll know someone. You should be prepared for the worst, and I wouldn't want you to face it alone". Bonnie smiled kindly.

"Oh god, is he really that bad?"

"Worse" she answered with an eye roll, catching a giggle from the girl. "Come on, I'll walk with you."

"Oh thank you so much, I'm completely lost" she sighed out in relief, hearing Bonnie let out a chuckle before guiding the way, Gia looking at her curiously while listening to every word as the brown haired girl walked her around the new school. The two made small talk throughout the whole way, stopping every once in a while for Bonnie to explain the grounds before the bell rang, Elena and Stefan exchanging looks in class as if they had already met.

...

Her vision strained over the letters, Gia sighing tiredly before she rubbed her eyes, resting her head in her hands for a few seconds before growing restless again. The chair she sat in squeaked against the chestnut flooring as she got up, walking around the nearly empty room and sighing in frustration. It was no use. Inspiration wouldn't come to her in a dank place like this, why should concentration even try to make an appearance?

She rose the glass to her lips, taking a long gulp of water and bracing herself before she sat back down, her eyes skimming over the sentence for the third time since she had started it before she heard a soft knock on her door, half bothered and half thankful for the distraction as she opened up to see Stefan's ever-so-serious face.

"Hey, are you busy?"

"I was just studying a little bit. My english is still a little weak and I really don't wanna get behind in the first week, but it's been hard today. Why, what's up?".

"I was gonna ask if you want to go down to the grill. Elena invited me, and I didn't want you to feel left out".

He regretted the words instantly as she saw a large, teasing grin cross her face, taking away any semblance of seriousness and boredom she had presented before.

She knew the story, about how he and his brother had fallen for the same girl, both ending up broken-hearted when she died, doing their best to save her and being killed by their own father for associating with a vampire, only to later turn into the thing he had despised the most; and how now he had seemed to find a girl just like her, coming back over a hundred years later to the same town for a shot of love with the doppelganger.

Stefan hadn't missed his niece's knowing smile earlier when she had seen them meeting in the halls, sharing looks during lunch and even a few comments with Bonnie about it. In front of her now, he looked flustered just at the thought of Elena, Gia not missing the opportunity as soon as it was presented to her.

"Oooh Elena" she dragged out teasingly, giggling as he rolled his eyes.

"Stop".

"Are you asking me to third wheel you and your future wife on a date? Or am I the one that's gonna hold you accountable for behaving and keeping your hands to yourself when we go?"

"Future...what? Gia, no. Ok, nevermind, Jesus, forget I asked." He threw his hands up in surrender, the girl relentless in her words as she kept going, noticing how flushed he was getting.

"Are you gonna be kissing the whole car ride? Should I go get the bleach?" she yelled out as she watched him walk away briskly, laughing at his exasperation before shaking her head. "I'll go get dressed, tonto".

"Hurry up, she's in the car already". He yelled back, hearing her giggle echo in the hall, Gia closing the book and reaching for her jacket before she made her way out, skipping down the hall to try and lace up her boots.

...

Following Elena to the table with him, she instantly recognized the tall blonde that had quizzed her about Stefan after 3rd period - Caroline - her attention quickly shifting to Bonnie, her lips tugging into a smile despite herself.

"Hey guys! What took you so long?" Caroline asked, a bright smile glued on Stefan as she eyed him up and down, faltering slightly as she watched him pull up two chairs, taking his seat beside Elena and leaving his right side open for Gia at the table.

"It was my fault, they had to go and pick me up" Gia raised her hand with a guilty smile, taking her place beside him and greeting everyone politely.

"She takes forever to get ready," Stefan pointed out, faintly hearing Bonnie order some fries before focusing back on his niece, who now had her arms crossed over her chest.

"I was studying".

"What? It's your first day! I didn't know you were such a nerd".

"I'm dyslexic" she deadpanned with a raised eyebrow, watching Caroline's eyes widen with embarrassment at her own insensitivity before she looked away.

"Sorry... god, I always say the wrong thing. I didn't mean it like that".

"It's fine, Caroline, it's not that big of a deal." she assured. "It just means I have to try a little harder than most people. If I don't start early, I'll get demotivated and swept up in a bunch of work, and then end up not doing anything at all, so… yeah. I know it's kinda lame".

