Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Diaries in any shape or form. But I do own my OC.

A/N: This chapter will follow 1X15 (A Few Good Men) and will establish Aliyah's presence in Mystic Falls and how she interacts with the human characters, like Carol Lockwood, Liz Forbes, Alaric and Jenna and some more interactions between Stefan, Damon, Elena and Aliyah. And some more Bonliyah goodness.

Reviews:

Guest: Thank you so much!

NicoleR85: Thank you so much! I have updated both Dream Weaver and The Dread of Tomorrow and Yesterday since I updated this story, so there you go!

Skyeward MusicLover: Thank you so much!

jordanjanellejoy: I think Bonnie and Caroline are the more under-appreciated characters of the show, and I've seen too many Gilbert sister/cousin stories, and I think Bonnie needed someone after Sheila died to help her and I never really liked the fact that Elena just went on with Stefan, without caring that he and Damon were pretty much the reason that Sheila was dead. So, I think Aliyah's good for Bonnie right now.

tate4eva: Thank you so much!

Stormdancer

Chapter 3

A Few Good Men

"Hey, Bonnie, it's me, Elena. I just wanted to see how you've been and for you not to forget that we're all here for you. Hope you're having fun with your aunt."

Aliyah frowned. "Why does she think you're with your aunt when I just met her a couple of days ago?"

Bonnie pressed the button to delete the message. "It was an old one. It doesn't matter." She attempted to say, nonchalantly, but her eyes were sadder than usual.

"Okay," Aliyah sank down on the couch. "Do you wanna talk about it? I don't have much experience when it comes to teenage girl issues – things were much simpler for us back when I was human, and these things just sort of fade away when you become a vampire – but I can be a great listener." She offered.

Bonnie sighed and leaned back. "It's just…" She trailed off, not quite sure of how to put this.

Aliyah looked at her, expectantly.

"Stefan and Damon are the reasons why my Grams died." Bonnie said, bluntly. "I just… I'm finding it a little hard to get over that."

Aliyah snorted. "There's no need that you should. You're right, if Damon hadn't been such a lovesick fool, head over heels for Katerina Petrova of all women, and if Stefan had the guts to pull his brother back in line, Sheila would still be alive."

"I don't want to put Elena in a middle." Bonnie shook her head.

"But it's her fault that it's happening in the first place." Aliyah pointed out. "Sheila wouldn't have died if Damon hadn't tried to use Elena as leverage against Stefan and you." She shifted in her seats. "You know, Sheila had the right idea. Witches shouldn't get involved in vampire business, Bonnie. Witches would end up dead." She said, delicately.

"You're a vampire." Bonnie pointed out.

"But I'd never ask you to get involved in my business." Aliyah said, gently. "It would only get you killed and I don't want that for you."

"It isn't her fault… not really." Bonnie shrugged. "She's… she's just another victim in all of this. She doesn't deserve it."

"Maybe she should stick to her own species, then?" Aliyah said, gently.

Bonnie shook her head, feeling quite resentful. "She won't give him up." She spat. "But she's still my friend and I don't want Stefan to tear us apart."

Aliyah smiled, fondly. Her respect for the strong girl in front of her only grew and grew. "You are an admirable person, Bonnie. You are not willing to compromise your feelings for her lover, but you're still not willing to lose her as your friend. Anyone else would have given into their selfish desires and thrown Elena away."

Bonnie smiled, sheepishly.

"Well, how about your other friend? Caroline, was it?" Aliyah asked, interestedly.

Bonnie's smile widened. "I talk to her every day." She confessed. "She can be a bit insensitive, but she really is a good friend. She's had a hard run of it with Damon being in town."

Aliyah frowned. "What do you mean?" She asked, carefully.

"Well, he compelled her to be his girlfriend and his personal blood bag." Bonnie told her, slowly. "At the Founders' Party, Elena and I could see bruises and bite marks where Damon had fed on her."

Aliyah shook with fury and she could feel her control slipping, but she held onto every shred of her self-control, willing her eyes not to change, and the veins under her eyes and her fangs not to appear.

"Why is he not dead?" Aliyah snarled. "He should've died years ago. I think I'm being too lenient on the piece of scum." She hissed.

Bonnie shifted, feeling guilty all of a sudden. "I should've done something to help Caroline. We just kind of forgot about it after awhile." She whispered.

Aliyah shook her head. "I have been around for a very long time, Bonnie. If there is one thing I cannot stand, it is when men put their hands on women without their consent." Her eyes glazed over, when she remembered something. "When I was human, I was cornered by a few men… this was before I knew of the aneurism spell, and I was just beginning my training as witch. If my husband hadn't come when he had…" She trailed off and shook her head. "I had never been scared like that before that day. I wouldn't wish that fear on anyone else." She paused. "You said that Damon compelled her to be his girlfriend… do you know if he forced her to…"

"Have sex with him." Bonnie finished, horror dawning in her eyes. "Oh, my God." Her head fell into her hands and tears leaked out onto her fingers. "I should've done something, I should've protected her."

"Bonnie, this isn't your fault. You're just a child." Aliyah sighed. "You shouldn't be a part of this fight. You should be able to go to school and live your life without worrying about witches and vampires." She shook her head. "Would you mind if I spoke to Caroline, just to figure out whether she's compelled or not? If she isn't, I might have to compel her to forget what happened. It would be better for her in the long run, not having to remember what Damon did to her. Or at least, help her get through it and move past Damon's torture."

