Actress is Felicity Jones

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my character, Emily, and the plot-line changes.

XXXXX

"Emily," Elena calls. Her sister pauses her studying on her laptop, turns to her from her bed, and smiles in greet.

"Hey. Back from school?" Emily asks.
"Yeah," Elena replies tiredly. That didn't sound good.

Emily was the oldest of the Gilbert siblings. Older than her sister by two years, and her brother by four.

She was a college student, majored in English.

For the four months since their parents had died in that car accident, and Jenna, their aunt, moved in as their guardian, Emily had been taping herself up to create the picture form of responsibility.

Her parents would always tell her. "You're the oldest. You're in charge. Look after your brother and sister." Pressuring? Of course it was. But she never felt that extreme pressure until they were gone, and her siblings truly became her responsibility. She felt an obligation towards them. She became their rock.

She stood by them through it all. Made sure they felt comfortable talking to her, crying on her shoulder, safe around her, no matter how badly seeing them broken hurt her. It wasn't easy, but she'd achieved it to a point. They almost always came to her.

Though technically that ought to be Jenna's job, she wasn't very good at it, despite heartedly trying. Emily was just naturally good, mainly because she was their sister. She knew them, knew their ins and outs. Jenna didn't. But the presence of Emily helped Jenna cope faster with the new and sudden way of life she had to adapt to. Looking over three kids was no small thing, three teenagers.

But what about Emily? Who was her rock?

No one.

She'd try to keep herself up by being around her siblings. Seeing them smile, made her smile. Sometimes she'd lean on Jenna, who always had her arms open.

But, mainly, she channeled it, channeled all of it into turning her body into a weapon. She grew stronger, physically more than emotionally. Faster. More aware of her movements, of other people's movements.

…Of course…there was another reason she took those kickboxing and jujitsu classes.

"I…need to tell you something," Elena says. Emily furrows her eyebrows, shutting down her laptop screen.
"What's wrong?" she asks, putting aside her several theories. Elena strolls cautiously into the room, sitting on the edge of Emily's bed.
"It's about Jeremy," Elena says. A look of realization crosses Emily's eyes.

Their sibling had been acting out, ever since it happened.

At first, the incidents were small. A little drunk. A little high. They let pass. They didn't wanna pressure him. He was the youngest. It was hardest for him. They took it easy with Jeremy.

But what happened that day, took it too far.

"What is it?" Emily asks her sister. Elena scoffs tiredly.
"It's the first day back, Emily! And he was stoned! I caught him. In the bathroom. I just…" she scoffs again.
"Hey, easy," Emily tells, rubbing Elena's shoulder. Elena exhales.
"He can't keep this up, Em. Not like this."

Emily eyes around, thoughts of 'I should have expected this' grasping her attention. She turns back to her sister. "I'll talk to him," she tells. Elena nods knowingly. It was why she told her anyways. Though she tried herself, maybe Emily would have better luck.

"Where is he?" Emily inquires. Elena shakes her head in dismiss.
"Out with some friends," she says.
"That's one of the problems," Emily breathes.
"Yeah," Elena agrees, fiddling with her nails in stress. Emily notes.

She wanted to take Elena's mind off of this. It was hard enough already, carrying on their educational lives.

"So, how was your first day back?" Emily asks. Elena looks at her like 'really?'
"How was yours?" she retorts knowingly. Emily chuckles at that.
"Fair enough," she says, somewhat sadly. A memory clicks in Elena's mind.
"There was…something though," she smiles sheepishly. Emily notes the glint in her sibling's shy eyes. She smiles as well. "This…guy." Emily grins.
"Oooh, Eleeenaaa," Emily draws, tickling her in the side. Elena giggles.
"Stop it!" she pushes back.

Elena tells Emily of her encounter with the mysterious new guy, who she didn't know the name of yet.

She told her how she was heading out of the bathroom, the boys' bathroom, after arguing with Jeremy, and she ran into him. She said it was unbelievingly embarrassing, but stated that he was undeniably gorgeous.

Emily rejoiced to hear her sister speak happily for once, about a day that could have been much worse.

She tells her about Bonnie, the mini accident they had with a bird and the car, which greatly concerned Emily, but she said nothing.

