Stormdancer

by deathsweetqueen

To know Niklaus Mikaelson is to know Aliyah. It took everything she had to walk away from him. But she had no choice; she didn't want to hate him after loving him for a thousand years. But Niklaus always intended to take back what was his, and that was Aliyah. She may run and she may hide, but he would find her. Will she be strong enough to walk away again? Klaus/OC. Post 1X14 AU.

10. Brave New World

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

A/N: Okay, so I thought I'd do this thing where I'd update all of my stories on Valentine's Day as a treat to celebrate my three favourite relationships at the moment: Docthea (from The Dread of Tomorrow and Yesterday), Doctess (from Dream Weaver) and Nikliyah (from Stormdancer). Anyway, hope you guys have an awesome Valentine's Day and enjoy all of my updates.

So, here's the episode where Caroline turns into a vampire. We'll see some more Tonnie, Mason action, angry Bonnie and a protective Aliyah. Not to mention, a little birthday scene.

Actually, I was just wondering... I've been having a lot of trouble uploading and editing chapters after I upgraded my Mac to Yosemite and I was wondering if any of my readers had an idea of what I could do. Help would be much appreciated. It would take away the delay in my updates ;)

Reviews:

Skyeward MusicLover: Thank you so much! Yep, Aliyah sure has her work cut out for her over the next couple of months.

NicoleR85: I have little changes coming up in the storyline in the next few chapters, mainly because I think Aliyah would change a few things just by her presence. I'm not a huge fan of Elena, only because I think that Caroline's a much better character and I feel like Elena pretends to be all compassionate and kind and nice, but she has these moments of darkness which is really unusual of a seventeen-year-old girl who never grew up with the supernatural. She never knew about witches or vampires and she's only known the Salvatores a couple of months and she's let them change her so much. To be honest, I think a part of her gets off on being the centre of their attention. I'm not too sure about Damon, because I'm finding him unredeemable, but you never know about Stefan. Rebekah will be coming in Season 3 ;)

Guest: Thank you so much!

PracticallyCharmed: Thank you so much! I'm glad you approve of the actress I chose. Aliyah's good at manipulating people and running things behind the scenes. I think it's funny how the Salvatores and Elena think they're the ones in control when it's Aliyah who's the one pulling all of the strings. Aliyah knows Bonnie can take care of herself, but because she used to be a witch herself, she's well aware of the limits they have and she wants to make sure Bonnie won't get hurt when those limits weaken her. I think it was something like how Klaus (in Alaric's body) wasn't all that affected by Bonnie's magic in The Last Dance like he should have been by a witch who had the strength of a hundred witches. I don't know if you've seen the Originals, but I'd imagine their showdown should've gone something like the first season finale, between Elijah, Klaus and Hayley, and those Harvest witches. The Originals shows that Klaus is affected by magic. So, I think it was probably Lucy putting a protection spell on Katherine temporarily. I have certain plans for Lucy and Abby when they come in. I think Bonnie's outlook has changed because of Aliyah's role in her life and I don't think she'd need either of them the way she needed them in TVD. I think it's quite sad how Bonnie never seemed to have this witch mentor like she should've had. I mean, everyone had someone help them with their transition to a vampire/hybrid, and Bonnie should've had someone. But she has Aliyah now. So, that's good. I love writing the flashbacks between Klaus and Aliyah because you can tell they were really sweet together when they were human. I have plans for that big showdown between Bonnie and Klaus and I'm not willing to tell anyone what I've got planned for that. But thank you so much for your offer! Tyler being a hybrid will be an interesting concept because we now have Aliyah in the picture who'll disapprove of Klaus using the sire bond. Okay, for your questions: Aliyah and Rebekah had a great relationship. That was part of the reason why Aliyah left Klaus in the first place. They were like sisters, or like mother and daughter because Rebekah lost Esther really early on and she needed that female constant in her life. Other guys will flirt with Bonnie, I'll have a new spin on the Beremy relationship and Luka's coming up. Jamie in Season 3 and definitely Kol, but the plus side of that is that we get to see a jealous Tyler. Elena and Bonnie will have this on-again, off-again relationship. I want their relationship to slowly deteriorate so it makes it more believable that Bonnie would go to New Orleans with Aliyah and Klaus. I think if it were anyone else in Bonnie's position, they would've stopped being friends with Elena just for self-preservation and Bonnie (with Aliyah's help) has become quite disillusioned with Elena and that'll only grow in the next couple of episodes.

mai: Thank you so much!

Bee: I'm so glad you liked it!

TetraGirl: Yep, all those Forwood moments in Season 2 will be replaced with my own spin on Tonnie. Yep, Aliyah will definitely have more of a chance to put Katherine in a place. There is something between the two that'll be shown in a couple of episodes. Yep, Aliyah's quite scared of what Klaus will do to her. All she can do is wait ;)

Slytherin Studios: Thank you so much!

Elin: I know, I really want Elijah to come, because he's the first one, and I'm actually writing Masquerade at the moment so I get to write him very soon.

Calliope's Scribe: Oh, I love that comparison! I'm glad you get excited when I update. I have to say, people have received this story much better than I thought they would. There's always that uncertainty with OC stories. Yep, we'll have a bit more present day Nikliyah interaction coming up in a couple of episodes.

zoom: I love the Caronliyah and I promise, it'll only get stronger. And I'm glad you like Tonnie!

Guess: Thank you so much!

Zitacica: Yep, everyone's really eager to see Klaus in this story. I am too!

suzii3499: No, Aliyah won't definitely jump him. It'll be a mixture of sex (because Klaus can't keep his hands off Aliyah, even if he is angry) and sniping at each other (because Aliyah has a lot to say and she isn't going to be kind about it and we all know that Klaus lashes out when he gets angry) until they get a chance to finally talk through their problems in Season 3. I love writing Bonliyah because their interactions are amazing. They've got that sibling like relationship, but then Bonnie needs a maternal figure and then she needs a friend. It's like they're the whole package.

tate4eva: There's more where that came from! I have my problems with Steroline this early in the story, mostly because I've made it pretty clear that Aliyah only tolerates Stefan for Rebekah's sake this early on. He's her favourite Salvatore, but she still doesn't like it very much. I think Stefan would bow out gracefully if Aliyah wanted to take care of Caroline through her transition because he knows what it's like to be abandoned by his sire and he understands that is important for a newly-turned vampire. There will be Steroline moments throughout the chapters, but nothing concrete as a relationship, because I think Stefan did Caroline a great injustice with what happened with Damon in Season 1. It was his self-taken responsibility of controlling Damon and he didn't help Caroline the way he should have. And even Stefan has the tendency to look Caroline over in favour of Elena. Caroline needs someone who can put her first and Aliyah will do that, like she does with Bonnie. Unfortunately, there isn't any Klaus in this chapter, but I'm sure we'll see more of him in the next one.

PrincessMagic: Thank you so much!

Guest: Thank you so much!

Stormdancer

Chapter 10

Brave New World

It was late morning when Aliyah approached Bonnie's closed door, knowing that from the silence within that Tyler and Bonnie were still fast asleep, seeing as Tyler's car was still parked outside the house. She balanced the cake in one hand and turned the handle to Bonnie's door and walked inside, ignoring the way that Tyler and Bonnie seemed to be wrapped up in each other amidst the sheets. She could see from first glance that both of them were still clothed and she cursed that part of herself that hadn't been able to get rid of tenth century propriety out of her head. She smirked to herself. If her mother had been aware of everything she had gotten up to with Niklaus, despite tenth century propriety, she would have locked her up in the hut and thrown away the key, lest her wicked daughter shame her in front of the whole village.

She placed the cake on a table towards the edge of the wall and crossed her arms over her chest as Tyler and Bonnie began to blearily awake, rubbing their eyes as they sat up in bed. Bonnie's eyes widened when she saw Aliyah standing opposite from her, a knowing smirk on her lips. Her sleep-addled eyes saw the woman was hazy, but could see a strange yellow blur next to her. She rubbed her eyes again and could see the candle stuck in the middle of the chocolate mud cake next to Aliyah. She felt something shift next to her and the memories of last night suddenly came back to her.

