Summary: All Celia Saltzman wanted was her mother back in her life. Moving to Mystic Falls and making new friends had never been part of the plan. Neither was finding new family. After finding out the truth about what happened to her mother, Celia soon discovers that it wasn't the only secret that lies within her family.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize here. TVD belongs to L.J. Smith and the CW.

Setting: TVD AU

Notes:


Eleven


The next day came all too soon and Celia grew more anxious the closer it got to nightfall. All they could really do was wait and she hated it. While she took a nap, Damon rolled his sleeve up approaching his brother. Stefan looked at the bite on his arm then gave him a confused look.

"Yeah I know. It actually healed a bit. That can't be possible." He pointed out.

Stefan nodded his head. "Well have you done anything that Rose didn't?"

"Uh, yeah. I drank from Celia." Damon admitted.

He looked at his brother surprised. "Consensually, I hope. Even so, none of this is possible. She's a regular human."

"Of course consensually. Well she is a Petrova descendant who can't be compelled." He pointed out with a sigh.

Stefan shook his head. "We can't tell her. At least not today. She needs time and we should probably have more information before we tell her."


Bonnie smiled as she sat beside Celia later that day. "So I looked into it and your mother's necklace should be safe for you to wear."

Her face lit up at that news. "Oh thank you, Bonnie! You have no idea how much that means to me."

She hugged her and smiled brighter. "Of course. It's no problem. I'm glad I could help."

Celia pulled away from her. "How are you?"

Bonnie gave her a reassuring look. "I'm better. I'll just be glad once all this is over and Klaus is out of town."

"Oh won't we all." John Gilbert spoke up approaching them.

She gave him a confused look. "What are you doing here?"

"Bonnie is helping me save Elena." He admitted sitting down.

The young witch nodded in agreement. "I should go make sure we're ready for that, by the way. I'll see you later, Celia."

She smiled at Bonnie then looked at the older male. "My mother is dead."

"I heard. I am so sorry for your loss." John gave her a sympathetic smile.

Celia bit her lip. "Would you mind telling me about her? I've heard her side of the story, but I don't think I've ever heard yours."

"Uh, sure. I met Isobel in high school. She was a hauntingly beautiful cheerleader who was way out of my league. I somehow lucked out getting her to go on a date with me. We continued dating and got more serious. One day Isobel came to me clearly upset and told me that she was pregnant. I would have proposed if she had let me." He smiled softly at the memory.

She smiled relaxing a little. "What happened?"

"As we got closer to her due date, she stayed with me. We realized that we were woefully unprepared to be parents and that our kid deserved better. My brother and his wife were struggling to have kids so I thought they'd be the perfect choice to take the baby. Isobel agreed and we gave the baby up after she was born. It was really hard, but they did a great job raising her. We, uh, broke up not long after that and I gave her my ring." John explained.

Celia nodded her head in understanding. "Right. The one Dad wears now. Wait, but you guys stayed in touch, right?"

"Yes we did. I kept her updated on how Elena was doing. I was shocked when she called and told me that she was pregnant with you. After you were born, she called and told me about it. Isobel sounded so happy. She of course felt guilty about not keeping Elena, but she felt like you were her second chance to be a mom. Celia, you meant the world to her. You have ever since she knew that she was having you." He assured her.

She teared up smiling softly at him. "Thanks. That means a lot to me. Did you know about the situation with Klaus before we did?"

"Not all of it, no. Just enough that I knew we needed to protect Elena."

Her brows furrowed at that. "If you knew, why the hell would you pull that stunt at the Founder's Day parade with trying to kill all the vampires? Elena would have been completely vulnerable without the Salvatores."

"It was your mother's idea. She didn't trust them around you two. We also didn't know for sure if it would work so it was more of a trial run. We thought maybe we could use it against Klaus. We were wrong." He admitted with a sigh.

Celia frowned at him. "Will whatever you have planned to save Elena hurt Bonnie?"

"No, of course not. She assured me that it wouldn't. It's just a spell." John assured her.

She nodded her head. "Alright. I hope it works. I'm not ready to lose her yet."


It was nightfall before they knew it so everyone was busy either making final preparations or spending time with Elena. There was a knock at the door and Celia opened it only to see Klaus smiling at her. She rolled her eyes then stepped outside of the boarding house shutting the door behind her. He gave her a curious look, but didn't try to stop her.

"I'm here to pick up my doppelganger." Klaus announced to her with a cheeky smile.

She nodded her head. "I know. May I ask you something first?"

"Alright. What would you like to know, love?"

Celia gave him a stoic look. "Is my sister going to suffer?"

"Only as much as someone getting their blood drained by a vampire would." He told her.

She sighed shaking her head. "Good to know, I guess. I want to be mad at you. So mad. You took my mother from me and now you're taking my sister. As much as I want to, I can't blame you. At least not for my sister."

"Why not?" Klaus gave her a curious look.

Celia lifted her gaze to look at him. "You have every right to want to break the spell that is binding your wolf side. I can't imagine what it is like going for so long not being your complete self. It's not like you asked for that side of you to be suppressed in the first place. That choice was taken from you and because of it, Katherine and my sister were born to die. None of it was ever fair."