Bonnie looked uncertain.

"I won't compel her without her permission, I swear, Bonnie." Aliyah shook her head. "I have a great deal of compassion for those who have been through what Caroline has."

"I should've done more for Caroline. I should've been more sympathetic." Bonnie said, mournfully.

"Well, there's nothing you can do about it now." Aliyah pointed out. "Did you tell Caroline about me?"

Bonnie nodded. "I told her that my cousin's come down to Mystic Falls to help through my Grams' death."

"Okay, cousin…" Aliyah clapped her hands. "I can work with that." She paused. "Has Elena talked to you about me?"

Bonnie nodded. "She left me a message on my phone. Basically asking me why I didn't tell her about you and that you were dangerous. She told me you broke Damon's collarbone." She chided.

"And scapula." Aliyah said, cheerfully. Bonnie glared at her and she rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Bonnie girl. He deserved it, he bit you, you could've been really hurt. And that's nothing compared to what he's done to Caroline." Aliyah's jaw set in a hard line. "There are certain lines which no one should cross and Damon crossed a line when he did that to Caroline." She shook her head. "I won't kill him now, because of the promise I made to you, but I won't actively try and save him. He's impulsive and reckless and there are twenty-six tomb vampires out for blood." Aliyah shrugged. "I'm sure you can do the math."

Bonnie shook her head in disbelief. "Sometimes, I swear…"

"I don't like rapists." She waggled her finger at Bonnie. "And I don't like Damon Salvatore even more."

"So, I'm officially your cousin. Actually, I'm your aunt, a million times removed, but those are all semantics. I can work with 'cousin', and I am physically only twenty-four." Aliyah nodded to herself.

"Why are you debating whether you can pull off being my cousin?" Bonnie asked, confused.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you. I have a meeting with Carol Lockwood, she's the head of the Mystic Falls Historical Society, and her husband, the mayor." Aliyah said, nonchalantly, standing up and moving to a hallway mirror, making sure her jewellery was on correctly.

"What, why?" Bonnie frowned, staring at her with alarm.

"Bonnie girl." Aliyah stared at her for a moment. "I plan on being in Mystic Falls for awhile. I need a cover story and I need to hide in plain sight. What better way than to make friends with the two most avid members of the town's council against vampire threats." She smiled to herself.

Ugh, I'm turning into Niklaus.

She stared at herself in the mirror. Her white midriff corset top contrasted nicely with her dark skin, coupled together with a blue, flowery skirt, tight and coming up to her knees, and white pumps. She ran a hand through her black curls, tousling them softly.

"What's your cover story?" Bonnie asked, curiously.

"Oh, I'm a photojournalist writing a book on Mystic Falls. You know… something to make them feel like they're the most important people in the world." She shrugged.

"Why do I feel like you do this a lot?" Bonnie smirked.

Aliyah grinned at her reflection in the mirror and winked at Bonnie. "Don't worry, darling, I'm a master at this by now. No one will get hurt. I just don't want anyone to get suspicious about Bonnie's never-before-seen cousin, who plans to stay in Mystic Falls for the foreseeable future."

She blew her a kiss and walked out the door.

"Have fun and don't burn my apartment down."

Aliyah walked into The Grill, the door shutting behind her, and she spotted two, very prim people sitting at one of the booths. She sighed and walked in their direction, the heels of her pumps clacking against the timber flooring.

"Hello, are you Carol and Richard Lockwood?" Aliyah asked, as warmly as she possibly could.

"Yes." A dark-haired woman stood up and shook her outstretched hand. She was beautiful and slim, with light blue eyes. "You must be Aliyah, the photojournalist writing the book."

"Yes, Aliyah Bennett. It's a pleasure to meet you." She smiled.

"Bennett, huh?" Richard's eyes roved over hers. "Any relation to Sheila and Bonnie Bennett?"

Aliyah smiled, viciously. "Bonnie's my cousin and Sheila was my grandmother."

Carol's face fell. She patted Aliyah's hand. "I'm so very sorry for your loss, Aliyah."

"Thank you for your condolences." Aliyah said, formally. "My cousin told me you were at the funeral. I myself arrived late."

"Yes." Recognition dawned in Carol's eyes. "I remember seeing you at the funeral. Bonnie seemed very confused to see you there. How's she doing?"

"Bonnie's a strong girl. She's a lot like her grandmother. She'll pull through." She said, confidently. Aliyah shrugged. "I haven't been in Mystic Falls in what seems like centuries." She smiled to herself, realising the truth of the statement, but masking it as an exaggeration. "But I thought I should be here for Bonnie. Her father called me up and told me he wouldn't be able to be here in time for the funeral, so I thought I'd show to offer her some comfort. When I told Bonnie about our meeting, she mentioned she knew your son."

"Yes," Carol smiled, fondly, at the reminder of her son. "Tyler. He and Bonnie practically grew up together."

Aliyah smiled. "Well, doesn't that sound sweet."

"So, why don't you tell us a little about your book?" Richard asked her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the way his dark eyes moved over her figure, and she resisted the urge to grimace. She had a part to play after all, and she couldn't be caught. And tearing the man's eyes out of their sockets would most likely give her away.