Her eyes widened as a shirtless Tyler woke up next to her, her having donned his shirt on in the night for extra warmth and that strange urge to have her hands on his skin. He had only been too happy to hand it to her, his skin giving her extra warmth as they cuddled. In fact, if she were being honest, her closet had plenty of Tyler's shirts that she had stolen over the years. She sent a guilty look towards Aliyah, who simply beamed, proudly, at her.

"Um, Aliyah, we were just-" Bonnie motioned to Tyler and herself. "We were-"

Aliyah chuckled and waved her off. "It's fine, darling. I'm not cross." She winked. "The two of you aren't doing I didn't do when I was your age." She smirked, waggling her eyebrows, revelling in the flush that rose in Bonnie's cheeks.

Tyler sat up in bed, the sheets falling to his waist and exposing his bare chest. The heel of his hand pressed against his eyes and he shoved the sheets up to his neck when he realised that Aliyah was in the room with them, smirking at them with amusement.

"I just-" Tyler hastened to explain, not wanting Bonnie's cousin to get the wrong impression of him. But, he did realise that if she tried to ask about him around town, she'd get a pretty good picture of him. He had done a lot of bad things in the years that may make Aliyah a little wary to have him around Bonnie.

And he couldn't stay away from Bonnie.

"It's fine, Tyler." Aliyah said, reassuringly, the corners of her lips quirking upwards. "Really. I saw your car late last night. I already knew you were in here. I trust you both, I really do." She grinned at an embarrassed Bonnie, who smiled back gratefully. "And I decided to make a cake for the birthday girl." She crowed.

Bonnie grinned back at her and jumped out of bed, walking over to Aliyah and the cake, peering down at the chocolate dessert. Aliyah held out a small knife for her to cut the cake and Tyler joined them, feeling a little shy about his lack of shirt, but Aliyah didn't seem to spare his nakedness a second glance and Bonnie had seen him much more naked than this.

"Did you actually make this?" Bonnie raised an eyebrow, narrowing her eyes at the cake and wondering whether it was eatable.

Aliyah rolled her eyes. "I do have some experience with cooking, you know. Just because I prefer to get take-away more often, doesn't mean I can't cook." She said, sternly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Okay, okay," Bonnie laughed and swiped a bit of the chocolate icing off the top, licking her finger, a gesture which made Tyler flush and shift, uncomfortably, as his jeans got a bit tight.

Hey, it wasn't his fault. He was a teenage boy and his Bonnie Rabbit was hot as hell.

Bonnie hummed, appreciatively, and licked her lips. "This is really good." She praised. "We are officially never getting take-out again."

"Ha," Aliyah snorted, but she smiled nonetheless. "Keep dreaming." She crowed. She handed Bonnie a sharp kitchen knife, handle first. "Cut the cake." She ordered.

Bonnie rolled her eyes and took the knife from her, smiling, slightly, when she saw the hastily drawn message in green icing, 'HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY, BONNIE'. She looked up at Aliyah and threw her arms around her. It was her eighteenth birthday and her two most favourite people in the world were the first to be there for her.

Her heart cracked when she remembered that her Grams was missing from this scenario. Her arms tightened around Aliyah's neck and she buried her face in her neck, a few tears slipping out and falling onto Aliyah's neck. Aliyah pursed her lips and her hand came around, cupping Bonnie's head in her palm and her fingers weaving through her tangled mess of hair.

"Hush, Bonnie girl." Aliyah said, soothingly. "Birthdays are happy occasions."

Tyler narrowed his eyes and took a worried step closer to Bonnie. He could tell by her slightly shaking shoulders and the way her back tensed that Bonnie was crying. He was always attuned to any change of emotion in Bonnie; any slight shift in her face and he was right there, by her side. Aliyah watched the gesture with interest and knew that Tyler knew Bonnie was crying. She supposed it shouldn't have come to much of a shock to her. Niklaus had always been able to know when she was crying.

"Bonnie Rabbit." Tyler murmured and approached Bonnie, stroking a hand down her back.

Bonnie pulled back and sniffled, smiling through her tears. She placed a hand on Aliyah's arm and wrapped the other arm around Tyler's waist, bringing him into her side.

"I'm fine, really," Bonnie waved off. "I'm just glad I got to spend the first couple of minutes of my 18th birthday with you two." She leaned her head against Tyler's shoulder.

"Did Caroline and Elena text you?" Tyler asked, curiously.

Bonnie pursed her lips and slipped away from their arms, moving over to the bedside table and picking up her phone. Her face fell when she switched it on, staring at the blank screen, bare but for a picture of her, Caroline and Elena at the 50s Decade Dance late last year. She rubbed the back of her neck and she felt the tears come to her eyes all over again.

Apparently, she was forgotten yet again. And by the two girls who claimed to be her best friends.

"Bonnie Rabbit?" Tyler said, cautiously, taking a step in her direction.

Aliyah clenched her teeth and she felt the sudden urge to go find Elena Gilbert and tear her pretty head off for making Bonnie cry all over again. It wasn't Caroline's fault. The girl was still in the hospital and healing. But Elena Gilbert had some nerve telling her that she was brainwashing Bonnie against her when she didn't have the decency to remember her best friend's 18th birthday.

Bonnie cleared her throat and spun around to face them, pasting a fake yet tremulous smile on her face.

"It's fine, really." Bonnie said, reassuringly. She smiled, wryly. "They must've forgot, it's fine." She nodded, emphatically, trying to convince herself of the fact more than Tyler and Aliyah.

"No, it's not." Aliyah said, coldly. She shook her head and her face transformed into a beaming smile. "Come and cut your cake, darling." She crooned, beckoning her over.

Tyler clenched his teeth, feeling a burst of anger towards Caroline Forbes and Elena Gilbert, before he stepped forward and swept Bonnie's small frame into a crushing hug, half lifting her off the floor. He had never really liked either of them. His hand swept across the back of her hair and along her spine until he wrapped his arms around her waist. He burrowed his face into her dark waves. She smelt like Bonnie and him. It was the most delicious scent he had ever smelt.

"Happy Birthday, Bonnie Rabbit." Tyler murmured in her ear.

"Thanks, sugar." Bonnie breathed, nuzzling into his chest.

"Okay, lovebirds, break it up." Aliyah rolled her eyes. "Come and cut the cake, darling."

Bonnie rolled her eyes and broke away from Tyler, dragging him back to the cake. She leaned down and closed her eyes, blowing out the candle, but keeping her wish a secret. She picked up the knife and sliced into the cake, the knife moving into the sponge as if it were soft butter. She hit the bottom of the plate and slid the knife out. She cut another line a few centimetres away and pulled out the piece that she had cut. She cupped it in her hands and she bit into it, moaning at the taste of chocolate on her tongue with a smile. She turned to Tyler and shoved the cake into his mouth, feeling him bite onto it. She then pulled her hand away and offered it to Aliyah, who took a tentative bite.

Tyler grinned and shook his head. "That's some real good cake." He said, appreciatively, winking over at Aliyah, who smiled back at him, both of them glad for Bonnie's renewed spirits.

Aliyah hummed in agreement and licked her lips. "Yep, I'm a good cook. I should make food more often."

Bonnie rolled her eyes and lifted the cake. "Come on, let's have this in the dining room, guys."

Aliyah and Tyler followed Bonnie through the corridors and down the staircase, dutifully, and they stopped once they reached the spacious dining room. Bonnie placed the cake on the table and they each took a seat around it.

Tyler looked around. "I got to say, Aliyah, this place is pretty cool." He said, slowly.

Aliyah smiled. "Thank you, Tyler. I got it cheap because no one wants to live this deep in the woods." She shrugged. "Tell you what though, it keeps people away." She grinned.

"It's private, I like it." Bonnie smirked.

Aliyah jumped to her feet and moved over to a nearby china cabinet. She pulled out three plates. "Here we go." She declared, placing the plates on the table in front of them. "Have at it."

Bonnie licked her lips. "Mm, chocolate cake." She purred, her eyes flashing, holding the knife, predatorily, pointed at the cake.

