Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Vampire Diaries. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and L.J. Smith. Thank you.
Writer's Notes: Thank you Sandra and JynxxD for your comments! I'm actually just playing around with different characters. There are several possibilities at the moment in time. Bella is an intriguing character, and I'm hoping that I can expand more relationships than just her. My favorite Twilight character is Jasper and my favorite Vampire Diaries character is Damon. From Originals it's a tie between NiKlaus and Elijah. So, I'm looking forward to having some fun, and hopefully everyone loves the fun too.
The next week was a blur to Bella. Going back to school was something that she really wasn't looking forward to, but she was happy that Alice and Jasper were back in her life. Alaric wasn't too happy about the situation, but he had to be accepting because Alice and Jasper were there to help protect her. She had spoke to her dad a few times since the Laurent and Victoria incident. He knew that Jasper and Alice were in Mystic Falls, and he was happy that Alice had come back into her life. Apparently, Alice had spun the story that Carlisle and Esme were letting them study there because they wanted to be closer to Bella. School was almost over anyways. He knew that they were staying in the boarding house with Stefan and Damon.
It was Friday now, and Bella's last class of the day was Chemistry and she couldn't wait for it to finally be over. Alaric was taking her to look at some cars because she didn't want to depend on Elena and Stefan all the time. Stefan was growing on her. She wasn't sure what to think about him just quite yet. He was super nice and friendly, and while she appreciated how accepting he was, it just made her feel uncomfortable at how he looked at her. Like she was going to fall apart at any moment. To be fair, she did have a few episodes. Her nightmares were still coming frequently, and she didn't know how to make them stop. Bonnie was looking into some charms that she could make for her that could help deter the nightmares so she wouldn't be waking up the entire house every single night.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear the final bell. "Bella," Stefan lay a hand on her shoulder and the tingling in her scar pulled her out of her thoughts. She blinked a few times at Stefan and then realized that the entire class was gone except for her and him. "Oh," she murmured and stood. Stefan dropped his hand and smiled. "Daydreaming?" he said simply, and Bella just smiled. "Yeah, sort of. Thank you," she said, and they left the class and headed to the parking lot.
Damon was waiting in the parking lot for Bella when her and Stefan walked out. Elena and Caroline were at cheer practice, and Jeremy was leaned against Damon's car waiting on Bella and Stefan. Alice and Jasper waltz out not long after Bella and Stefan. It was so odd to see them in the sunlight without a million glittering lights bouncing off their skin.
"Alaric has a teacher thing," Damon said before Bella could ask why Alaric wasn't out there yet. "I'm taking you to look at some cars. I'm better with cars anyways," Damon said and opened his car door. Jeremy tossed his bag in the back seat and ducked in the car. Stefan went to his own car and opened the door and tossed his bag in before closing the door back. "I'm gonna go watch Elena at practice, have fun Bella," he called as he left her there with Damon, and the others.
Alice drove a red little beetle now, and it was super cute. It just matched her so well. Jasper didn't particularly care for the car, but he would never tell Alice that. He smiled at Bella as he came to stand next to her. "Well, we're going to head back to the boarding house. We'll see you there darling," he said, and Bella leaned a shoulder into his and smiled.
"You're leaving me alone with crazy eyes over there," she muttered, and he leaned over and kissed her temple. "You'll be alright, have fun." He said and got into the little red beetle with Alice and they drove away happily.
"I do not…have crazy eyes," Damon said as narrowed his eyes at her playfully. Bella rolled her eyes and went around to the passenger side and got in the car.
Bella drove her new Jeep wrangler, used but new to her, up to the boarding house. It was a silver blue, and the interior was black leather. It had a pretty nice stereo in it, and she could connect her phone to it Bluetooth. She was extremely happy with herself. Her dad had sent her enough money to place a large down payment, and to much argument and her denying needing anything from Damon, he paid the rest of it saying that it didn't make sense for her to have a car payment before getting out of high school, and what use was a rich vampire friend, if she didn't intend to take their help.
Alice and Jasper walked out to see her new ride. "Oh Bella! It's so totally you!" Alice said as she flitted around the Jeep looking it over, inside and out.
Just then a large, black truck pulled up and a tall, muscular native American man jumped out without a shirt or shoes. Bella recognized him instantly, as her best friend Jake, and his presence made Alice and Jasper flinch and recoil. Damon wasn't sure who the big muscular, bronze god was, or where he came from, but it made him defensive immediately. He went to Bella's side and put himself in front of her.
"Bells!" Jake said when he saw her and growled deep at Damon. Alice and Jasper put their hands up and Jasper went immediately to Damon, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Salvatore, he's a friend, not a foe," he said before Bella could do or say anything. Damon still didn't relax any, but he did move to let Bella through.
She looked at Jake confused. "Why are you here?" she said as she was stepping forward and going to him to hug him. She had missed him terribly she realized. He was her best friend after all. Even if things got a little weird between them for a time.
"I came as soon as you told me Laurent found you," he said, and his arms crushed her to him. His heat radiated from him and she always thought of him as her own personal little sun. She closed her eyes and sighed.
"I didn't intend for you to come all the way here Jake. But it's not just Laurent, Victoria is here too," she said, and Jake tensed. At that word another native American man was stepping out of the truck.
"Jared?" Bella asked, even extra confused that he was here with Jacob. "Why are you here?" She said but she was going to him and hugging him anyways. Jared's arms circled her and hugged her gently and then there was a rumble in his chest as he laughed at her. "Well, Jake here didn't really say at first what was happening until we were halfway here," he said, and Bella stepped away from him and looked at Jake, giving him a disappointed look.