She took a deep breath and focused her senses. She frowned, realising that the Lockwood man struck her as odd. The way he smelt to her, it was almost as if being in the presence of a werewolf. But, that couldn't be possible. A werewolf would have not been comfortable in her presence. A werewolf would not have known what she was, but would have been suspicious. Richard Lockwood seemed entirely too calm in presence. That would mean that he was werewolf that hadn't triggered the gene yet. She remembered pulling a George Lockwood off Emily back in 1864, and tearing his heart out of his chest, knowing that he was a triggered werewolf. She guessed that Richard Lockwood was a carrier and that he and his son had the potential to become werewolves.

Oh, joy, so not only vampires, but werewolves as well.

"Well, I was talking to Bonnie after the funeral and she mentioned your Night of the Comet Festival and Founder's Party." She told them. "And I was immediately struck with the idea of writing a book featuring Mystic Falls in a big way."

"What would your book be about?" Carol preened.

"Well, a working title would be 'The Enduring Appeal and Historical Integrity of Small-Town Traditions'. I find it interesting how Mystic Falls seems to uphold all of the historical traditions that led to the creation of the town." Aliyah smiled, sweetly. "I'm a bit of a traveller, and I cannot for the life of me remember seeing another town so closely-knitted and conventional."

"Well, I have to admit that I'm intrigued with what you'll come up with." Carol clapped her hand and smiled at Aliyah, excitedly. "How long were you intended to stay here?"

"I haven't quite decided, but I'd really like to observe all of your annual traditions before I leave." Aliyah told them, taking a sip of the drink she had ordered on the sly.

"Well, you're actually in luck." Carol smiled, winningly, at her. "Tonight is actually the Founder's Day Fundraiser and Bachelor Raffle."

"Ooh," Aliyah laughed, just slightly out of condescension. "A Bachelor Raffle."

"We hope you'll compete to win a date with one of the bachelors." Richard said, knowingly.

Aliyah chuckled. "I would, but…" She showed the mayor and his wife her right hand and the two gold bands on her ring finger. "I'm married. I'm afraid I'm taken."

Carol laughed and waved her off. "Oh, nonsense, there's no harm in a little window shopping. Even I'm competing. You might as well buy a few tickets."

Aliyah grinned. "I'll take your word for it. Hmm, maybe I just might." She said, playfully.

"Oh, there's one of our bachelors now." Carol stared beyond Aliyah's shoulder. "Alaric! Jenna!"

A pretty young woman with a pale complexion, hazel eyes and medium-length blonde hair, along with a tall handsome man, with short brown hair and blue eyes, approached the Lockwoods and Aliyah.

"Hey, Carol, what's going on?" Jenna asked, smiling over at Aliyah.

"This is Aliyah Bennett. She's Bonnie's cousin and a photojournalist who's planning to write a book on Mystic Falls." Carol informed Alaric and Jenna.

"Bonnie's cousin?" Jenna's eyes widened. "Oh, right, you were at the funeral."

"And you're Elena's aunt? Bonnie told me about you. And you're Alaric Saltzman, Bonnie's history teacher. She has a great deal of respect for you."

"So, why a book about Mystic Falls?" Jenna asked, interested.

"I don't know." Aliyah laughed. "This town has such a great history to it that I thought it'd make such a great case study."

"Well, my sister married into a Founding Family like the Lockwoods. If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask." Jenna told her, warmly.

"Will do." Aliyah grinned. She checked her watch, surreptitiously. "Ooh, would you look at the time? I should really be getting back to Bonnie." She said, mock-mournfully.

"How's she doing, anyway? I know Elena's been leaving her a bunch of messages, but Bonnie hasn't answered back." Jenna said, sadly.

"She's not taking it all that well." Aliyah said, sadly, and actually meant it. "I think Sheila was the only one she had for a long time, and she feels really lost without her. I'm trying to keep her mind off it, but she's still got a long way to go."

Jenna placed a hand on Aliyah's shoulder, comfortingly. "It must be hard for you too. Let me know if you need any help with anything. I'd be happy to help."

Aliyah had a gift for reading people. It was her witches' intuition that had only heightened when she had turned into a vampire, in fact Niklaus had described her as having 'flawless instincts' once. When she looked at Carol Lockwood, she saw someone refined and polite, a perfectionist and pretty much a snob. Richard Lockwood struck her as someone arrogant and selfish and self-serving, constantly angry, although she attributed that to him being a carrier of the werewolf gene. Alaric Saltzman seemed to her as someone who was outwardly friendly and warm, but she could see his eyes tinged with grief and guilt. He had a swarm of demons rushing around in his mind and he was weary, that she could easily see. She could also see that he was a hunter. Not a dangerous one, not one that knew of Original Vampires, and definitely not one of The Brotherhood of The Five. But a vampire hunter, nonetheless. She would have to be very careful around him.

But Jenna. She was caring and naïve, as Aliyah could easily tell she knew nothing of vampires or werewolves, the way that Alaric, Carol and Richard seemed to know. She would have laughed in private at the irony, seeing as her niece was currently sharing a bed with the Ripper of Monterey, and her nephew had almost become the chew toy to a recently-turned vampire. Jenna struck her as being fun loving and good spirited, and strong-willed. She was sure that she would like the woman in front of her. It had been a long time since she had a friend her age.

In the Salvatore Boarding House, Damon was feeding off a young sorority girl, while other girls danced to the music blaring from speakers in the room. Bite marks were scattered up and down the bodies of all of the girls, and Damon finally came up for air after feeding.

"How do I taste?" The drunken sorority girl that Damon had been dancing with asked.

"Oh, so much better than your friends. But shh. Don't tell them. They might get jealous." Damon slurred in a dramatic whisper.