"So, you two were born in Mystic Falls?" Bonnie asked, doing her best to divert from the awkwardness of the conversation and holding back a laugh as Caroline seemed to almost drown herself in a glass of coke, drinking it quickly so she didn't have to face the embarrassment.

"Yes, but we moved while we were still young. Gia is just coming back from Mexico".

"Wow, Mexico, that's exotic" Elena gushed. "What is it like there?"

"Sunnier" Gia answered with a laugh, making the table chuckle. "I'm originally from there, so it wasn't exotic to me, I just um... moved to live with my abuelita for a while." she simplified.

"Parents?"

"My parents passed away". Stefan's eyes diverted to Elena, who offered her condolences wholeheartedly.

"Any siblings?"

"None that I talk to. I, uh... I live with my uncle. Her dad" he said, gesturing to Gia.

"Only child, no mom" she pointed to herself, answering the same question and earning a sympathetic look from Bonnie.

"Were you two close growing up?"

"We sort of grew up together, Stefan's been taking care of me for as long as I can remember. We lost touch for a little while before I moved but we're here now, and he can go back to spoiling me like the little sister he never had," she smiled at him cutely, earning a nudge from the vampire and small laughs from the rest of the table.

"How do I not remember you guys?" Caroline asked. "I mean, we've spent our whole lives here".

Stefan tensed slightly at the question, but Gia answered with ease, knowing every word was true and they didn't need to raise suspicion.

"Well I was six when I moved away, so I don't remember a lot either. I remember some of the sites, I have the most amazing memories of collecting rocks in the woods by the waterfall, and I had a really sweet best friend growing up. Remember Jeremy, Stef? "

They gasped at that, Elena smiling widely.

"Wait, Jeremy Gilbert?" Caroline asked, watching her eyebrows furrow as she tried to remember.

"I think so? I never really paid attention to his family and stuff, I just know he liked the same things I did, we used to get into competitions on who could find the most tadpoles in the river and I'd always lose count before we finished. Oh I remember I made him eat dirt once and he got a handful without even looking, like an idiot... he almost threw up when he bit into a worm, it was hilarious" she laughed out with the rest of the table, Elena smiling widely.

"Oh my god, Jeremy's my brother! I remember you, you're the one that used to wear those superhero t-shirts all the time".

"Oh no" Gia laughed, burying her face in her hands and hearing Stefan chuckle, raising laughs from across the table as he messed up her hair, only to have his hand slapped away by her with a playful glare.

"Yep, sounds about right, Bee".

"You can dish it but you can't take it?" Bonnie joked, hearing her chuckle as she shook her head into her hands.

"Wow, you haven't changed." Elena smiled, her next words making Gia frown slightly in confusion. "He's not the best right now, but I'm sure he'd love to see you again." Before she could ask about it, the blonde interrupted.

"I'm sorry to be the one to point out the obvious but are you really cousins? Because you two look very… very different. Not in a bad way though, I feel like you won the genetic lottery but like... in two opposite ends of the spectrum".

Gia looked between her and Stefan, her golden brown skin and raven hair contrasting against his light features. Her lips were full while his were thinner, her button nose in place of his straight, pointed one; almond brown and wide green eyes locking on each other before she smiled at him knowingly.

"We're related by my dad's side of the family - italian, and my mom was part black and part Nahua - it's an indigenous people in Mexico. I could've come out looking like pretty much anything, it's one big mixing pot over here."

"That's amazing! I wish I had some interesting family history". The witch said wondrously, earning a giggle from Gia before she spoke lightly.

"Oh I'm sure you do too, you guys can't live in a town called Mystic Falls and not have some weird shit going on."

"You're so sweet" Bonnie smiled, the girl reciprocating the gesture.

"You have the most amazing energy too, it's so uplifting".

Caroline looked between the two with intrigue as they cast small smiles at each other, but chose to ignore it as she set her eyes back on her prey, starting to get rattled by the way he looked to be only interested in Elena.

"So Stefan, Gia, if you're new, you don't know about the party tomorrow"

"It's a back to school thing at the falls" Bonnie complemented, looking down shyly before her eyes travelled back to the new girl, while Stefan kept his gaze on Elena.