"Indeed, but such is life. I'm sorry, love." He softened toward her.

She relented moving to open the door again. "Just promise me something?"

"Sure." Klaus gave her another curious look.

An amused smirk appeared on her face. "Get a better hairstyle. The gelled down look just doesn't work."

"I'll see what I can do." He chuckled softly at her.

Celia opened the front door stepping back into the boarding house only to find herself face to face with the Salvatores. It was only then that she remembered that they could hear her conversation. She ignored it and moved to hug her sister. Celia just hoped that it truly wasn't for the last time.


There was a building near the ritual site where they holed up waiting for it to be over. It was only after the ritual started that Celia learned of the true plan. Elijah was set to kill Klaus when he was at his weakest. She wasn't sure why the thought bothered her so much. Celia also wasn't thrilled when Bonnie went out to the ritual site as well and was even less thrilled when Damon followed.

It was Damon who killed the witch performing the ritual. He then picked up Elena's lifeless body carrying her away. Bonnie used her magic against Klaus weakening him further to the point where Elijah could kill him. She could only watch helplessly as the two brothers spoke then Elijah helped him get away.

Celia frowned comforting an upset Jeremy as Damon laid Elena's body down. She rolled her eyes hearing Damon beg her not to return as a vampire. John walked away from them closing his eyes as he took his last breath. His body collapsing to the ground lifeless just as Elena gasped sitting up.

Once they were sure that she was still human, It was Jeremy, Jenna, and Celia who gave her relieved hugs. It was only after they were back home that they found out that Klaus was still alive. Fully believing that he was leaving town, they decided not to worry about it and went ahead with planning John's funeral.

Celia stayed strong for Elena, Jeremy, and Jenna. After the funeral the next day, they placed flowers at his grave. Celia watched the the Salvatores speak to each other then Damon walked away. She waited an hour staying with her newfound family before returning to the boarding house. It was only then that she saw what was on Damon's arm.

"Cece..."

She frowned at him. "Don't Cece me. Were you ever going to tell me that you're dying?"

"I don't know! Tyler bit me when I was freeing him and Caroline. You were already going through so much with Isobel dying and your sister potentially dying. I just didn't want to add to it." Damon admitted to her.

Celia sighed softly. "I appreciate that, but I still should have known. I love you and I don't want to lose you too."

"I love you too. I know, but there's no cure." He pressed a kiss to her head.

She relaxed in his embrace kissing his lips softly. "Actually I have an idea. You just stay here and relax. I'll try not to be too long."

"Celia..." Damon trailed off watching her leave.


Somehow she wasn't surprised to find that Stefan was already in her father's apartment speaking with Klaus. What did surprise her was walking in while Klaus stabbed Elijah with a dagger. Celia walked over greeting Katherine with a hug then smacked Stefan upside the head.

He flinched then rubbed his head. "Cece, what the hell?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "How could you not tell me that Damon got bit?"

Stefan sighed giving her an apologetic look. "He asked me not to. He's my brother."

"Hello love. I take it you're here for the same reason as Stefan?" Klaus greeted her.

Celia nodded her head. "Yes and no. First, I just want to say that I had no idea that the plan was for Elijah to kill you yesterday. By the time I found out, the ritual was well underway."

"It's alright. I believe you." He smiled at her.

She sighed in relief. "So is there really no cure for a werewolf bite?"

"Well I might know of one." Klaus vamped out his eyes turning a shade of gold as he suddenly sank his fangs into Katherine's wrist.

A look of fear crossed the vampire doppleganger's face. "No!"

"Relax." He then bit his own wrist and fed her his blood.

Celia watched in amazement as the bite on Katherine's wrist healed. "So the cure is your blood."

"Yes. Now I can't say that I'm willing to give it away so easily, but I'm open to discussion." Klaus smiled at her.

Stefan narrowed his eyes at him. "What do you want, Klaus?"

"I'm leaving town and I want you to come with me. Agree to that and your brother will live." He filled a small vial with his blood.

She placed her hand on Stefan's shoulder. "Give us your blood for Damon and I'll go with you."

"Perhaps, but only if Stefan drinks this." Klaus tossed a blood bag to him.

Celia frowned at him. "That will make him a ripper again. You can't do that."

"I'm afraid I can, love. That's my bargain. So make your choice." He started to pour his blood down the drain.

Stefan opened the blood bag. "Alright I'll do it."

"Excellent. Katherine, take Celia and bring this to Damon. Celia, we'll wait for your return before leaving." Klaus compelled the doppelgänger before looking over at Celia.

Stefan watched them leave then looked at him in despair. "She's on vervain. The compulsion won't stick."

"Oh I'm aware." He smirked at him.


Katherine vampire sped Celia over to the boarding house. Despite being partially healed, the effects seemed to hit Damon faster and he was now laid up in bed. His pale skin was clammy and glistened from a cold sweat. The two women entered the room just in time to see Elena lean in kissing Damon on the lips. He didn't attempt to stop her and Celia gasped before running off.

