Thanks so much for all the support so far. This story is also up on Ao3. This chapter will lead straight into the episode 'Rose' in season two.

-x

It's strange how one place can change so much and yet stay the same in almost ten years. Starting to very quickly feel like I've never truly left, like my body had been in New Orleans and my soul had remained in Mystic Falls.

Another yawn escapes my mouth, my hand moving to cover it then moving it to the shades covering my eyes, lifting them up onto my head, my fingers rubbing them.

Even though I'd managed to get a few hours sleep, I was still feeling drained like I'd somehow died without realising and had turned into a zombie.

I know the reason for my tiredness was the dreams that had sunken into my slumber. I'd been having them for so, so long, I'd grown used to sleeping no more then two-three hours a night.

I may be part angel, but I am part human too and I needed more then a few hours of sleep. I'd tried everything from yoga and pilates to sleeping pills, the latter proving to be completely ineffective with my inhuman half.

My sleep has never been dreamless no matter how hard I try. And yet, I don't want them to be, part of myself longing for those dreams, to be with the two men I've fallen for in my imagination.

The diary I'd chosen to keep the day after my mother's death had very quickly turned into a dream keeper. No matter what I had dreamt about, I would always write it down in those pages, not wanting to forget what I'd seen in my sleep.

I slip the shades back down onto my nose, carrying on driving, my eyes looking around me as I move further into the town.

Instead of making that journey I know I should really be making, to my aunt's house, I choose to drive in the opposite direction, ending up in a neighbourhood a few blocks over.

It was still there, not that I was expecting it to have vanished, choosing not to put it up for sale after my mom had left me.

I can't help but smile seeing the pale blue brickwork on the outside, the colour always being her favourite, remembering the two of us painting it when I was ten. It always used to remind me of the sky on a summer's day, it still doing that even now I'm nearing 30.

I pull up into the quite large driveway, killing the engine, suddenly finding I don't have the strength to get out of the car, staring up at the home that was once filled with happy memories.

"Mom, I miss you," I whispered, closing my eyes, feeling tears escape, moving to wipe them away, taking my glasses off, my hand moving to the silver chain around my neck, clutching the four-leaf clover shaped pendant hanging from the middle, squeezing it gently.

Don't think I'd taken it off in ten years, it being the last gift she had given me for my 19th birthday. It was the last time I'd been truly happy. Four months later, she was gone, leaving me alone in spite of me still having my cousins and my aunts.

I wipe my eyes again, finally deciding to get out of the car, shutting the door after me, walking slowly up the drive moving to the front door.

It takes me a good five minutes to unlock it, pushing it open, the inside light thanks to how early in the day it still was. It's been nine and a half years and yet I can still somehow smell the perfume she always used to wear, letting out a sigh.

I shut the door after me, switching on the light, starting to walk through the house, seeing everything is just how I left it, all the furniture covered in white sheeting, a thick layer of dust and cobwebs accompanying them.

I begin to pull the sheets off everything, coughing getting hit in the face with a thick plume of dust. Look like I have a lot of cleaning to do!.

-x-

"Finally," I sighed, flopping down onto the sofa, getting my breath back, my eyes closing, feeling exhausted all over again.

It had taken me most of the day to get the entire house dust and cobweb free as well as get in the few things I had in the car.

And as much as I want to see Jenna, Elena and Jeremy, I was feeling too worn out, choosing to go over there in the morning.

I slowly open my eyes, looking over at the side table on the right of me, them landing on the photo frame, moving over to pick it up, laying it on my lap, staring down at it, smiling.

It was the last photo we had taken together on Wickery Bridge. It was a couple of days before my 19th birthday, the day being absolutely perfect weather wise.

I move my fingers to her face, my smile dropping a little, running them over her cheek then moving them to my own in the photograph. I put it back on the table getting up off the sofa looking over at the carriage clock on the mantlepiece, seeing the hour is getting close to 9 in the evening.

I needed to get out of the house, head into town needing a good, strong drink and something to eat, having not had much for lunch.

I grab my jacket slipping it on followed by my ankle boots, zipping them up before grabbing my bag, slipping the handle over my shoulder.

As soon as I close and lock the door, I hear my phone beep, pulling it out of my pocket finding I've got a message from Cami, automatically smiling, opening it up, reading it.

"Hey, hope you've settled in okay. Remember, I'm only a phone call away if you need to talk. The town already seems empty without you. xx."

I go to type out a reply freezing, hearing footsteps behind me. I quickly slip the phone back in my pocket, my hand moving into my bag, grabbing hold of the weapon I have concealed there, turning around fast finding there's nobody behind me.

I snort shaking my head, already starting to feel ridiculous considering I'd spent almost a decade learning to know when I was being followed.

I turn back around coming face to face with a figure wearing a mask, letting out a shriek. I try to back away getting stopped by a hand with a cloth moving over my nose from behind, the overwhelming stench of chemicals hitting me.

The last thing I remember before everything fades to black is someone picking me up before I hit the ground.