Suddenly, the lights came on and Stefan entered the room.

"No! Buzzkill Bob." Damon grumbled. Stefan turned the music off and Damon looked up at him, his eyes red and bleary. "Greetings." He muttered, reluctantly.

"Can we talk?" Stefan asked.

"Yeah."

Stefan grimaced, looking at the sorority girls with distaste. "Without the Tri-Delts."

Damon shook his head. "Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of them. They're really good at keeping secrets."

Stefan pushed his way through and dragged Damon to a private corner while the girls lounged around on the sofa. Damon swung the bottle of booze in his hand, half-heartedly.

"You're worried about me. That's nice. Don't be. There's no need. I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be? I spent the last 145 years with one goal: get in that tomb. I succeeded. Granted, Katherine wasn't in there to be rescued, but why dwell? You know, it's so liberating not having a master plan, because I can do whatever the hell I want." Damon scowled.

"Now, that is something to be afraid of."

Damon and Stefan spun around to see Aliyah leaning against the doorway. Her upper lip curled in displeasure as she stared at the number of sorority girls lounging in the room.

"Well, at least now I know that Caroline Forbes wasn't a one-time thing, and you're actually a big-time sleazebag." Aliyah growled, stepping into the room and making her way over to the brothers.

Damon frowned through the haze in his mind. "What the hell are you doing here?" He snarked.

"Well, I was on my way back from a meeting with the Lockwoods, Alaric Saltzman and Jenna Sommers, and I thought I'd just pop in on my least favourite vampire brothers." Aliyah smiled, sweetly.

"How do you know Caroline?" Stefan asked, curiously.

He didn't know what to think of the vampire in front of him. He didn't know much about her, only that she was much older and stronger than he was. She also didn't seem to be a huge fan of him or Elena, but seemed hell-bent on protecting Bonnie from them. He could see why that was. Because of him, and Damon, Bonnie had lost the only family she had left, and by continuing her relationship with him, it would look to Bonnie that Elena had chosen her side. But why did Aliyah hate Elena so much?

He guessed that Bonnie was quickly forming a bond with the vampire in front of him and he still didn't know whether she was a friend or a threat. He remembered, that night in the Grill, that she had promised to stay out of that way as long as he protected Elena and kept Bonnie out of the tomb vampire business. He didn't think she'd hurt them if he stuck to his end of the agreement, but he needed to be careful around her.

"Relax. I haven't killed anyone in…" Damon sighed. "Too long."

"And those girls?" Stefan raised an eyebrow.

"Will end up in their dorm with headaches, think they blacked out. Business as usual. Predictable you didn't pull me over here for a pep talk. So drink up." Damon pushed the bottle into Stefan's chest. "Spill it, brother."

Aliyah bit her lip, thoughtfully, and decided to go through with it. She rushed at him and pinned him to the nearest wall, her age and strength and experience and his drunkenness all working against him. Her hand wrapped against his throat and she smiled, viciously. Her other hand reached up and dug into the skin at the top of his face, and she dragged down, raking her nails in deep, bloody lines down his face, watching as his skin healed.

"Hurts, doesn't it?" She purred, knowingly. "It should. I want you to hurt. You narcissistic, sick bastard. I should kill you now for what you did to poor Caroline. You know, there's nothing in this world I hate more than men who force themselves on others. It makes me angrier than anything." She sighed, mournfully. "Can't kill you, though. I still need you both." Her other hand reached out and gripped Stefan by his throat, pinning him against the wall beside Damon.

It was easy for her to compel both of them. Neither of them were aware that Original vampires existed, let alone the fact that they had the ability to compel other vampires. They weren't on vervain and they were not witches.

"Now, tell me, is there anything going in Mystic Falls that I should know about?" She asked, slowly.

"Elena is searching for her birth mother. Her name was Isobel Flemming and she was Alaric's wife. I think that Damon killed her when he was in North Carolina at Duke." Stefan said, blankly.

"Of course she's adopted." Aliyah rolled her eyes. "She's a Petrova doppelganger. Isobel must be the ancestral link to Katerina and Tatia." She paused. "Tell me what you know of the vampires that were in the tomb." She ordered.

"Nothing, they haven't surfaced since the tomb was opened."

"Hmm, I wonder what they're waiting for." Aliyah hummed. "Okay, then, who in the town has vervain in them or on them and who knows about vampires?"

"Elena's necklace has vervain in it. Jeremy Gilbert's bracelet has vervain in it. Jenna Sommers wears a perfume that contains vervain. After the Founder's Party, I gave Caroline Forbes a vervain necklace, but only Elena and Bonnie and Alaric Saltzman know about vampires." Stefan told her.

"Elizabeth Forbes, Richard and Carol Lockwood all wear vervain on them and they all know about vampires." Damon told her, impassively.

"Thank you so much, boys." Aliyah crooned. "You've been of so much help. You will not take vervain until I can tell you both you can and you will keep me informed on anything that has to do with Elena, or anything strange that happens in this town, immediately. You will not act against me. You will protect Elena and you will forget any of this happened. I came here, I threatened Damon to treat women with respect and I left."

"We will not take vervain until you can tell both of us we can and we will keep you informed on anything that has to do with Elena or anything strange that happens in this town, immediately. We will not act against you. We will protect Elena and we will forget any of this happened. You came here, you threatened Damon to treat women with respect and you left." Both Damon and Stefan said, blankly.

Aliyah left and Damon and Stefan blinked a few times.