"Are you going?"

"Of course she is," Bonnie answered with a smug smile.

"Then we'll meet you there," Gia answered, casting Stefan a look that let him know there was no protesting this.

…

September 8th

"So, if the chicken came before the egg, what was it born from?"

Gia hesitated and threw another popcorn in the air, failing to catch it with her mouth and groaning in frustration as it fell on her lap.

"Nooo, so close!"

She heard the older girl chuckle, watching Gia finally be able to get it right the next time, gasping and giving Bonnie a proud, closed lip smile. She sighed happily, looking up at the beaming afternoon sun, feeling the short grass between her toes and just breathing in the fresh air, mingling with the sound of laughter from afar as the girls sat in the back of the school after class.

"The chicken is the successor of the dinosaurs, did you know? So maybe that's that, and that's how evolution works".

"Uh I don't think that's quite it. From what I know, Darwinism had more steps than that"

"Oh yeah?" she challenged "Then what if the egg came before the chicken? Who would be there to hatch it?"

"By your logic? Dinosaurs" Bonnie answered, making her laugh before falling back on the grass and stuffing a handful of popcorn into her mouth, the witch laughing along and lying down with her head propped on her elbow.

"God, these are my favorite types of conversations" Bonnie smiled, earning an amused gaze from Gia.

"The stupid, nonsense ones?"

"That too," she laughed. "The ones that you have out of the blue, that when you stop to think about it you can't even trace how you got to that point. Talking about damn dinosaurs and chickens".

She heard Gia laugh, nodding in agreement and keeping her eyes on Bonnie. "I just feel comfortable with you, it's weird. The good kind of weird. I don't get like this around many people." She paused, an unreadable emotion crossing her face before she pushed it down, swallowing the last of the popcorn. If Bonnie didn't know better, she would've thought it was fear; Gia seeming to blink it away before speaking up again. "So what is there to do around here anyway? I didn't want to spend another night by myself in that dark house".

"You forgot about the bonfire, didn't you? Uh oh".

"Ay bendito, I completely did. Is it fun?"

"Yes! I wouldn't let you have a bad time".

Gia smiled, meeting her eyes and lingering for just a bit longer than usual before speaking up, her voice now softer. "That's really sweet of you. I can't wait." She stood back up, brushing away the dry grass from her jeans. "I have to go get ready, I'll meet you there, ok?"

"But you look amazing just like that!" Bonnie joked, standing reluctantly and chuckling as the young girl shot her a playful glare, pointing at the grass stains over her jeans and earning a giggle. She leaned forward to meet Bonnie in a hug, smiling as she felt the girl wrap her arms around her waist. Gia closed her eyes, breathing in her perfume and smiling, noticing the way the witch held on a little tighter than she usually would.

...

Gia looked around in excitement as she got out of the car, breathing in the scent of the woods, burning fire and alcohol and looking beside her to Stefan with a wide smile as he scanned the crowds for Elena, the pair making their way towards their small group as soon as his eyes trained on her.

"Oh this is gonna be fun" Gia whispered, making him chuckle despite himself. They greeted their new friends as they approached them, falling into quick conversation. The girl had just gone to get them a few drinks when she bumped into a tall, brown haired guy, the sheer force of his size knocking her down to the ground.

"Ay mierda, what the hell?" she asked angrily, looking up as he apologized and gave her his hand to pull her up. She was about to speak when she looked him in the eyes curiously, stopping for a few seconds to stare as she recognized his features. She would've known those beady brown eyes anywhere.

"Jeremy?"

"Um yeah…?"

"It's Gia! I don't know if you remember me since it's been so long, but I met up with your sister the other day".

"Wait" he said, trying to place the name to her face before he stepped forward with a surprised grin. "'Poison Ivy' Gia?"

"Why does everyone keep reminding me of that?" she groaned, making him laugh before he pulled her into a tight hug, knocking her air out of her lungs and only letting go when he realized he may have been crushing her a little too much, meeting the bright smile and kind eyes of his childhood best friend.

"Oh my god, when did you come back? It's been years!" he laughed happily. "Wow, you look… hot".

She giggled. "I just came back, I didn't think you'd remember me."