She also told her how Bonnie's grandmother thought Bonnie was psychic which caught Emily's interest a bit, especially when she mentioned the Salem witches.

Emily was the only member of the family to know about…the other world.

She'd read the journals. She knew it all. Did she believe it? No, at least until the year before.

Her first year of college. A while through, one of the students started showing up with what seemed as bite-marks across some spots on her body. No one really noticed unless they sat close enough to her. And Emily once did.

She was asked about them, and simply stated that her boyfriend played rough, which Emily thought insane.

Then, the girl was found dead,

dried of blood,

and bitten on the neck.

That was enough for Emily to believe.

They were real.

So, what did she do?

She said nothing, but she took action. She gave her family members vervained accessories, which weren't easy to find, but she would waste no expense. Jeremy and Elena had bracelets. Jenna had a necklace. Emily had an ankle-bracelet, and several pencils in her bag.

She'd never seen one, and she hoped she'd never have to. She hoped it was all her imagination.

…But was it?

XXX

Later that night, Jeremy was still out. Elena was to be meet up with Bonnie at the Grill, and Emily was to spend the night in, ironically watching Supernatural with Jenna.

About to head out, Emily hears Elena speaking to someone at the door. Jenna was in the bathroom during then.

"…I get it, blood makes you squeamish," Elena resumes. Emily, who was strolling to the door to see, furrows her eyebrows at her sister's words.

Stefan's eyes avert to Emily. Elena turns. "Oh. This is my sister, Emily," Elena introduces as Emily smiles, approaching them and offering Stefan her hand. He smiles brightly at her and shakes it graciously.

Elena was right, he was gorgeous. The smooth skin, the green eyes, the soft, light-brown locks. The built. Definitely a looker.

"Stefan," he states.
"It's nice to meet you, Stefan," she says. Elena smiles happily at them. "So, what brings you here?" she asks casually.
"Oh, um. I wanted to give this to…Elena," he says, bringing out a small journal.

Elena had told Emily about her second encounter with him at the cemetery. She wouldn't have, she liked going there without people knowing, but she had to explain when Emily saw the wound on her sister's ankle.

Apparently, some fog and a crow had spoked her out. She fell and hurt her ankle, then bumped into Stefan, who was there, visiting some family members.

"Oh. I must've dropped it when I…thank you," Elena smiles at Stefan. Just then, Emily's eyes caught sight of Stefan's fairly large ring, a sapphire lined with silver. Quite interesting. Must be some family heirloom thing.
"Don't worry, I didn't…read it," he tells seriously, exchanging glances between her and Emily.
"No?" Emily asks doubtfully. "Why not? Most people would have," she states.

Stefan turns to her. So, in order to win Elena, he would have to please her older sister. He doesn't mind.

"Well, I…wouldn't want anyone to read mine," he explains. Elena widens her eyes at him. Emily is impressed at the reply, but doubts its truth.
"You keep a journal?" Elena asks in disbelief. Emily studies him carefully.
"Yeah. If I don't, I forget…Memories are…too important," he tells. Elena feels a mad rush of feelings towards him upon hearing that. Emily is satisfied with his sincerity.

Elena then invites Stefan to the Grill with her. She gets her jacket, they say their goodbyes to Emily and leave.

Sometime later, Jeremy comes home. Emily talks briefly to him about what he'd done at school. He listens half-heartedly, but nevertheless, feels guilty for the hint of disappointment and hurt in his older sister's eyes. He promises to try harder, and she believes him.

XXX

The next day, after college, Emily heads out late. Her siblings were out at the annual bonfire party, and Jenna was late at work.

She drove to the Mystic Grill, which was far from crowded. She just needed some air. A change of scenery.

"Another one, Richards," Emily told the bartender that considered her a regular.
"Long night, Gilbert?" he asked whilst cleaning a mug with a towel.

Damon, who was making his way to the bar, after having fed on one of the local students at the bonfire, caught fast the uttered name.

Gilbert.

So, this was one of the siblings.

Good.

"Just a boring one," Emily replies. She was wearing a black blouse and jeans. Her faint-gold colored, leather jacket and black purse were clutched lazily in her lap. Her brown, shoulder-length hair was set free to roam.