---

Bonnie walked Tyler out the door, her hand curled around his muscular bicep, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"Thank you for being there this morning." She murmured, sweetly, looking up at him with soft, moss green eyes.

"Anytime, Bonnie Rabbit." Tyler said, lowly, his lips grazing her hair. He cracked a smile. "Happy Birthday, Bonnie." He said, sincerely, his eyes molten.

"Thank you, Stray." She said, sweetly, tipping her head up and parting her lips.

"I'm sorry about Caroline and Elena. I'm sure they'll come by later." Tyler said, softly, knowing that he was lying out of his teeth.

He had seen a pattern between the three girls, Elena was at the forefront, unwillingly, Caroline pushed herself to the forefront and Bonnie got left behind. He had never really liked the other two. He found Elena pushy and self-absorbed and Caroline shallow and neurotic. He knew that Caroline was dating his best friend and the only reason that she was in the hospital was because he had wigged out while they were driving, so he had to be nice to her. But he had no qualms about glaring at Elena for the rest of the day if need be.

He hadn't really liked either of the girls. Even when he was younger, Bonnie was the only girl he could stand to be around. Then, he was seven and he had met Matt and everything started to change and Bonnie started to spend more time with Elena and Caroline, but he and Bonnie had always been the closest. They may have not spent as much time together or spoken as much over the last couple of years, but they resigned themselves to study dates and hushed phone conversations in the middle of the night that had sustained them over the years.

No one hurt his Bonnie Rabbit and got away with it. In fact, he could feel that all-consuming rage well up deep in his stomach, his jaw tensing with the force of the pressure he was placing upon it.

When a tear slowly rolled down Bonnie's cheek to where Tyler's thumb was stroking her skin, it took all of his willpower and self-control not to dip his head down and kiss it away.

"You are so fucking beautiful." Tyler growled low in his throat.

Bonnie's breath caught in her throat at the intensity of his words, his dark eyes going molten and heated for a moment. She could feel her stomach clench and her arousal start to throb low in her belly. And, for a moment, she dreamt of what would happen if she had the courage to lean up and tear away every carefully erected boundary between them and kiss him hard on the mouth and lick the taste of him off her tongue.

She swallowed hard. "Thanks, sugar. You're not so bad yourself." She waggled her eyebrows, playfully.

Tyler noticed her strained smile and guessed it was from his mentioning of Caroline and Elena, and he immediately cursed himself for bringing them up and causing her more pain. At that moment, a part of him wanted to push and to show her what she really meant to him, what he really felt for her. He had known he was in love with Bonnie Bennett since he was seven and beginning to realise that she may not just be his bestest friend in the whole wide world. But, he could push her right out of his life if he played his cards wrong, and a life without Bonnie Bennett wasn't a life Tyler Lockwood was willing to live.

"I'm incredibly hot." Tyler said, proudly, puffing his chest out. "Ask everyone."

Bonnie chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, sugar." She shook her head in disbelief.

Tyler walked down the few steps of the enormous porch, making his way down the stone cobble way towards his Vintage 1971 Buick GS. He stilled in his footsteps and turned around to face her.

"Hey, what are you doing tonight?" Tyler asked, curiously, after a hesitant pause.

Bonnie blinked. "Um… I'm not really sure."

"You wanna get a bite to eat? Celebrate your birthday?" He asked, slowly.

Bonnie cracked a smile, the question making her feel all warm inside. "I'd love to, sugar. Name the place and time and I'll be there." She said, sweetly.

Tyler grinned. "Great." He said, feeling himself lighten after the burden dropped and feeling his heart start to thud, erratically, with the chance to take Bonnie out on a real date and show her that he wasn't just her Stray and not just the dead Mayor's screw-up son. "Are you going to the Carnival today?"

Bonnie bit her lip and nodded. "Yeah, Caroline's still hasn't been given the okay from the hospital, so Elena's taken over. So, I'm going there to help her and Aliyah's still doing some journalism stuff for her book." She explained.

Tyler smiled. "Great, Bonnie Rabbit, see you there." He winked and walked away.

Bonnie pressed her hand to her beating heart and smiled to herself, feeling giddy all of a sudden. She walked back inside and closed the door, turning around and reeling back in shock as she came face to face with Aliyah, who was smirking at her.

"So, a real, proper date, huh?" Aliyah waggled her eyebrows.

Bonnie glared at her, half-heartedly. "Oh, shut up." She muttered under her breath.

"He called you beautiful, too." Aliyah crooned, throwing an arm around Bonnie's shoulders and leading her back into the house.

"Shut up." Bonnie groaned. "It's my birthday, why are you being so mean to me?" She pouted.

Aliyah chuckled. "It's my prerogative as an older, female relative." She observed Bonnie. "So, what do you want to do today?" She asked, slowly.

"Well, today's the Carnival and I'm going out to dinner tonight with Tyler. But, we can do something tomorrow night?" Bonnie raised an eyebrow.

Aliyah nodded. "Sure. Well, you're eighteen, so we should do something to commemorate that. What can you do now that you're eighteen?" She mused to herself. "You can get a tattoo." Bonnie looked thoughtful. "You can buy a gun." Bonnie glared at her. "Strip club?" Bonnie rolled her eyes.

"The tattoo idea sounds good." Bonnie mused. "I wonder if I could get my Grams' name on my hip. Do you think that's a good idea?" She asked Bonnie.

Aliyah nodded, biting her lower lip. "I think that's a lovely idea." She said, sincerely.

"Do you have a tattoo?" Bonnie asked, curiously.

Aliyah smiled, slowly. "I have a few."

Bonnie looked interested. "Like what?"

Aliyah tugged down the strap of her tank top to bare her tanned shoulder and collarbone, with the words 'Always and Forever' inscribed in black cursive across her clavicle. She then lifted up the hem of her tank top, pulling it up a few inches and exposing her smooth back, where a symmetrical, wavy line of small, black swallows were engraved across the line of her spinal column, stretching down to the small of her back, and up to between her shoulder blades, where an intricate picture of a lotus flower was drawn in black ink, with the petals unearthed. The centre petal of the lotus flower led to a curvy drawing of a wolf made of swirls. She turned around towards the side and showed Bonnie her naked stomach, bare but for a small diamond hooked into the smooth dent of her bellybutton. Across her rib cage, going diagonal in elegant, dark ink, were the words 'From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renewed shall be blade that was broken, the crownless again shall be queen'.

And the one on the curve of her hip was the one that made Bonnie blink twice.

"Long live the king and God save the queen." Aliyah purred.

"What do they mean?" Bonnie cocked her head and looked at all of them, her eyes lighting up.

"I'll explain them later. I have a few others, but I'll show you those after I tell you my story. You'll understand them better then." Aliyah said, wryly, smoothing her tank top down her body and covering herself up.

"So, would you?" Bonnie asked, slowly. "Take me to get a tattoo tomorrow night?"

Aliyah smiled. "I'd love to, darling." She said, sweetly, throwing an arm across her shoulder. She paused and cocked her head, staring at Bonnie with dark, intent eyes. "So, are you really okay about Caroline and Elena still not wishing you for your birthday?" Aliyah asked, hesitantly, her hands warm on Bonnie's shoulder.

Bonnie swallowed past the uncomfortable lump in her throat. "It hurts a lot." She confessed, weakly, feeling tears sting her eyes. "I wish… sometimes, I feel like I'm second-best." She whispered and pressed her forehead against Aliyah's shoulder. "I mean, I know Caroline's still in the hospital. She's still recovering and I can't hold it against her if she forgot. But I thought… Elena, at least…" She shook her head, feeling her stomach twist, uncomfortably.

Aliyah pursed her lips, her rage rearing its ugly head again, and she itched to go and tear out the doppelganger bitch's throat out. She wrapped her arms around Bonnie and felt the young girl sink into her warm and loving embrace, her hand stroking through her hair and down her back.

"See, and you ask how come I hate her." Aliyah muttered under her breath and pressed a fond kiss to Bonnie's forehead. She sighed, feeling a little awkward. "Elena…" Aliyah licked her lips. "She had a rough night, darling. But, she should have at least had it in her mind."