"Well, she's a scary one, isn't she?" Damon shuddered.

Stefan shook his head. "Let's not worry about her right now. There was a woman you may have known a few years back named Isobel in North Carolina at Duke."

Damon raised an eyebrow. "You wanna discuss the women in my past right now? Seriously? A psychotic vampire just came into our house and threatened me and you wanna discuss the notches in my bedpost?"

"You killed her." Stefan said, darkly.

Damon smirked. "What's your point?"

"I just-just wanna know if you remember anything about her." Stefan said, weakly.

"Oh, it's like a needle in a haystack, Stefan." Damon shrugged.

"Well, think hard. It's important." Stefan snapped.

Damon grasped Stefan's shoulder and whispered in his ear. "Nothing is important, not anymore." He clapped Stefan on the shoulder and pulled away, grabbing the bottle from Stefan's hand. "Great chat. I have to go and exploit some women in the name of grief, which I'm sure you understand."

Damon walked back to the girls.

Aliyah walked up to Alaric and Jenna, who were hanging up a banner, outside, for the Founder's Fundraiser.

"I don't know. It's just weird, you know, me being raffled off like a Disney Cruise." She heard Alaric tell Jenna.

Jenna snickered. "In this town, fundraising is like indentured servitude. You don't have a choice. Besides, you're a bachelor, and you're eligible, so there you go."

Alaric moved to the side of the banner that Jenna is attempting to hang up.

"Here. Let me help you with this." Alaric told her.

Alaric helped her hang up the banner and Jenna smiled up at him. Alaric leaned in and kissed Jenna, sweetly and lightly, Jenna looking windswept as he pulled away. Aliyah smiled. It was always refreshing to watch young love. It reminded her of what life was like before anger and paranoia and jealousy destroyed every relationship in her life.

Aliyah giggled and threw herself behind one of the trees, trying to hide from his advances.

"Liyah, come on, love, you know you can't hide from me." Niklaus' voice came through the trees and made her shiver.

Suddenly, she squealed when two strong arms wrapped around her waist and tugged her up against his muscled body. She laughed, as he spun around, pinning her against the tree with his hands splayed across her waist.

His hands slid up from her waist and fell onto her shoulders, his fingers slid down the sleeves of her dress, pulling them down her arms and baring the naked skin of her shoulders and collarbone to his gaze.

His lips descended and trailed a line of searing kisses against her skin, making her arch her back and whimper. Her hands slid up from his shoulders to bury in his long blonde hair, tugging on the curls wildly, holding his lips against her skin. Her legs spread of their own volition and he stepped closer, holding her up against the tree by his hips, which had fit, snugly, in between her thighs.

"Oh, Niklaus. Never stop." She moaned and he smirked against her skin.

"There's my hellcat." Niklaus growled.

"Oh, god. I can't believe I'm gonna do this." Jenna moaned, shaking her head.

"What?" Alaric frowned.

"I am totally going to ruin this moment, but I-I have to tell you. Elena recently found out she was adopted, and she's been looking for her birth mother... whose name was Isobel." Jenna confessed.

Alaric paled and reeled back in shock. "Isobel? Like my wife?"

Jenna nodded, hesitantly.

"Isobel never had a baby." Alaric stammered.

Jenna bit her lower lip. "Are you sure? Not before you were together?"

"Nope. No way." Alaric shook his head.

Jenna's hand shook and she took out her phone and handed it to Alaric, showing him a picture of Isobel that was on the screen.

"This is Elena's birth mother." Jenna murmured.

Alaric looked alarmed, looking sick to his stomach. "Ah, she, uh, she never told me. I, uh, I'm gonna go. Yeah, I'm gonna-gonna go."

Alaric awkwardly walked off and Jenna sighed heavily.

"Are you all right?" Aliyah called out, coming up to Jenna.

Jenna's eyes widened and she blinked. "Oh, hi, Aliyah. Didn't see you there." She shook her head. "Yeah, I'm fine. When you tell the guy you like something he probably doesn't want to hear…"

"It probably won't end well." Aliyah finished, knowingly.

Jenna sighed and jumped off the ladder. "Men… I don't exactly have a good track record with them. What about you? You seeing someone?"

"Oh, I'm married, actually. Well, separated, if we're being specific." Aliyah told her, a sad smile forming on her face.

Jenna's eyes widened. "But you're so young." She paled. "I didn't mean-"

Aliyah laughed. "Would you be more surprised if I told you I'd been married twice?"

"No way." Jenna whispered. "But you're younger than me."

"My first husband and I got married when I was very young." Aliyah said, fondly. "But it was arranged between us, and I was in love with someone else. He let me go and be happy." She whispered, pain flaring in her chest momentarily.

Jenna smiled, sadly. She placed her hand on Aliyah's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

Jenna squeezed her shoulder and stared at Aliyah with the most genuine look that Aliyah had been graced with by a human in such a long time. She wondered if she had been so isolated from people, so broken, that she didn't even know the last time someone had treated her with sincerity.

"Did you love your first husband?" Jenna asked, hesitantly.

Aliyah paled. No one had ever asked her that question. Neither of them had asked her that question because neither of them had wanted to know the answer. If she had said yes, someone would have been hurt. If she had said no, someone would have been hurt. To keep the peace, she hadn't been honest, not wanting to hurt either of them with her answer.

"I think… I did." Aliyah's brow furrowed. "I did love him. A lot. I think a part of me will always love him. But I loved my second husband more. I wanted him more. And my first husband… he accepted that. He was okay with that. He bowed out, gracefully. I felt guilty for ages after that. I could barely look him in the eye."