"Of course I do, you're a hard one to forget. I still have the rock you threw on my head back in the falls after you lost hide and seek".

She burst into laughter at the memory, brightness radiating off of her everytime she did.

"You deserved it, you were an ass that day. I can't believe you kept it though!"

"Yeah, so I could throw it back at you one day".

They got lost in conversation quickly, the girl making him laugh like no other as if no time had passed between them, all their worries melting away. She told him about her life back in Mexico, of how she had met Elena and her friends already while he talked about his life, saying he hadn't been that great since his parents passed, and how thankful he was that she had come back when she did. His attention had been stolen away from her when a girl she didn't recognize passed by however, and he excused himself before leaving her to meet the girls and Stefan again.

"Hey! I was about to go after you when I realized who you were talking to. You two looked so cute!" Caroline gushed, making her laugh.

"Yeah I'm happy for him, he needs someone good in his life right now. I don't think we've seen him smile so big in months" Bonnie said, thanking her as Gia finally gave her the drink she had gotten her, opening her own bottle and taking a swig.

"So Gia, I wanted to ask, how do you feel about cheerleading? I heard you did gymnastics back in your old school. You could be like the girl from Bring It On, do the coolest stunts", Caroline mused enthusiastically.

"Oh… I don't know, I- wait, where did you hear that?" she asked, Caroline simply shrugging with a proud smirk. Noticing her hesitation, the blonde was quick to add to her point.

"Bonnie's in the squad".

"Really?" Gia asked, looking beside her at the girl in surprise.

"It's fun" she shrugged in response, giving her a small smile that she responded with one of her own. Caroline kept her eyes on her, looking at her expectantly and watching the girl's hesitance fade slowly.

"Ok, it should be fun. I take it you're the captain?"

"Duh! We gotta have you try out for fairness, but I'm sure you could get in, and it's a great way for you to make new friends other than us. You're tiny, that's perfect for a flyer. I think it would be an awesome addition to the team since Elena left, and we could always use the popularity boost from the new girl, I'm sure everybody would be happy to have you with us" Caroline rambled, watching Gia giggle at the blonde's contagious excitement, getting lost in conversation as the two bonded over the plans.

She was broken out of the conversation by the sound of the ambulance and police car sirens, the people clearing out as Matt Donovan got inside the emergency vehicle with a distressed look on his face, Bonnie excusing herself somewhere to tend to her best friend. Noticing Elena walking away from Jeremy, who stayed with a sorrowful look on his face, Gia directed her step to him. Sighing, she sat beside him, earning a confused look.

"Hey. What happened? I saw him getting into the ambulance". The tall boy visibly stiffened, swallowing a lump down his throat, to which she quickly added. "You don't have to tell me anything you're not comfortable with, it's ok. It's just easier to talk to strangers sometimes. Less pressure".

"You're not a stranger, we used to take baths together".

"An old best friend who's been missing for ten years then. Please Jer, just let me help you. I hate seeing you upset".

He looked at her eyes with his own sad ones, searching for judgement and finding only empathy instead. He tried to force out a smile, and she sighed sadly as her heart broke for him, pulling him into a tight hug.

"It's the girl you like, isn't it? Matt's sister?"

"Vicky" he agreed.

"I'm so sorry, Jeremy. She'll be ok, she's a strong girl" She said, making him pull back slightly, his words coming out in a slurred mumble.

"How… How did you know? How did you know I liked her?"

"I've been there before. I could see the longing looks from a mile away, I know how hard it can be. That and Caroline talks a lot" she said sympathetically, her arms still around the boy, his eyes now locked in hers as if he was searching for an answer to all of his problems in the warm chocolate brown so much like his own. "If you ever need anyone to talk to, and by that I mean ever, you can come to me, ok? I promise I'll do my best to help you. I'll be your therapist or whatever" she finished, making a small semblance of a smile cross his face, weak, even if the attempt was there.

"Thank you".

He pulled her back to him, hugging her tighter as if he was afraid to let the small amount of comfort that she provided slip away, a comfort that he hadn't felt since his summer with Vicky, and that he craved immensely.

After a while, she spoke up.

"Um, Jer?"

"Yeah?"

"You're really tall".

"I'm normal. You're 5'0, it's not my fault".