Bonnie frowned and pulled away. "What do you mean 'rough night'?" She asked, her brow furrowing.

Aliyah pursed her lips. "Damon snapped Jeremy Gilbert's neck." She said, slowly.

"What!" Bonnie shrieked, her green eyes flashing and, out of the corner of her eye, Aliyah could see some of the furniture lift off the ground.

"Calm down." Aliyah said, firmly, and the furniture sank down to the ground as Bonnie took in deep breaths, calming herself down. "Jeremy is fine, Bonnie. Apparently, John Gilbert gave Jeremy his ring before he left town. The boy came back to life and he's alive." She said, reassuringly.

Bonnie shook her head, feeling a sudden peace settle over her. She stared at Aliyah, amazed and incredulous. "How the hell do you know all of this?" She threw her hands up in the air.

"Stefan tells me everything." Aliyah shrugged. "What can I say, I'm approachable." She smirked, winking at Bonnie.

Bonnie smiled at that. "You're so lying to me." She sighed. "But you promised to tell me everything and you haven't yet." She pouted.

"Soon, I promise." Aliyah said, reassuringly, placing a warm hand on Bonnie's shoulder. "Maybe, tomorrow night, when we go out, I'll explain everything." She said, slowly, feeling herself get nervous at the thought of telling Bonnie her entire story, not knowing how the younger girl would react to some of the tales she would tell her.

Bonnie nodded, reluctantly. "So, should we get ready? We should probably get there pretty early. I promised Elena I'd help her out with the organising and you're supposed to be taking pictures and whatever." She pointed out.

Aliyah groaned and her shoulders slumped. "How long do I have to keep this daft charade up?"

Bonnie shrugged. "As long as you decide to stay in Mystic Falls." She couldn't help but feel ashamed that her voice broke in the middle of her sentence, thinking about when yet another person who claimed to care for her would leave as well.

Aliyah raised an eyebrow and she reeled back in shock. "Why would you think that I'm going to leave Mystic Falls, darling?" She asked, softly, slightly hurt by the accusation.

Bonnie bit her lip and, determinedly, looked away from her. "You haven't noticed that everyone who cares about me eventually leaves?" She chuckled, harshly. "My mom, my dad, my Grams, Elena… Caroline, you and Tyler are the only ones that are left." She gritted her teeth against the stinging in her eyes.

"Bonnie," Aliyah sighed and wrapped her arms around her shoulders. "I have absolutely no intention of leaving Mystic Falls without you." She said, firmly. "You still have another year and a half of high school left, and then you're going to be off to university, and I'll go with you." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Of course, I won't actually go to school with you, but I'll get an apartment close by or something." She shrugged. "Whatever you want."

Bonnie's eyes widened. "You don't have to do with that. Not out of an obligation to me or something." She protested.

"Bonnie," Aliyah said, determinedly. "You are not an obligation to me." She scolded. "You are my family and I am devoted to my family." She said, sweetly. "You're my niece and I've begun to think of you as a little sister. I will never abandon you. And, if I do, you have my permission to drag me by the ear and set me straight." She joked.

Bonnie smiled through the few tears that were streaming down her face. "I just might." She said, weakly.

"I will never leave you, Bonnie." Aliyah's grip tightened around Bonnie's form. "I don't have much of my family left, and that's a story that I have to tell you. But, I cherish the ones I have. And you are my family." She said, earnestly. "I won't leave Mystic Falls unless I can take you with me." She squeezed her shoulder.

"Are you sure?" Bonnie asked, softly.

"Yes."

"Thank you." Bonnie said, quietly, her hands tightening around Aliyah.

She needed Aliyah in her life. The woman had become incredibly close to her in such a close time. She had been so good to her, it was almost as if her Grams was with her here as well. Aliyah was strong and beautiful and Bonnie had warmed up to the older woman much quicker than she thought she would be able to. Aliyah wasn't afraid to show Bonnie whenever she was wrong and she was determined to make sure that Bonnie opened her eyes to what was out there – not only regarding her craft and the supernatural world, but also about life in general – and experienced everything the world had to offer. She offered guidance and advice and joked when she needed it and laughed with her and cried with her. It was like having another best friend, but with one who had only her best interest at heart.

"Oh, by the way, I need to know who else – other than Tyler – you've told about this address. Security reasons." Aliyah said, quickly, as they both rushed up the staircase and into their bedrooms.

"Well, I told Caroline and Matt when I was at the hospital with them." Bonnie replied, raking through her closet and finding something appropriate to wear. She pulled out a spaghetti-strap, sequinned patterned top and a pair of tight blue jeans, and moved into the bathroom to take a shower. "What about you?" She asked, curiously.

Aliyah pursed her lips, considering her open closet. She grabbed a grey blazer and a strapless, dark blue dress with a grey belt that came under the bust of the dress and slipped the clothing on, checking her reflection in the mirror.

"Well, I texted Jenna yesterday afternoon, after the Lockwood Memorial. And there's a good chance that she told Elena. Who probably would have told Stefan and Damon. Although, I'm pretty sure that Damon's not in her good books… you know, since he killed her brother." She rolled her eyes.

"I don't feel comfortable knowing that Stefan and Damon know we're here." Bonnie said, quietly, once she came out of the shower, completely dressed and hair dripping wet.

Aliyah poked her head through Bonnie's room's doorway, her hair straightened and her makeup done to perfection. "The house is in your name. The only way they can get in is if you give them your invitation." She said, firmly. "Just don't let them inside the house, darling, and you'll be safe." She walked into the room and came up behind Bonnie as she sat down in front of her vanity. She sat on the edge of the bed, which was right next to the chair in front of the vanity, and reached out, and pulled her hair away from her face.

"Are you sure?" She asked, nervously.

"You have me on speed dial, don't you?" Bonnie nodded. "Call me if something happens and I'll take care of them." She said, sternly. "I'll kill them if they try and hurt you, Bonnie. I give you my word." She ran her fingers through Bonnie's hair, twisting the ends of it, so it feel in luscious, soft curls down to the middle of Bonnie's back. "Mind you, personally, I'm not a huge fan of Elena coming here, anyway." She shrugged.

Bonnie sighed. "I'm still really angry at Elena," Not to mention the fact that she completely forgot my eighteenth birthday and I'm supposed to be her best friend. "So I don't think she'll be coming here much, or if she does, I'll probably be making some excuse to turn her away. Probably just Caroline, Matt and Tyler."

"Well, I have no problem with them. And I'm all too eager for you to spend more time with your Tyler." Aliyah said, playfully.

"He is not my Tyler." Bonnie scowled and pouted.

"You know, the lady doth protest too much, methinks." Aliyah purred. She pursed her lips. "You clearly have feelings for the boy. So, why don't you tell me what's going on?" She said, encouragingly.

Bonnie sighed and sank down on the chair, her head dropping onto the back. "I don't know." She hissed out, frustrated. "I do like Tyler… a lot." She confessed and rubbed the heel of her hand over her drawn eyes. "I may even love him." She said, wryly.

"So, tell me why you're sitting here with me instead of snogging your Stray?" Aliyah's eyes glinted, having heard the adorable nickname that Bonnie had given to Tyler.

Bonnie blushed when she heard her nickname for Tyler. "I guess…" She pursed her lips. "I mean, I'm not an idiot." She said, slowly. "I know that Tyler's in love with me and I do have really strong feelings for him as well. I don't know if that's love or not. But, if we do get together and something happens and we break up. It could ruin our friendship." She swallowed hard, feeling her stomach twist uncomfortably at the thought itself. "I need Tyler in my life, Lee-Lee. If I don't have him…" She shook her head, licking her lips to get rid of the dryness.

Aliyah smiled, sadly, and stepped forward, kneeling down in front of Bonnie and placing her hands on her thighs. "I thought the same thing when I started to fall in love with my husband." She confessed. "We had been best friends all our lives and suddenly, I started to see him in a way that really scared me. I thought, for sure, that if I told him how I felt, I'd lose him. But, I got to the point where I just couldn't continue to be friends with him anymore." She explained, earnestly. "And it felt nice. Even if I knew he may not feel the same way, at least I got it off my chest."