Jenna smiled and shook her head. "God, my man troubles must seem really bland compared to your love life."

"No, Jenna." Aliyah said, sincerely, swallowing hard. She thought of Rebekah, who had experienced more heartbreak in her long life than any girl should, but still found the strength from somewhere to love again and again. "Pain is pain, and love is love. No one has the right to tell you that your pain means nothing." She murmured.

Jenna sighed. "Well, at least tonight's the Bachelor's Raffle." She said, making Aliyah laugh. "Do you mind helping me with this?" She asked, gesturing to the banner.

"No problem at all." Aliyah shrugged.

"Bonnie girl, are you sure you don't wanna come with me?" Aliyah asked, worriedly. "I don't want you to be all by yourself."

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "I'm a big girl, Ali. I'll be fine." She smiled, tightly. "You go and have fun. You look like you need it."

Aliyah ran a hand through her hair, tousling the black curls to fall around her shoulders, gracefully. She tweaked the long black earrings she wore and slid her hands down her halter-neck black dress that dipped low, showing her cleavage, smoothening out the fabric and tightening the belt that came around under her bust.

"You look really nice, Ali." Bonnie grinned at her. "Have fun and I hope you get a date out of it."

Aliyah rolled her eyes. "Yeah, like that's gonna happen." She turned to Bonnie, her eyes widening like a puppy dog's. "Please come with me, I don't want to schmooze with these people. It's so boring." She groaned.

Bonnie mock-glared at her. "Go before I make you." She threatened.

"I hate you… so freaking much." Aliyah grumbled, walking out the door.

Carol was on the stage, talking into a microphone, introducing the Fundraiser as the mayor's wife and the head of the Historical Society.

"Tickets for the raffle are now on sale. All proceeds benefit the annual Founder's Day celebration."

She stepped off the stage and made for Aliyah, who she could see was just entering The Grill.

"Aliyah, I'm so glad you could make it." Carol said, warmly, kissing her on both cheeks.

"It was my pleasure." Aliyah laughed, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "What a nice way to start my book."

Carol suddenly spotted someone and waved them over. "Aliyah, I'd like you to meet someone. This is Damon Salvatore, he's one of the bachelors for tonight and a member on our Founder's Council."

Aliyah smiled, gently, at Damon and stretching out her hand, intending for him to shake it. "It's very nice to meet you, Damon. I'm sure you'll fetch a heavy price tonight."

"Aliyah is thinking of writing a book on Mystic Falls." Carol told Damon, excitedly.

"Oh," Damon's eyes widened and he stared at her, calculatedly. "What's the book about?"

"Oh, just about the upholding of small-town traditions." Aliyah shrugged. "I've never seen a town so dedicated to its history before."

Carol smiled at her and placed a hand on her arm. "You'll just have to wait and see our Founder's Day celebration. It's truly magnificent."

"I can't wait." Aliyah said, cheerfully. She turned to Damon and cocked her head, a wicked light entering her eyes. "So, tell me, Damon, what've you got planned for the lucky lady who wins you tonight?"

Damon shrugged. "I've got the big date planned. It's a romantic dinner, secluded spot somewhere woodsy."

Carol laughed a fake laugh. "You're making me think I should buy a ticket."

A sly smirk formed on Damon's lips. "Well, you are in charge. You could always rig it."

Aliyah smiled, softly, at Carol. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go and buy a ticket."

She excused herself and made her way to a blonde girl, seated at a table.

"Hello, I'd like to buy a ticket." Aliyah said, with a smile.

"No problem." The girl said, cheerfully.

Aliyah handed the girl a crisp fifty-dollar note. "Just give me however many tickets that'll buy."

The girl handed her the tickets with a beaming smile and that was when she noticed the name tag on her breast, reading 'Caroline Forbes'.

"Oh, you're Caroline." Aliyah said, stunned.

Caroline's brow furrowed. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" She asked, carefully, her smile faltering.

"Oh, sorry, we've only spoken a few times on the phone." She reached out her hand for Caroline to shake. "I'm Aliyah, Bonnie's cousin."

Realisation dawned in Caroline's eyes and she squeaked. "Oh, no way! Wow, you don't really look like her." She pointed out. "Is she here with you?" Her eyes searched for a tell-tale sign of her best friend.

Aliyah shrugged. "Genetics. It's a mystery. And, sorry, she wasn't up to it tonight."

"How's Bonnie doing? I try and call her every day, but do you know if she'll be coming back to school anytime soon?"

Aliyah narrowed her eyes at the necklace around Caroline's neck and grimaced, knowing that she couldn't compel her. "She's still coming to terms with everything, but she's getting better. She's a strong girl. She'll be back on her feet in no time."

Caroline smiled, beatifically. Aliyah remembered how Bonnie had told her about the complex the girl had. How she always felt like she came second to Elena. Aliyah resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Petrova doppelgangers always did have the ability to make people feel inferior. Tatia had tried it with her, and had failed miserably, but had managed it with Rebekah. She remembered how many times Rebekah had sobbed in her arms about the way that Tatia had encouraged the other girls in the village to treat her, all because of the fact that Rebekah was a burgeoning witch.

"Thanks for all of your concern, Caroline. I know it means a lot to Bonnie to have her friends right there if she needs them." Aliyah said, gently.