Damon smirks.

"Understandable," Richards replies. He hands her the drink, and is beckoned by another customer.

"Emily Gilbert, right?" a voice asks. Emily turns her face to a stranger's. His eyes glazed a gloomy sky, skin as pale as a ghost's, hair as black as charcoal, and a smile that made her heart skip eight beats at once.

He heard.

Quickly recomposing her stature, Emily masked her eyes to show little interest, and tone aim neutral. "Who's asking?" she retorts.
"Damon Salvatore," he replies, stretching out his hand.

A look of realization falls upon her, and she instantly recognizes the last name.

She shakes his hand and smiles softly, ignoring how cold he felt. It was a cold evening. "Stefan's brother." she says.
"The one and only," Damon smiles.

Emily doesn't find it odd that Elena hadn't mentioned Damon, considering her sibling had just met Stefan. She probably didn't know he had a brother. Neither did Emily, until then.

"And you must be Elena's sister," he smirks.
"The one and only," she smiles.
"I see our siblings have made fast friends," he notes casually.
"Indeed they have," Emily nods happily at the thought.
"Perhaps…we should get to know each other," Damon offers slyly. Emily thinks for a moment.
"…Agreed," she utters curiously.

Each wanted to get to know the other for their own reasons, but they had one goal in common, knowing about the other one's sibling.

If Stefan was to become a potential boyfriend of Elena's, it was best to find out as much as possible about him and his family, starting with Damon here.

Damon himself, on the other hand, well, had different reasons.

So, what was Damon doing?

In all honesty, he wasn't entirely sure.

The Salvatore had had one goal, for a long time now, and he was this close to achieving. Part of that process meant coming back to Mystic Falls, his home town,

where it all started.

This also meant reuniting with his brother, whom he hadn't seen for the past fifteen years. Stefan doesn't even know he's back!

Damon did his readings before returning of course. He, being as curious as a cat, wanted to know why his brother came back too.

His brother.

That was a long story. But, it's safe to say, their relationship was at a bit of a fall.

For one, Damon stubbornly refused Stefan's new way of life, a life without feeding. It made him weak! Could he not see that?

And for two…Elena. She wasn't on Damon's agenda, though he was curious, but knowing that Stefan was after her, she who looked exactly like her, bothered him, and he wasn't even sure why. It just did.

He'd find that he'd conducted several side quests. First was being to force Stefan back into the regular feeding process. And second, complicate things between him and Elena, just for the sake of bitterness.

But one had to analyze their assets, and Emily was Elena's sister, a perfect way in.

"So, are you a high school student?" he asks, ordering a drink and leaning on the counter with his elbow.

He knew she wasn't, but anything to pave the path.

As he waved at the bartender, Emily noticed the large ring on his finger, much like Stefan's. Definitely an heirloom thing.

Emily turns her attention to him. "College, actually."
"Figured you looked different," he states. She squints her eyes at him.
"Different how?"
"Well, you're here, by yourself, sipping root beer on a party night, dressed like that," he states, proudly observant. She furrows her eyebrows in slight offence.
"Like what?"
"Simple, yet sexy," he smirks mischievously. She cocks an eyebrow at him. "Not your typical high school look."
"It's called having class," she notes, fairly enjoying the conversation, and wondering why she found him so attractive. Elena always told her she had weird, toxic taste. She couldn't help it.
"Touché," he winks, taking a sip from his glass of whisky. Her heart jumps again. It was ridiculous.

Though she wasn't one to take flirting positively, he was Stefan's brother, and her mind stupidly convinced her that taking compliments from her sister's friend/potential boyfriend's brother was okay.

"So what class are you in?" he asks curiously, putting the glass down.
"English."
"Any specific reason?"
"I'm good at it."
"One of the best reasons," he smirks, agreeing. She smiles in amusement.

"What about you, stranger? Where'd you come from?" she asks curiously.
"Florida. I move around a lot. You know, see the world," he draws, knowing it was almost every girl's dream.
"Sounds fun," she smiles at the thought.
"Yeah? Thinking about taking a trip?" She chuckles at that. Like she ever could.
"Not exactly," she tells.
"Oh?"
"Well, I would like to move out of Mystic Falls," she exhales, somewhat quietly. Damon notes. "But that's not happening any time soon."
"Why do you say that?"