Bonnie bit her lip. "You think I should tell him?" She asked, nervously.

"I think you should think hard about how long you and Tyler are going to keep dancing around each other, before you have to do something about it." Aliyah explained. "You need to ask yourself whether it's just curiosity or is there something deeper between you and him. If you think there's something deeper, I'd say go for it."

Bonnie's hands fidgeted in her lap. "And there's one other thing…" She said, hesitantly, her eyes shifting from side to side as a blush rose in her cheeks.

Aliyah shifted on the floor and ran a hand through her hair, her instincts picking up on Bonnie's embarrassment. "Okay," She said, slowly. "D'you mind talking about it?" She asked, encouragingly.

"This is going to sound dumb." Bonnie laughed, uncertainly, biting her lower lip. "Around two years ago, I was at this party and so was Tyler and we had some alcohol, and long story short, we slept together." She said, quickly.

Aliyah frowned. "Because of the alcohol?" She asked, slowly.

"Um," Bonnie's brow furrowed. "No, my head was pretty clear when I went up to Tyler's bedroom that night." She explained.

"Okay." Aliyah nodded, her mind running a mile a minute. "So, that may make things awkward." She pointed out. "Is that one of the reasons you're not willing to go forward?" She asked, curiously.

"Kinda." Bonnie shrugged, chewing on her lip. "It's a bit more complicated than that." She sighed, taking a deep breath. "I'm scared." She confessed, quietly.

"About what?" Aliyah asked, carefully. Suddenly, rage reared his head. "Did he… hurt you that night, Bonnie? Is that what you're scared about?" She asked, icily, ready to tear the werewolf's head off at a moment's notice.

"What?" Bonnie's eyes widened. "No! No, he would never do anything like that!" She protested.

"Okay." She held her hands out in front of her. "Sorry, my mistake. So, what about the fact that the two of you shagged years ago worries you?" She asked, nonchalantly.

"Well, we were both virgins that night," Bonnie began, awkwardly. "But Tyler's been with other girls since then, and I…"

"Would feel inadequate if you formed a relationship with him and slept with him, because he has more experience than you?" Aliyah guessed, raising an eyebrow. Bonnie gave a surprised nod. Aliyah ran her tongue over her teeth, looking thoughtful. "Have you been with other boys since then?" She asked, slowly.

Bonnie shrugged. "One or two. I haven't had many boyfriends." She looked hesitant about asking her next question. "Have you ever felt like that before?"

Aliyah's eyes widened and she couldn't help the flush that rose in her cheeks, stamping it down forcefully with every shred of her self-control. "Well…" She drawled, rubbing the back of her neck. "I grew up in a different time, Bonnie girl. Sex was reserved for after marriage. But, I'm sure I was one of the few girls who lost their virginity before marriage." She shrugged, no longer feeling the stab of shame in her stomach for what she had done a thousand years ago. "I felt guilty about that for a very long time." She mused. She shook her head. "I've never been in your specific situation before, Bonnie, because my first time was my lover's first time as well and he had no other lovers afterwards, and my first husband had never been with a woman before, but I do know what it's like to be insecure with the men I've been in love with."

Bonnie nodded. "So, what do I do?" She asked, wearily.

Aliyah took a deep breath. "There's not much you can do, Bonnie. From what I've seen, Tyler's crazy about you. I'm pretty sure that no other girl that he's been with will hold a candle to you in his head."

Bonnie shook her head and buried her face in her hands. "But, you have to say that," She whined. "You're like my aunt."

Aliyah chuckled. "I don't have to do anything." She smirked. "And I'm telling you the truth." She said, sincerely.

"But what if he doesn't… enjoy himself?" Bonnie said, awkwardly.

Aliyah snorted. "He's a teenage boy, darling. He's getting the chance to dip his wick somewhere warm. Trust me, he'll enjoy himself." She smirked.

"What if I don't measure up to the other girls he's been with?" Bonnie asked, worriedly, jumping to her feet and pacing around the room.

"You will." Aliyah said, firmly. "You may not have much experience when it comes to sex, but Bonnie, if Tyler loves you, he won't be expecting the prowess of a whore." She said, slowly. "He'll just want you." She said, pointedly.

"But-" Bonnie began to protest, her green eyes going wild.

"But nothing." Aliyah said, determinedly, and walked over to Bonnie, placing her hands on her shoulders and stilling her. "You're beautiful and you exude sexuality. Moreover, Tyler looks like he's head over heels for you. Plus, you were his first. Men always have a special place in their heart for their first." She shrugged. "Trust me, none of that will matter to him. Tyler will want you, and only you." She said, firmly.

Bonnie pursed her lips and felt tears sting her eyes. "How do you always know what to say?" She asked, sceptically, resting her head on Aliyah's collarbone.

Aliyah's arms came up around Bonnie's shoulders and they swayed from side to side. "Because, I'm just that amazing." She sighed.

---

"Oh, there you are, Aliyah." Carol said, wearily, her eyes still drawn and tired.

Aliyah clucked her tongue as she approached, her heels scraping against the gravel of the road. "Hello, Carol, are you really sure you wouldn't want to be at home right now?" She asked, confused.

Carol smiled, weakly. "Yes, I'm sure. To be honest, I'd rather be here and do some actual work. It keeps my mind off… everything." She finished.

Aliyah nodded and clapped her hands. "Is there anything I can do?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Well, actually, I had a favour to ask of you." Carol said, hesitantly.

Aliyah shook her head. "Anything you need." She said, cheerfully.

"Well, there's still a few more trucks of prizes for some of the booths to come in. If you wouldn't mind taking a few of the boxes over to Elena Gilbert?"

"Is she the one who's running the Carnival?" Aliyah asked, innocently, as if she didn't know the answer already.

Carol nodded. "Seeing as Caroline Forbes is still in the hospital, Elena volunteered to take over."

"Ah." Aliyah murmured. "Well, then, I'll just be off and see to those prizes." She smiled at Carol and placed a tentative hand on her arm. "If there's anything you need, Carol, don't hesitate to call me." She said, sincerely.

Aliyah may not be as deferential towards humans as she could be, but she had a healthy respect for a few humans she had met over the years. While Carol Lockwood was an alcoholic and a slight elitist of a woman, she was also a woman who had just lost her husband to a phenomena she couldn't explain. She was also the woman who was witnessing those changes in her son and she didn't know how to help her. Not to mention, she was also Tyler's mother, which would make her important to Bonnie, and in turn, to her.

Carol smiled, weakly, at her, patting her hand. "Thank you for that, Aliyah. I'll see you soon."

Aliyah turned around and walked in the direction of the trucks she could see out of the corner of her eye.

---

"Okay, this is all of it?" Aliyah asked the driver of the last truck, as he helped her carry a few of the boxes from the truck down to one of the booths.

"Yep." The driver nodded. He looked hesitant and slipped off his cap, rubbing the back of his awkwardly. "Listen, there's some coffee in the break room and I was wondering-"

Aliyah leaned in and let her compulsion flare. "No. You're going to get some coffee and you will not remember that you tried to chat me up." She said, sweetly, and a blank expression formed on his face as he repeated her words right back to her.

The driver, dumbly, nodded and walked away in the direction of the break room, Aliyah shuddering at the thought as she saw Elena a few feet away from her. She moved over to the young, brunette girl and dropped the boxes at her feet.

"You know, I saw that." Elena said, sharply, a chiding look forming on her face.

"Congratulations, Bambi, you have perfect eyesight." Aliyah smirked.

"You can't just go around compelling everyone." Elena protested.

Aliyah leaned in, her eyes flashing, dangerously. "Actually, I can." She hissed and her hand reached out, tucking a few strands of Elena's hair behind her ear. "Do you want to know why? It's because I'm a vampire." She said, mockingly. "You hypocrisy is really starting to make me cross, Elena. Watch yourself." She said, threateningly.

Elena chose to ignore Aliyah's words and narrowed her eyes. "Where's Bonnie?" She asked, curiously.