Caroline shrugged. "Bonnie's always been there for me. I should be there for her." She said, sweetly.

"I'll see you later, Caroline." Aliyah smiled and took the tickets off her. "I'm sure I'll be seeing your around."

"Hello, Elena." Aliyah approached the young brunette girl.

Elena stumbled when she saw the much older vampire. "Oh, Aliyah… hi." She frowned. "What are you doing here?" She asked, suspiciously.

Aliyah smiled, radiantly. "Carol Lockwood invited me here as her special guest."

"Why?"

"Well, I am writing a book on Mystic Falls. It would be remiss if she didn't invite me everywhere that would give me a good view on Mystic Falls, don't you think?" She said, innocently.

Elena's brow furrowed. "You're writing a book on Mystic Falls?"

Aliyah winked at her. "How are you doing, Elena?"

"Who are you, Aliyah?" Elena snapped, tired of being left in the dark.

Aliyah laughed. "I'm someone who is much older than your Salvatore brothers and who has no qualms about tearing your limbs off, little girl. Watch your tone with me. I told you that night in the bar that I meant you no harm and I mean it still, and that means 'don't push me'. Don't get involved in things beyond you, darling." She said, warningly, and turned to face the stage, just as Carol approached Damon.

"And last, but not least, Damon Salvatore. We don't have much on you." Carol told Damon with a smile.

Stefan approached Elena from the entrance. Elena spotted him and waved from her position at a table with Aliyah. Stefan smiled back, waved, then looked back at the stage.

Damon shrugged. "Well, I'm tough to fit on a card."

"Do you have any hobbies, like to travel?" Carol asked.

A smile formed on Damon's face. "Oh, yeah. L.A., New York. Couple of years ago, I was in North Carolina. Near the Duke campus, actually. I think-I think Alaric went to school there. Didn't you, Ric?" He turned to look at Alaric the same time Alaric did the same, a taunting smile on his lips. "Yeah, 'cause I-I know your wife did."

Aliyah watched with interest as Elena's face started to falter and tears started to form in her eyes.

"I had a drink with her once. She was-she was a great girl. I ever tell you that? Cause she was. Delicious. Mmm! Mmm mmm mmm." Damon had the audacity to lick his lips.

Elena's mouth hung open and her eyes filled with tears as she stared at Damon.

A pang struck Aliyah in the stomach, making her wince as she remembered that Elena was just a teenage girl who found herself in things beyond the scope of her existence. She scowled at Damon. She didn't think much of the doppelganger, but to taunt someone like that, to be so cruel, this is what she hated about her existence. They were vampires, they didn't have to be monsters.

Aliyah sighed.

Great.

She grasped Elena's arm. "Come with me. I think you need some air." She muttered, shooting Stefan a meaningful look as she pushed past him, leading Elena out of the Grill.

Elena paced around once she got out into the open air, while Aliyah leaned against a pole, watching as Stefan exited the Grill and approached Elena, who turned to face him.

"Your brother's a real piece of work." Aliyah commented, looking down at her nails.

Stefan simply glared at her and she raised an eyebrow. He turned to Elena. "Elena." He didn't know what to say to her.

"He killed her? Damon was the vampire that killed her?" Elena bit out the question.

Stefan shook his head. "I don't know what happened. Alaric said that they never found the body."

"You should probably take that as a yes." Aliyah offered.

"Oh, my god. Stefan." Elena whispered.

"I know. I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you. But I just—I wanted to know more." Stefan explained.

Elena shook her head in disbelief. "I was feeling sorry for him, hoping that this whole Katherine thing would change him. I'm so stupid." She said, bitterly.

Stefan shook his head. "He doesn't know about the connection to you. I thought about confronting him, but he's already so on edge."

"Why are you protecting him?" Elena snapped.

"Because you're not the only one hoping that he might actually change."

Aliyah's eyes snapped open when she felt the telltale sign that someone was watching them, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end. She frowned and searched the street and saw a strange man down the street, watching Elena carefully.

"Go inside, both of you. Now." She said, her voice brooking no argument, her limbs tensing with the anticipation of a fight.

"What?" Elena looked at her, confused.

"Go inside. Now." She snapped.

Stefan gently pushed Elena back inside the Grill and Aliyah soon followed, shooting the strange man a suspicious look. Stefan and Elena went to sit at a table Jenna was already seated at, the latter shooting Aliyah a friendly wave as she passed by them, going over to the bar.

On her way, she saw a middle-aged woman, who was wearing entirely too much makeup, approach Caroline at the prize table.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Donovan." Caroline said, cheerfully.

"Okay, just stop. Stop trying so hard. This thing you're doing, this nice thing, it's fake. Like you. Like your mom. And for some reason, Matt fell for it, but that doesn't mean that I will. I don't like you, okay? So tell plumber boy I'll be at the bar." Mrs Donovan snapped and walked off.

"Okay." Caroline said, hurt.

Aliyah felt that familiar protective urge coil inside her stomach.

Oh, great, I'm becoming a mom. First Bonnie, now Caroline. I hate this.

She slipped over to the prize table and handed Caroline, surreptitiously, a glass of scotch. Caroline looked up at her, curiously.

"You look like you need it." Aliyah shrugged. "Drink and be merry. That's my motto."

Caroline laughed under her breath. "Don't want to be the cautionary tale at the next town meeting, and my mom's the sheriff."

Aliyah winked. "I won't tell if you don't." She pressed the glass into Caroline's hand and smirked as the girl took a large gulp of the burning liquid.