She turns to him, wondering if she ought to say. It's not that she wasn't supposed to, it was that she tended to avoid the topic, but he could use the explanation.

"My parents died, four months ago," she winces at her own words. Damon, who rarely batted an eye at the thought of death, feigned sympathy.
"I'm so sorry," he tells. She shakes her head in dismiss, wanting the subject closed.
"Anyways. I can't leave. My siblings need me," she smiles at the thought of them. Damon smirks in irony.
"I know what you mean…My parents are dead too," he offers. She turns to him in petty. "And, you know, I try to be there for Stefan, but he…has a tendency to push me away," he tells as if sadly.

What Damon had in mind, was that whatever bad he would say about Stefan to Emily, she would say to Elena.

Emily smiles gloomily. "My brother does the same thing. But I don't let him, you know…He's stubborn, and's been making some bad decisions," bad was an understatement, "If I push too hard, he'll push back. It's kind of a tug of war thing, but it's the only way that actually works, you know" she says.

Damon listens intently. He'd been mulling over how to convince Stefan to feed probably. Should he just force it? Should he talk?

But, though Emily's suggestion sounded frustrating, it also seemed convincing. Better than what he had planned anyways.

Damon smirks at her words. "I like you," he notes, causing her to tense suddenly out of nervousness. "Lemme buy you a drink."

Just then, her phone buzzes in her bag, snatching their attention. "Sorry," she utters for the interruption. She pulls it out. Seeing Elena's name, she picks up. "It's Elena," she states. Damon nods as in 'take it; it's cool'.

"Hey," she calls through.
"Hey, Em…Are you doing anything right now?" Elena asks.

With his heightened hearing, Damon could hear every word.

"Why?" Emily retorts.
"Something's…happened, at the party…Vicki got attacked," she says. Emily's eyes widen in concern. Damon hides a smirk, and keeps a placid expression of wariness for her widened eyes. "The cops are all over the place. Me and Jeremy could use a ride home."
"I'll be right there," Emily tells in haste.

"Is everything okay?" Damon asks when she hangs up.
"Uh, yeah. I just…something's happened at the party. I have to go," she replies, too clouded by concern.

She rises to her feet, and stumbles to collect her belongings and put on her jacket. "Do you need a ride?" Damon asks, faking politeness.
"No, it's okay. I've got my car," she assures. "It was nice meeting you, Damon."
"Right back at you," he raises his glass. She spares one final smile before turning away, and giving attention to her pulsing head and hammering heart.

XXX

"What happened?" Emily asks them. Elena was seated beside her, and Jeremy in the back. They looked more shocked than anything. "Details."
"Well…" Elena starts reluctantly. "Jeremy got drunk."
"Seriously?!" Jeremy protests from the back. Emily tenses.
"It's what happened!" Elena shouts back tiredly.
"Anyways!" Emily calls their attentions.
"He went into the woods. I followed him…then he fell…onto her," Elena continues, growing uncomfortably quiet.
"She was bleeding," Jeremy says warily. Emily scrunches her face, looking at him through the mirror. "From her neck."

Emily feels her heart jump at the last statements.

It couldn't be.

…Could it?

No. It couldn't.

"I'm sorry you guys had to see that, but hey…she's gonna be okay," Emily assures them firmly, smiling softly at her shaken up siblings.

They listen, needing to believe her.

"How about we all go home, wash up, get under a blanket, and watch a movie, or something to take your minds off of it before we sleep," she tells. They consider. Elena solely nods, and Jeremy squirms in the back.
"I don't wanna see anything," he tells tiredly.
"You don't have to, honey. Just get under the blanket and eat free popcorn. How does that sound?" He smiles slightly.
"Yeah…okay," he nods as well.

"So…aside from a gruesome ending, did we have fun tonight? Huh? Jeremy?"
"Meh."
"Oh, come on. Anything?"
"He got drunk," Elena offers sarcastically.
"Screw you, Elena!"
"Hey! No such words in my car!"
"Why do you do it, then?! We're here for you! We're always here for you! Why do you keep doing this?!" Elena insists, having had enough.