Aliyah smirked and looked around, just to make sure. Her eyesight picked up on Bonnie talking and laughing with Tyler's arm wrapped around her waist and his nose buried in her hair. It seemed as though all of her previous uncertainty had disappeared.

"She's otherwise occupied." Aliyah told Elena, nonchalantly. She cocked her head and looked at the girl. It still felt sometimes eerie to look at Elena, seeing the face of two other women at the same time, two women that she had known personally. "How are you doing with Katherine being back in town?" She asked, carefully.

Elena pursed her lips. "There's a homicidal vampire in Mystic Falls and she's wearing my face, how do you think I'm doing?" She asked, harshly, thinking that Aliyah was simply mocking her.

Aliyah growled low in her throat, the veins under her eyes appearing momentarily before they disappeared. "Again with the disrespect, Bambi." She shook her head in disbelief. "Most people would have learnt their lesson, but you just keep pushing, don't you?" She smirked. "By the way, I was being sincere. I just wanted to know how you were. In my experience, I have never wanted to tear someone's heart out of their chest as much as I have Katerina." She paused. "You come a close second."

Elena shrugged, grimacing. "It's creepy. She's my vampire ancestor and she looks exactly like me." She said, calmly.

"How's your brother?" Aliyah asked, suddenly. "Stefan told me what Damon did to him. Is he alright?"

Elena looked at her, suspiciously. "Why did Stefan tell you?" She spat.

Aliyah smirked, not being able to resist the urge to upset the selfish doppelganger. "Oh, darling, you wouldn't believe the things that your boyfriend tells me." She purred.

Elena's glare only grew, her dark eyes becoming stormy.

Aliyah laughed at the expression of anger on Elena's non-threatening face. "Easy there, Bambi, I was only taking the mickey out of you." She grinned. "I have absolutely no interest in chatting up your bloke. One, I'm happily married,"

Now, that's a lie.

"And two, I don't do baby vampires." She shuddered. "It makes me feel like I'm cradle-robbing." She explained.

Unfortunately, Rebekah seems to get off on baby vampires, and if 'Bekah ever finds out about Elena, the doppelganger will die immediately. It doesn't help the fact that Elena's not only stealing Stefan away from Rebekah, but she also wears the face of the girl who gave her living hell when we were all human.

Elena's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "You're married?" She asked in surprise.

Aliyah raised an eyebrow. "I'll try not to take that as an insult." She said, dryly. "Have you talked to your psychopath lover-boy, then?"

Elena scowled and slammed a few of the toys onto one of the booths with unnecessary force. "No, I haven't," She said, sharply. "And I don't want to talk about Damon or anything else that's vampire related, okay?" She took the bag of plush toys from Aliyah's hands. "I'm human. And I have to do human stuff. Otherwise, I'm going to go crazy."

Aliyah sobered. "Be careful with Katherine, Elena." She said, seriously, and Elena looked at her with confusion. "Your Salvatore brothers are underestimating her. Speaking from someone who has known her for a very long time, when Katherine plays games, she plays to win and she usually does win." She said, firmly. "Don't think you're capable of playing with her. She always manages to find a way to fall on her feet."

Elena scowled. "Why are you telling me all of this?" She snapped. "Isn't this all working out for you anyway?" She crossed her arms over her chest, defensively. "At least this way, Bonnie can still be angry at Stefan and Damon, and you can continue to drive Bonnie away from me." She snarled.

Aliyah raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

Elena rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't pretend that you haven't spent the entire time you've been in Mystic Falls brainwashing Bonnie against me, just because you don't like me." She spat.

Aliyah smiled to herself, calmly, and moved to walk past Elena, thoroughly finished with the conversation. Suddenly, she stilled and turned on her feet, gazing at the young girl, thoughtfully.

"You know, you say that I am turning your best friend against you, but you're the one who forgot her eighteenth birthday, Elena." Aliyah said, quietly, watching as the shock and pain formed on Elena's face.

"I…I…" She stammered, her eyes dawning with realisation as she remembered that today was Bonnie's eighteenth birthday… and she had completely forgotten.

"And now you have the nerve and absolute gall to stand in front of me and say that I am the one using her. All you have ever done since you found about Bonnie's powers is use her as your own personal magic machine. And you think just because I made it stop, because I showed Bonnie just how selfish and entitled you are, I'm turning her against you?" Aliyah said, coldly. "Tell me what have I done. Have I asked her to do anything for me using her magic? Have I promised her power, wealth, love, which I easily could?" She closed her eyes and calmed herself down. "I promised her self-confidence and I am delivering." She said, quietly. "That is why Bonnie is different, that is why she is so cold towards you. Because a self-aware Bonnie sees you for the sad, spoilt, ordinary little girl that you really are." She watched as her words tortured Elena, tears coming to the younger girl's eyes. "And that makes you angry and upset and that's understandable. But, what isn't understandable is you lashing out at me because of your own inadequacies." She smirked. "You are not a good friend to Bonnie, you use her, you cause her pain and you expect her to be at your side whenever you wish. Well, darling, I hate to break it to you, but that's not how the world works." She said, mockingly.

"Who the hell are you to judge me on anything?" Elena snarled, Aliyah's vitriol setting her teeth on edge.

Aliyah crossed her arms over her chest.

"I can judge you because I'm not the one who jumped in bed with a vampire feasts on human blood as if it were his last meal and who was responsible for my best friend's grandmother dying. I'm not the one who's flirting with my other best friend's rapist." She snarled. "You act like you are so much better than me, why? Because I'm a vampire? Did it escape you that you're currently in a relationship with one? Or do you just exist in a perpetual double standard? Vampires are only good if they are committed to waiting on you, hand and foot." Elena swallowed hard and took a step back. "All I am doing is trying to teach Bonnie that she has a life beyond being Elena Gilbert's dial-a-witch. If that makes you feel angry and resentful and betrayed, perhaps you should ask yourself why you are self-absorbed and vain enough to need Bonnie to lay her powers at your feet." She said, coldly.

She sighed. "And now I feel bad for showing concern for how this Katherine business may be affecting you. Now, I know to never show sincere emotion towards a doppelganger, they simply do not deserve it." She shook her head.

She simply walked away from Elena, having the last word.

---

On her way to Bonnie, Aliyah snatched a stick of fairy floss, biting into a chunk of the sugary fluff, feeling it melt on her tongue. She almost gagged at the excessive sweetness and decided that it was not for her. She felt someone come up and knew by the scent of cinnamon and orange that Jenna was standing right behind her. She allowed Jenna to place a hand on her arm.

"I can't believe you actually helped pull it off." Jenna commented.

Aliyah spun around to face her. "You sound surprised." She said, cheerfully.

Jenna snorted. "I was joking. So, do you think there's any booze at this thing?" She whispered, conspiratorially.

Aliyah chuckled. "I think this is a school carnival." She gestured to the throngs of teenagers. "I'm fairly sure that there's no alcohol here. Mind you, the teenagers would probably drink it all."

"Here's your cotton candy." Alaric declared, handing Jenna the sweet treat.

"Well, hello, Alaric." Aliyah grinned. "Good to see you here."

Alaric shrugged. "Well, I am a teacher. It's my job to waste my weekend at things like this." He said, dryly.

"That, and I dragged him here." Jenna explained, making Aliyah smirk.

"You're such a good boyfriend, Alaric." Aliyah teased.

"Oh, shut up, both of you." Alaric grumbled.

"So, Aliyah, what about you?" Jenna asked, as they walked past a few booths.

"What about me?" Aliyah asked, cocking her head.

"The dating game." Jenna nudged her in the side. "Who have you got your eye on?"

"Married, remember, Jenna." Aliyah said, dryly. "That's called adultery."

Jenna smirked. "There's no harm in looking. I told I'd set you up with Mason Lockwood. Come on, let me do it." She said, earnestly.

Aliyah laughed and Alaric snorted.

"What? You're both extremely hot and think of the babies the two of you would have." Jenna grinned.

Aliyah snickered. "Darling, are you already a little bit smashed?" She asked, slowly, patting Jenna on the arm.