"5'2 actually, you ass. It's craning my neck, tomorrow it's gonna be so sore" she breathed out, making him chuckle and pull away, brushing the tear stains away with his hands. "How about we get a taxi, I take your drunk ass home and then I can take care of you properly. How does that sound?"

She noticed him swerving as they stood once he confirmed her words and struggled to keep him up, letting him lean his weight on her as they walked. She helped him get off the taxi as soon as they arrived at his house as well, guiding him all the way upstairs as he led them to his room before he laid on the bed, still stumbling with the alcohol and the shock, Gia only leaving him once she was sure he would be ok by himself for a little while as she went to look for food and medicine.

Making her way back to the room with some aspirin, two glasses of water and some graham crackers she had found over the table, she took a wrong turn in the unfamiliar house, accidentally opening the door to Elena's room. Her eyes widened when she was met with the sight of Stefan on her bed, locking eyes with him for a second before gasping and shutting the door quickly, trying to hold in a laugh. She rushed away as soon as she heard his footsteps moving towards her, shutting the door to Jeremy's room quickly and turning to him, setting the small tray she had used to carry everything on his nightstand and taking a breath before she spoke.

"I just saw my cousin in bed with your sister".

She giggled as Jeremy jumped out of the bed, a confused frown in his face before it shifted into a grimace, the boy clutching his head.

"Shh, fucking lie back down! If you throw up on me I'm gonna kill you."

Gia handed him water and the aspirin, which he took eagerly, and insisted he ate something to fill his stomach, only letting him lie back down after he did with a small "thanks".

"You were always really cool, you know. For a girl anyway".

"And you were always a big goofball, but I loved you all the same. I really missed you when I left, Jer, it felt like I had left my little brother behind. It's good to be back".

Calling her to take a spot on the bed next to him, he laid his head on her shoulder. The energy in the room had almost shifted as soon as his smile turned into a frown, drunk brain rushing with a multitude of thoughts that he couldn't seem to voice simultaneously, one standing out in particular.

"Why did they have to go? Everyone I love gets hurt".

"I'm really sorry, Jer" she whispered, pulling him into a hug, as she lied down beside him, her chest tightening at the desolate look in his eyes. "She'll be ok, and I'm here for you. I'll be here for as long as you want me to be, ok?" She asked, him answering with a nod, hugging her tighter. After a while, when she felt him start to get tired and his body relax, she broke away and stood, making him whine and look up at her with sleepy eyes.

"Please stay?" he spoke in a barely audible mumble.

Gia hesitated, but nodded anyway, taking off her shoes and jacket and pulling the blankets from beneath him with a great struggle before she managed to cover him up. She slid into the bed as he had asked, being immediately enveloped in his arms as he laid his head on her shoulder, letting out a tired sigh and noticing her shift uncomfortably on the bed.

"Do you still kick people when you sleep?"

"I will if you try anything with me."

"Gross" he mumbled tiredly, hearing her laugh lightly before he drifted off and they both let sleep overtake them.

…

September 9th

She woke up an hour after her alarm was supposed to ring, to notice that she was in a strange room with a heavy arm wrapped around her body and tensing before the events of last night returned to her mind and she relaxed once more. Realizing Jeremy wouldn't wake up anytime soon and she was already late for class on her first week, she texted Stefan to come get her and slipped out of his grasp as fast as she could, earning a confused look from Elena when she ran down the stairs with dishevelled hair, clothes from last night and her shoes in her hand. Before she walked out, she turned to the doppelganger, smiling apologetically.

"I'll bring some cookies to replace the ones from yesterday".

She ran a hand through her messy hair nervously, earning a small laugh from the taller brunette who ushered her out and gave Stefan a wave and a smile, eyes glimmering with adoration.

He answered the best he could with a reciprocation from inside the car, earning a raised eyebrow from Gia, followed by a smirk as she slid into the passenger seat. He waited as he watched her smirk grow into a grin, the girl looking just about to burst with excitement before he sighed.

"Say what's on your mind, Bee".

"You really like her! That's so sweet. I approve, she seems nice".

"Why did I see you getting in her room last night, talking to her brother and staying the night?"

"The real question is what you were doing in her bed, Stefan".