Damon watched the interaction, and again felt strange when Bella was hugging Jake and Jared. His eyes narrowed at the feeling, but he didn't say anything or do anything.
"Well, you boys must be hungry," Jasper broke the silence. "Come in and I'll feed ya," he said and was turning to go into the house.
"Jasper?" Jake asked sort of alarmed because he didn't look or smell like a vampire now.
"It's me Jake. It's a long story, and I reckon we'll get to that, but for now, let's sit down and get some food in you," he said and was disappearing back inside. Alice followed suit with a playful smile toying with her lips.
Jeremy was looking at Jake and Jared in awe. "You guys must work out a lot. I need to know what you guys are doing," he muttered, and Jared looked to Jeremy now.
"It's a wolf thing," he said and grinned.
Bella smiled and watched Jared, Jake, and Jeremy disappear into the boarding house, leaving her there with Damon. "I'm sorry," she said after a few moments.
"You need to stop apologizing for things. There's not a reason to be sorry," Damon said lightly.
"I know that, but Jake and Jared being here is an intrusion. I didn't know that they would come," she said softly.
Damon thought about it for a moment and then took the few steps that was between them and then he was pulling her against his chest. The motion startled Bella but she made no move to move away from him. "Listen Bella," he started as he nudged her face into his shoulder. "You're important. There's nothing that our little gang will do to keep you safe," he said gently, and she started to protest, but he interrupted her. "You don't have to accept it. You don't have to like it, but that's not going to stop any of us from caring about what happens to you," he finished.
Bella stood there against Damon, her heart beating super-fast, and she had no clue why Damon was suddenly like this. He was usually full of sarcasm and boredom. It came as a big surprise to her when she felt him kiss the top of her head. Her eyes were wide with shock and she couldn't get the words out.
That's how Stefan found them when he pulled up behind Bella's new Jeep. He could hear Bella's heart beating out of control and that Damon was holding her in a gentle manner. A look on his brother's face that he hadn't seen ever. "I'll be damned…" Stefan murmured to himself before getting out of the car.
Damon released Bella when Stefan walked up. "Ah brother, where is Elena?" he asked simply, like nothing happened just now.
"Uh, she and Caroline are going over to Bonnie's. Bonnie is studying the grimoire for some more information that could help with fighting Victoria and Laurent." He said and looked at the Jeep. "Nice Jeep Bella," he said, and she turned now. She recovered finally from the shocking moment between her and Damon. It made her feel odd about it, but she smiled anyways and willed her heart to stop acting up and walked to the Jeep.
"Yes, I'm really excited that I was able to get a vehicle today. It makes travel easier for sure," she said and then Jasper was suddenly outside. "Incoming," he said sternly. Stefan and Damon took a defensive stance around Bella. Jasper's eyes looked fierce as he stared towards the trees.
"If you were having a party, you should have invited me," a man, tall with curly, dusty blonde hair and deep blue eyes appeared. He was dressed casually with a V-neck t-shirt and a pair of washed out jeans.
Damon did an exaggerated eye roll and stepped closer to the man. "Well, it's not really a party, just a group of Stefan's friends invading my personal space yet again," he was being sarcastic, and the man raised a brow.
"Friends that include two Cold Ones, and two shapeshifters?" the man supplied.
"W-who are you?" Bella's voice sounded out as she peered around Jasper to the newcomer.
"Ah, I am NiKlaus Mikaelson love, you must be the infamous Bella Swan. How are you little Swan?" NiKlaus' voice was like listening to raw honey drip. His English accent was heavy, and his tone had a sort of husk to it. His deep blue eyes stared into her chocolate ones and it made her feel nervous.
Jasper growled, protective of Bella. NiKlaus looked at Jasper now. "Ah, the God of War is here, and he's sporting a new look. It's been low long now since the Southern Vampire Wars?" he was toying with Jasper now.
"Too long to count Klaus. I see you broke your curse," Jasper stated.
Alice had flitted out now and was standing directly in front of Klaus now. Her smiled beamed up at him. Klaus didn't appear to be shocked by this. "Mr. Mikaelson, so great of you to join us. We were having some dinner. Why don't you and your brother join us?" she said as her eyes danced to the tree-line.
Klaus smiled mischievously at the pixie girl in front of him. "You…must be Alice. I've heard Aro speak about you before," he said as he motioned a hand up in the air, signaling for his brother to emerge.
Another tall man, with dark hair and dark eyes, wearing what looked like an expensive suit, stepped out of the woods and made it to them in a blink. "I'm Elijah," he spoke looking at Bella and then to Alice. "We would love to join you, Klaus…behave," he said before walking into the boarding house. Alice grinned at Klaus and then she reached to Jasper and took his hand before dragging him inside. Damon grabbed Bella's hand now, linking his fingers with hers as he pushed her along inside. Stefan stood there facing Klaus now.
"Don't worry ripper, I'm not going to harm little Swan. I've been told that there was a situation that might need my assistance," he said and walked inside with the others. Stefan wasn't so sure that this was a great idea, allowing Klaus to be a part of anything. He did after all, nearly kill Elena and her aunt, and not to mention he was ruthless, and merciless. Bella's life was in more danger now that he had arrived. Stefan took in a deep breath before disappearing inside, hoping that chaos did not break out.