"I am not!" Jenna protested. "Oh, join me for a drink at the Grill later?" She asked, curiously.

"No problem, darling." Aliyah grinned. "See you there."

"Now," Jenna sighed, dramatically. "I am going to take Ric and kiss him at the top of the Ferris Wheel."

Aliyah smiled. "Have fun, lovebirds. And don't do anything I wouldn't do." She waggled her eyebrows.

"Will do." Jenna saluted her and dragged an unwilling Alaric away.

"I hate you so much." Alaric muttered under his breath, knowing that Aliyah could hear him.

Aliyah grinned at him and chuckled to herself.

---

Aliyah stepped into the high school and made her way through the corridors, searching for her in each one of the rooms until she finally found her.

"Aliyah!" Bonnie cried out and waved her over, a beaming smile on her face, as she stood next to a content Tyler and a handsome Mason Lockwood. "Over here!"

"Hello, darling." She chuckled, swooping down and kissing her on the cheek. She turned to Tyler and winked. "Good to see you again, Tyler." She said, playfully, smirking when she saw Tyler blush in reminiscence of how she had caught him and Bonnie in bed together earlier than morning.

"Hey, Aliyah." Tyler grinned, rubbing the back of his neck, sheepishly.

No one could say that it wasn't awkward to see the woman who had caught you and your would-be girlfriend in bed together, especially since the would-be girlfriend in question was the woman's cousin.

"Tyler, aren't you going to introduce me to your pretty friend?" Mason asked, smoothly, stepping up beside Tyler and Bonnie.

"Oh, right," Tyler shook his head. "Uncle Mason, this is Bonnie's cousin, Aliyah." He murmured, gesturing to each of them.

"Haven't seen you around in Mystic Falls before." Mason grinned and reached out to shake her hand, frowning to himself momentarily.

"I'm new in town," Aliyah's smile became tight, knowing that the moment she touched Mason's hand, he would know what she was.

"We don't get many English girls around these parts." Mason chuckled and took her hand in his much larger, warmer ones.

Aliyah watched as his eyes widened, subtly. She tensed, wondering if the werewolf would make a scene, but thankfully, he kept his mouth shut, his eyes turning wary as he stared at her.

"Well, what can I say? Mystic Falls called out to me." Aliyah sighed, wrapping an arm around Bonnie's shoulder, and the younger girl leaned into her.

"Yo, Ty, you wanna arm wrestle?" One of the other football players called out.

Tyler looked down at Bonnie, uncertainly. He had wanted to spend her birthday with Bonnie today.

"Go ahead, sugar." Bonnie said, encouragingly, shoving him towards the table.

"Wish me luck, Bonnie Rabbit." Tyler murmured, leaning down and kissing her on the cheek.

"Good luck, Stray." Bonnie grinned.

Aliyah turned around and watched as Damon kept his light blue eyes on Tyler, just as Stefan arrived.

"You're lurking." She heard Stefan say to Damon.

Damon rolled his eyes. "I'm observing." He corrected.

Stefan snorted. "More like observing."

Aliyah turned around just as Tyler managed to slam the jock's fist onto the table.

Damon looked impressed. "He's got strength."

Stefan raised an eyebrow. "He's a triple letter varsity athlete, of course he has strength. You're reaching." He said, sceptically.

Mason stepped forward, much to Bonnie's surprise and Aliyah's growing dread.

"I bet I could beat you." Mason smirked.

Damon raised an eyebrow. "Enter the uncle."

Stefan shook his head. "That's ridiculous." He commented.

Mason's hand tightened around Tyler and he exerted just the slightest strength, shoving Tyler's arm to the side and slamming it onto the metal table, making Aliyah smile.

Tyler rolled his eyes. "Okay, he's the champ, who wants to go next?" He asked, standing up and walking back over to Bonnie and Aliyah.

"Stefan wants to go." Damon said, suddenly, and both Aliyah and Bonnie turned around.

Aliyah rolled her eyes, knowing what Damon was getting at with this stunt.

Stefan rolled his eyes and sent his brother a glare. "Yeah, sure, I'll... give it a shot." He sighed and joined Mason at the table.

"What the hell are they playing at?" Bonnie hissed at Aliyah, making sure that Tyler couldn't hear her. "What's going on, Aliyah?" She asked, quietly.

"Oh, Bonnie girl," Aliyah didn't take her eyes off Mason and Stefan, as they began their match. "Things in Mystic Falls just became infinitely more impossible."

"Get him, Stef!" Damon shouted, smirking.

"My brother over there thinks I can beat you." Stefan murmured at Mason, knowing that Aliyah was able to hear them.

Mason smirked. "Your brother's wrong."

They both started the wrestling, their hands locking together, both of them putting pressure on each other, the muscles in their arms flexing. Mason finally was able to slam Stefan's down onto the table and Stefan rejoined Damon.

Damon looked disappointed. "You didn't put in any effort at all." He said, annoyed that he didn't get a clue into what was strange about the Lockwoods.

Stefan narrowed his eyes, his suspicion rising. "Yeah, actually I did."

"Come with me." Damon muttered and they both went into the hallway. "Is he…?" A vampire.

Stefan shook his head. "No, no, it wasn't that kind of strength but it was more than human, if that make sense."

"What is up with that family? They're not vampires, what the hell are they?" Damon snarled.

"Maybe they're Ninja Turtles." Aliyah deadpanned, appearing in the doorway that they had just walked out of.

Damon rounded on her, glaring. "You know what they are, don't you?" He snarled.

Aliyah's lips curled into a smirk and her eyes flashed, wickedly. "Wouldn't you like to know?" She waggled her eyebrows. She laughed when she saw Damon tremble in his anger. "Oh, I do love screwing with you." She walked back down the corridor, leaving Damon glaring at her and Stefan simply confused.

---

Tyler and Bonnie were walking through the parking lot, hand in hand, laughing at something or another, heading towards Tyler's car so that he could drop her off at home to get ready for their dinner. Suddenly, a carnival worker appeared out of nowhere and shoved Tyler hard, sending him back a few steps.

"Watch where you are going." Tyler growled, a slow, simmering rage burning in his stomach, taking a few steps in Bonnie's direction and making sure that she was all right. He placed a tentative hand on Bonnie's arm, his worry escalating as Bonnie shuddered from his touch. "You okay, Bonnie Rabbit?" He asked, quietly, imagining all of the things he'd do to the carnival worker if Bonnie were hurt.

"You got a problem?" The carnival worker growled.

Tyler's hand dropped from Bonnie's arm and he glared at the carnival worker, furiously. "Yeah, you walked right into me." He snapped.

The carnival worker smirked. "What are you going to do about it?" He challenged.

Tyler raised an eyebrow. He snorted. "You're kidding, right?" The carnival worker shoved him again.

"Stop!" Bonnie snapped at the carnival worker, her eyes flashing and her magic rising around her.

"You better back off." Tyler said, threateningly. The carnival worker pushed him. He snarled, baring his teeth at the other boy. "You hit me again, I swear to god..." He growled.

The carnival worker punched him hard in the face, his fist knocking against Tyler's jaw. Bonnie shrieked in surprise and jumped back a few steps. Just as Tyler was about to hit the carnival worker back, Mason appeared out of nowhere and pushed himself in between Tyler and the carnival worker, one of his hands shoving the carnival worker away.

"Hey, Tyler! Tyler!" Mason pushed Tyler away. He rounded on the carnival worker. "What the hell, man?" Mason exclaimed, pushing the guy away.

Bonnie grabbed onto Tyler's arm and kept him at her side, while Mason took care of the carnival worker.

The carnival worker advanced on Mason and he gripped the guy's throat with one hand, pushing him back. The carnival worker swiped Mason's hand away and punched him in the face and shoved him on top of the car. Mason rolled off and onto the ground. Bonnie watched in horror as Mason did a massive jump onto the trunk of the car and then into the air, at least a couple of metres high, over the carnival worker, crouching on the ground. Bonnie's and Tyler's hands tightened around each other's body as they witnessed Mason's eyes turn from a dark brown to a vivid, glowing yellow.

"Your eyes." Tyler whispered.