Caroline wiped her lips, delicately, and smiled, hesitantly, the smile growing when she saw Aliyah's warm grin.

"Let me guess, boyfriend's mother?" Aliyah raised an eyebrow.

Caroline nodded, sadly. "I just want her to like me."

"That's a useless endeavour, darling." Aliyah told her, sincerely. "Mothers have a way of pre-deciding who exactly is perfect for their sons, and if you aren't that, you're worthless in their eyes. My mother-in-law hated my guts till the day she died because she didn't think I was the right one for her son." Or sons.

Aliyah tipped her own glass and clinked it against Caroline's, the two of them draining the scotch in one swallow and smiling at each other. Aliyah's eyes were suddenly drawn to a escalating argument between Stefan, Damon and Elena, and she watched as Elena stormed out of the Grill, ramming into Damon's shoulder as she did so. She didn't like the doppelganger, but she hated Damon Salvatore even more.

"I'll talk to you later, Caroline." Aliyah smiled, warmly, at the young blonde girl and went after Elena and Stefan, worried about the man who had been staring at them.

She walked out into the cold night air to find the man from earlier standing right in front of Elena and Stefan, the latter standing in front of the former so as to protect her.

"I have a message for you." Aliyah heard the man say.

"What?" Elena asked, confused.

"Who are you?" Stefan snapped.

"Stop looking."

"Stop looking for what?" Elena asked.

"She doesn't want to know you. She doesn't want to talk to you."

"Isobel?" Realisation dawned in Elena's eyes.

"You need to stop looking. Do you understand?"

"She's alive?" Elena's eyes widened. "Does that mean she's a-" She started to inch forwards, but Stefan put his arm back to keep her behind him.

Aliyah wondered if this girl had a death wish.

If she does, I could give it to her.

"Elena, he's under compulsion." Stefan warned.

"Do you understand?" The man asked, sharply.

Elena nodded. "Yes. I do."

"Good." The man said and looked down the street. "I'm done now."

The man stepped backwards into the road and in the way of an oncoming large truck. The truck blared its horn and ran smack dab into him, killing him, instantly. Elena and Stefan would've fallen into the road and been struck as well, had Aliyah not pulled them back at the last moment.

"I told you to keep her safe." Aliyah growled. "What the hell have you been doing?"

At least it wasn't Niklaus or Elijah who sent the man. You don't have to get involved in the doppelganger's family issues.

And, in the next moment, she was gone.

Elena, shocked, grabbed Stefan, staring at the empty space where the man used to be with horror. Stefan knelt down and looks at the man and Elena saw a phone that must have fallen out of the man's pocket and picked it up, pocketing it. Stefan quickly stood up, his eyes searching for anyone who might have seen what had happened, and grabbed Elena's arm.

"Come on. Let's get out of here. Come on." Stefan urged Elena and dragged her off.

She was stunned when she met Stefan right outside her apartment, but she could see her compulsion working through him.

"Any reason why you're stalking me, broody?" Aliyah smirked.

"Alaric." That was all Stefan was able to say.

Aliyah cocked her head. "What about him?"

"Alaric attacked Damon with a stake because he turned Isobel. Damon killed him and he just came back to life."

Aliyah paused. "He had vampire blood in him, then. He's going through the transition. You should probably take care of that." She made to walk back into her apartment.

"He didn't have vampire blood in him. But he had this ring on him. He told me Isobel gave it to him and told him that the ring would protect him." Stefan told her.

Aliyah's narrowed her eyes. She pursed her lips. She spun around and walked up to him, easily compelling him for a second time that day. "You will tell me anything else you find out about this."

"Hey, Bonnie, it's me just checking in, seeing how you're doing. We miss you here. Don't let your aunt drive you too crazy."

"I think she misses you." Aliyah commented, softly, staring at the way Bonnie's face seem to twist hearing Elena's latest voicemail. She bit her lip. "Is that why you didn't want to come with me tonight?"

"I couldn't see her." Bonnie said, hoarsely. "I'll get angry and resentful and…"

"She's your friend, Bonnie. You'll have to see her sometime." Aliyah pointed out, gently.

"I know." Bonnie said, her voice small and weary. "I'm so lost, Ali, what do I do?" She whispered.

Aliyah pursed her lips and sat down next to Bonnie on her bed. She wrapped her arms around Bonnie's small form and pulled her into an embrace, Bonnie resting her head on Aliyah's shoulder. Aliyah stroked her hair, while Bonnie sobbed into her shoulder.

"I just want my Grams back, Ali. I really want her back." She whispered.

"I know." Aliyah murmured.

A/N: Well, I was a bit unsure of the way I approached this chapter, but I hope I did it justice. I hope you like the Bonliyah and growing Caroliyah that I worked in this chapter. I think Bonnie and Caroline would be good for Aliyah as far as friendship goes. And we finally got some Original compulsion in this chapter. Aliyah's quite the mastermind. She has her very own spies in Mystic Falls and she managed to integrate herself into Mystic Falls society with a breeze.

I hope you guys liked the flashback in this chapter, I haven't done any of the heavy bits of Klaus and Aliyah's relationship yet, but there are quite a few. And I wonder who was Aliyah's first husband. There will be just a bit drama concerning that in this story.

By the way, are there any pairings that you guys would like to see in this story, maybe a romance for Aliyah before Klaus comes into the story, any other pairings with Caroline and Bonnie?

Anyway, hope you all liked the story and don't forget to review!