Katherine rolled her eyes then tossed the vial onto the bed. "The cure was Klaus' blood. Way to go, idiots. Celia saw the whole thing."

"Oh no. Celia..." Elena trailed off while Damon grabbed the vial downing its contents.

Sure enough the wound on his arm healed and he felt his strength returning. It was too late though as Katherine was gone and so was Celia. The vampire doppelgänger returned her to the apartment with promises of catching up soon. Celia went inside and packed a bag.

"Celia, you don't have to come if you don't want to. Having Stefan along is enough." Klaus offered to her misunderstanding why she seemed upset.

She shook her head. "I want to go with you. Stefan's one of my best friends. I'm not going to let him go through this alone. Besides I need a break from this town. It reminds me of what I lost too much."

"Alright. We just have one stop to make then."

Celia wrote a quick note to her father leaving it where he could find it. She then linked arms with Stefan resting her head against his shoulder as they followed Klaus out of the apartment. He drove them over to a warehouse where four caskets sat waiting for them. A fifth one containing Elijah's body was added to the group.

She couldn't help shuddering at the sight. "Are they all daggered like Elijah?"

"Yes. These are our siblings. He wanted to be reunited with them which is why he didn't kill me." Klaus explained.

Celia nodded her head. "Siblings can be a bitch. So I guess we're here to pick them up."

"Yes, but first I've got a treat for Stefan. Now drink up or I'll go bite your brother." He smirked watching as a woman approached them.

Stefan hesitated then glanced over at Klaus. "Just don't let me hurt Celia."

"She is in safe hands." Klaus assured him moving closer to the girl in question.

Celia turned away unable to watch as Stefan's fangs sank into the woman's throat draining her of her blood. She hated that he was being forced to do this and that there was nothing that she could do to help him. Klaus placed his hand on her back rubbing it comfortingly. Once Stefan was done, Klaus allowed him to dispose of the body. Celia looked at Klaus again and it was only then that she couldn't help giggling slightly.

"What's so amusing, love?"

Celia gestured toward him. "You changed your hair."

"Well someone did say that I should ditch the gelled down look." He gave her a playful smirk as he ran his fingers through his blond curls.

She smiled softly at him. "I like the curls. They suit you."

Stefan cleared his throat alerting them of his return. "If you two are done flirting, can we hit the road?"

Celia gave him a look. "We were not flirting, Stefan."

"Yes I'd say we are ready to hit the road. Let's get going, shall we?" Klaus smiled and got his family's caskets loaded up in a truck.


"I'm so sorry, Dad. Stefan agreed to go with Klaus in exchange for the cure so he needs me and I just can't be in Mystic Falls right now. I'll be careful, I promise. Take care of Jenna and Jeremy. I'll talk to you soon. Don't do anything crazy. Love, Celia." Alaric read the note aloud.

"Damn it!" Damon swore shaking his head.

"I don't understand. What happened? She wouldn't just leave like that. Damon, what the hell did you do?" He looked over at him.

"I was laying in my bed close to death. I was telling Elena about human me. We really believed there was no cure and I was about to die. She kissed me and I barely had the strength to pull away. Celia walked in with Katherine and the cure. She ran away upset." Damon explained clearly upset.

"I'd kill you myself, but I don't think she'd ever forgive me. So here is what we are going to do. You are going to help me find my daughter and bring her back home where she belongs." Ric glared at him.

"Of course. Whatever it takes. I never meant to hurt her. I love her, Ric." He admitted to him.

"Alright. At least Stefan is with her so she isn't alone with Klaus." Ric sighed.

"My brother would never let anything happen to her." Damon assured him.

"Yeah." He pulled out his phone and called her.

She hesitated to answer until Klaus gave her a nod of approval. "Hi Dad."

"Celia! Thank god. Are you alright?" Ric sighed in relief.

A pang of guilt struck her. "I'm okay. I'm sorry if I scared you. I just really needed a break from Mystic Falls. It just all got to be too much."

"I understand. I just really wish you would have talked to me about it instead. Where are you?" He asked.

"You can talk to him whenever you want by phone, but you can't tell him where we are." Klaus whispered to her.

Celia smiled softly mouthing thank you to him. "I'm sorry. I promise from now on I will. I don't know where we are, but we've definitely left Mystic Falls. I'll be back, Dad. I just need a break. We can always call each other in the meantime."

"Alright. I'll be glad to hear your voice. Hold on. Someone wants to talk to you." Ric reluctantly handed the phone to him.

"Cece?"

She froze when she heard his voice. "Damon? Did the cure... are you..."

"Yeah it worked. I'm okay. It's so good to hear your voice. I'm so sorry. I love you so much. Just let me explain." Damon assured her then apologized.

Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. "I love you too, but I can't do this right now. I'm sorry."

"Celia..." He started to say only to hear a click then the dial tone in his ear.

She ended the call then wiped her eyes. "Is it okay if we stop for food? I don't think I've eaten since this morning."

"Yes we can do that. Are you alright, love?" Klaus looked over at her while Stefan drove.

Celia shook her head. "No, but I will be."