"I'm a hundred and sixty one years old, I don't need to explain myself to my little niece. Now you…" he trailed off, Gia quick to defend herself.

"It's not like that. Jeremy was upset and I felt like he needed a friend".

"Then why did you sneak out?" He countered, doing his best to keep his eyes on the road but eventually casting glances towards her to gauge her reactions and try to make out her thoughts. She still had the same eyes that had struck him so much when she was a baby. Warm brown eyes full of wonder, open like a window to everyone who wanted in, making it easy to read her with just one look no matter how hard she tried to hide it. He could tell that since she had come back there had been something slightly off with her, something that she refused to tell, as if she was trying much harder to hide from everybody than usual.

Gia had always made him wish that he'd had a daughter; so much so that in her life, she had almost become one to him. After her father had sent her away, he was the one to help her get settled with her grandmother in Mexico; a familiar face amongst the turmoil that came with being a Salvatore, and he could not be happier to have her at his side now, no matter the circumstances that had brought her here.

He saw her purse her lips in thought of how to answer the question, her voice a soft mutter. "He was drunk, he probably wouldn't want to wake up cuddling with the girl who had to baby him all night. I wanted to skip the whole awkward conversation bit. And then there's the Bonnie factor."

"Ah yes, Bonnie." Stefan said knowingly, making Gia roll her eyes, unable to hold back a smile. "You like her".

"It's too soon to tell".

"You? Saying it's too soon for anything? That's new" Stefan said incredulously, watching as she gasped in offense and laughed, punching him on the arm playfully.

"Hey! Don't be rude!"

"It's the truth. You have this tendency to jump into anything you do headfirst".

"I'm easy going, it's one of my best gifts. That and my cooking" she shrugged, watching him smile in agreement. "I don't have eternity to live and wait around for stuff to just happen. Patience is overrated".

"Then you should be able to tell if you like her or not, and do something about it if she feels the same, which I doubt she doesn't because you're amazing and anyone would be lucky to have you" he countered, watching her scoff and shake her head, trying to hide the smile on her face, her face falling slightly after a few seconds as she seemed to remember something.

"It's more complicated than that. I can't be reckless like that anymore".

"Why?"

"Oh look, we're home!" she interrupted, noticing they had pulled up to the driveway of the boarding house.

"Oh no, you're not getting away with this, Gia".

She jumped out of the car as he parked, sighing out in relief as she got inside her home and jumping slightly once she noticed the presence of an unknown, raven haired man in the hall, tilting her head to the side curiously as she looked him up and down, a feeling of familiarity crossing her mind, although she couldn't quite place his face to anyone until he spoke, his voice directed to Stefan.

"Hello, baby bro".

Her eyes widened before she frowned slightly. She knew Damon by reputation first, not really having the chance to even make a first impression of him before that time. Always running around, indulging himself and killing whoever he pleased were some of the crimes Stefan had guilted him off, aside from the mess with Katherine and their transition. She hoped more than anything that he had come in peace, even if she knew it to be unlikely.

"Wait, Damon?"

"Ah, and there you are, Gia. I was wondering when you'd show up," he said with a smirk, walking to stand before the two newcomers, earning a stiff glare from Stefan and a raised eyebrow from the girl, who decided to take the turn talking.

"Don't tell me you're here to bond. You're a few years too late to wanna start playing catch and talking about boys".

"Gia stay away from him, he's dangerous".

"Come on, Stef. I think I can take care of our little niece. I don't kill family, I'm not you" he said, stepping closer to Stefan as they both looked at each other as some sort of power play, leaving the girl to roll her eyes and push them apart, only the youngest backing off slightly.

"Ok, you know what? Whatever this is" she said, gesturing to the two of them with her hands. "I want it out of the house before we have to leave for school. I'm gonna go take a shower".

She strode past the two in annoyance, Damon looking on as she waltzed upstairs to her room, shutting the door behind her.

"Feisty, that one" He chuckled, turning away from the noise and back to his brother with a smirk. "Guess she took after the fun brother".

For the people that are new to this story, Welcome!

For the people coming back, thank you all so much for giving this story another try, I really hope it's better than it was last time. And that I get to actually continue it this time.

I hope you liked this first chapter! Share your thoughts on the reviews :)

Love,

Bela