But it wasn't that easy, was it? For him to cut back, to cope with going back to school, with the questions of being okay, with the teachers, professor Tanner…and Vicki.

It wasn't easy.

"Because, Elena…It's hard," Emily tells. Elena widens her eyes at her sister, who was taking Jeremy's side for some reason. Jeremy stops as well, looking at her. "We get it, Jer, we really do. I mean, we're all part of this. If you think we're coping great, we're fucking not," she speaks strictly.

Elena swallows the lump in her throat, as if her sister's words triggered the feelings she'd been trying to hide all day.

"But we try. I know you do too. And I know how badly that hurts, but you can fight it," she says. Jeremy clenches his jaw, fighting back tears. "I need you to try harder. For me. For us…Okay?"
"…Yeah," he nods reluctantly, letting guilt consume his heart for that moment,

for them.

Emily smiles happily at his reply. Elena fights the urge to hug her sister.

They reach the house and enter it. The siblings separate to their rooms, and Emily heads to Jenna for questioning.

"They're early. What's going on?" Jenna asks cautiously, tea-cup in hand.
"Vicki…got attacked at the party," Emily says, tensing at that once more.

It just couldn't be what she thought it was. She hasn't seen one for years.

No.

She'd never seen one.

She only guessed it was one back then, and she was guessing now. She ought to stop.

"Attacked?! By who?!" Jenna exclaims.
"An…animal," Emily replies uncertainly. Jenna takes this in.
"Oh my god," she utters. "Well, is she okay?"
"Yeah. She'll be alright. Lena and Jer are a little shaken up. So, I told them to wash up. We're watching a movie. Wanna join?" Emily asks, tossing her bag and jacket onto the counter.

Upon hearing this, Jenna smiles shaking her head slightly. "You are way better at this than I am," she breathes, putting the cup down. Emily smiles sympathetically, approaching her. She places her hands on Jenna's shoulders and gives them a squeeze.
"I wish you'd stop saying that. You have no idea what you being here means for us," Emily insists, allowing her mask of bravery to fall just for emphasize.

Jenna smiles at her nephew proudly and embraces her tightly. She pulls back and brushes a strand of Emily's loose hair behind her ear. "You're just like your mother," she tells softly, eyes tearing up slightly. Emily simply smiles back, feeling the words do more harm to her than they should. "I'll go make the popcorn."

XXX

A few hours later, they separate paths, somewhat refreshed. Emily wakes up mid-night, headed to the bathroom. She'd seen on her cat-clock that it was three fourteen, so when she bumped into Stefan in the hallway, she was fairly confused.

With her tired eyes squinted, she stared up at him in utter confusion. "Stefan? What're you doing here?" she asks.
"I…uhhh," he starts. Hearing the commotion, Elena comes out as well, wide-eyed.
"Emily. Hey. You're up," she states weirdly.
"Yeah. So are you," she says pointedly.

Stefan looks to the ground awkwardly. Elena mouths silent, confused words. "W-uh-We were just talking," she tells. Emily cocks an eyebrow.
"Three in the morning?" she adds, crossing her arms, and smirking mischievously.
"We lost track of time," Stefan offers.

She considered the way they looked. Elena was still dressed, and her hair was still straight. Stefan seemed untouched.

She nodded in consideration. "Okaaay," she draws. An odd moment of silence passes.
"I'm just gonna…go now," Stefan states at last.
"Sure you don't wanna stay the night?" Emily asks slyly. Elena widens her eyes at her in shock. Stefan studies the wild question, then smiles knowingly.
"It's late," he says. Emily smiles brightly.
"Right answer," she grins. Elena smiles in relief.
"I'll walk you out," Elena says.

Emily waits for her to do so in the kitchen. There was nothing wrong with her sister bringing home a guy, only, she'd only known him for two days!

Emily casually asks Elena what they were talking about. Elena tells her there was barely anything they left unsaid. That they talked for hours and that she'd never felt this connected to anyone before, and by anyone, she meant Matt, her ex, and Vicki's brother.

Emily calmly hints not to move too fast, and Elena nods in consideration, then retires to sleep, and Emily does the same.

XXXXX