Mason jumped to his feet and turned around, backhanding the carnival worker across the face and sending him to the floor. Bonnie swallowed hard and Mason grabbed Tyler from her, much to her surprise and annoyance, her magic flaring all around her as the idea of someone taking Tyler away from her made her feel breathless. She narrowed her eyes at Mason and resolved to talk to Aliyah about exactly what was strange about Mason Lockwood.

"Sorry about that, gorgeous." Mason shot a winning smile at Bonnie, but she could read the uncertainty in his gaze, her lips tight and disapproving. "He'll call you later."

Mason grabbed Tyler and tugged him in the direction of Tyler's car, leaving Bonnie alone in the car park, alone with the woozy carnival worker. Out of nowhere, Stefan walked up and helped the carnival worker to his feet.

"Stefan, what the hell is going on?" Bonnie growled, her green eyes flashing as her magic danced around them, setting Stefan's teeth on edge. "Why did that guy come out of nowhere and attack Tyler?"

"Damon compelled him." Stefan said, quickly.

Bonnie's eyes hardened at the mention of Damon Salvatore. "Why?" She asked, coldly.

"He thinks that there's something strange about the Lockwoods. Both Mayor Lockwood and Tyler were affected by the Gilbert device and they're not vampires." Stefan explained and helped the carnival worker to his feet.

"You alright, man?" Stefan asked, mock-worriedly.

The carnival worker frowned and clutched his aching head. "Why did I just do that?" He asked, confused.

Stefan placed his hands on the man's shoulders and compelled him. "You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now, walk away."

And the man walked away.

When Stefan turned around, Bonnie was already walking in the opposite direction, her hands working furiously on the phone as she attempted to contact Aliyah.

---

Aliyah was, aimlessly, walking through the empty parking lot when she heard her phone ring. She picked it up and she could hear Bonnie gasping for breath on the other side.

"Bonnie, Bonnie," Aliyah said, firmly, cutting through Bonnie's deep breaths. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"Tyler." She whispered. "This guy came out of nowhere and just started shoving him."

Aliyah clenched her teeth, knowing that this was one of the Salvatores' schemes to figure out what the Lockwoods were. "Is he alright? Are you hurt?" She asked, lightly.

Bonnie nodded. "He's fine and so am I, but Mason stopped it all. You should've seen him, Lee-Lee. He did all these weird jumps and he crouched in front of us, and I could've sworn that his eyes turned yellow. Aliyah, yellow." She said, furiously.

Aliyah sighed. "I have a lot to tell you, Bonnie, and you're not going to believe a lot of it."

"Where are you? Mason took Tyler home and I'm guessing that we're not going to have our dinner tonight." Bonnie huffed.

"I'm in the parking lot, I'll meet you at the car." Aliyah said.

"Yeah, I'll be there in five." With that, Bonnie hung up the phone.

Aliyah made to move to her car when she stopped. She closed her eyes and let her senses stretch out. A familiar scent was on the tip of her tongue, floral and heady, with an undertone of the metallic scent of blood. If she were guessing, it reminded her a great deal of Caroline's human scent. But this time, it was strange for her. It was as if she could scent her own blood rushing through Caroline's veins, along with undertone of death she could sense on all vampires.

But, that's impossible unless-

Oh, bloody hell.

The scent of blood became stronger and strong as she swept through the parking lot. The sound of sobbing became louder and she finally reached a girl with such shocking blonde hair that it looked eerily familiar to her. A familiar man wrapped his arms around her and stared to raise his arm, the glint of the moonlight flickering off the wooden stake in his arms. Just as Damon was about to bring the stake down on Caroline, Aliyah snarled, she flashed forwards and ripped Damon off Caroline, sending him flying a few feet.

"Who the hell do you think you are!?" Aliyah shrieked.

Her eyes bled crimson, the veins under her eyes throbbed and her sharp fangs were prominently on display, as she stood in front of Caroline, protectively.

A rush of emotion hit Aliyah and her mind went woozy for a brief moment. The scent of her blood flowing through Caroline's veins struck her and it was like her mind was on a constant loop.

Fledglingmineprotectfledglingmineprotectfledglingmineprotectfledglingmineprotect.

She had lost entirely too many people. Now, Bonnie and Caroline had become the people in her life whom she would protect with her life.

She spun on her feet and her eyes searched Caroline, whose mouth was stained with wet blood, the veins under her eyes blaring and her eyes a dark maroon, almost black. Aliyah clucked her tongue and cupped her cheek in her palm, her thumb stroking over her collarbone. Caroline leaned into her touch, feeling herself relax around the older woman, the bond between sire and fledgling blazing between them. She shrieked, suddenly, her eyes widening as she saw Damon rush at them again, the stake pointed, threateningly, at her, her eyes snapping to Aliyah's, frightened, as she didn't want the woman to be hurt for her.

Aliyah spun on her feet, just as quickly, and grabbed the stake before it made contact with her. She gripped Damon's wrist, tightly, and bent it the other way, forcing the stake to point at him. She let go of him and wrenched the stake from his grasp, shoving it deeply into his stomach, grinning when she heard his roar of pain. She smirked and her foot lashed out, hitting him in the jaw and sending him sprawling a few feet away.

Staring at Damon on the ground, in pain, Caroline was able to see again that insignificant little girl who had covered underneath Damon – the sick bastard. The girl who had thrashed and begged and sobbed, who pleaded him to just stop and swore to the ends of the Earth that she wouldn't tell anyone, just please let me go. The girl who had tried so hard with her weak little arms – in the face of vampire strength – to push him off, to kick him, to punch him, throw him away, but to no avail.

That girl took a deep thrill of satisfaction, watching him hurting, helpless and powerless at her sire's hands.

Aliyah turned back around towards Caroline and saw Elena and Stefan appear out of the corner of her eye. The brunette reached out to comfort her best friend, and Caroline recoiled away from Elena and into Aliyah's embrace, her nails digging into Aliyah's arms.

"Get away from me! You killed me!" Caroline shrieked, hoarsely, turning wild and hurt eyes onto Elena.

Elena's eyes widened. "No, no, no, no, Caroline! That wasn't me. You know that! That was Katherine." She protested.

"No! Then, why did she look like you?! And why, why did she do this to me?" Caroline sobbed, tears falling down her cheeks and mixing with the blood on her face.

Aliyah wrapped her arms around Caroline, the younger girl struggling against her embrace before she slackened and buried her face in Aliyah's shoulder.

"Not now." Aliyah growled at Elena. "She's not in a mindset to listen to anything you have to say, Elena. As far as she's concerned, you're wearing the face of the woman who murdered her."

Elena glowered at her and turned to Stefan. "Stefan, we've got to get her inside." She said, desperately.

Stefan nodded and turned to Caroline, his face a picture of empathy as he stretched a hand out. "It's okay Caroline, come with me."

Caroline shook her head, burying her face in Aliyah's shoulder and trembling with the force of her sobs.

"No." Aliyah said, coldly. "I am her sire. She is my responsibility, Stefan. Leave her to me."

Stefan, grudgingly, nodded, recognising the way that Caroline and Elena simply gaped at the two of them.

"Stefan, you can't be serious-" Elena protested, her eyes confused, wondering why Stefan was allowing the bitchy vampire to take control of Caroline.

"No, Elena," Stefan sighed. "Aliyah's right. She is Caroline's sire and she won't hurt her. She wants to help Caroline. We should let her."

Stefan stared at Aliyah and Aliyah remembered, suddenly, that Stefan's sire had abandoned him, and Alexia had been the one to help him adjust to vampirism. Stefan nodded at Aliyah, both of them understanding that the relationship between a sire and their fledgling was an important relationship for a vampire, and he would not deprive Caroline of that experience, especially since he had nothing but absolute hatred for the woman who was responsible for him being a vampire.

Damon jumped to his feet once he had pulled the stake out of his stomach. "She'll die, it's only a matter of time." He hissed.

Stefan shot a glare at Damon, incensed at him for what he had tried to do. "Yeah, maybe so, but it's not gonna happen tonight." He growled

Damon snorted. "Oh, yeah, it is." He picked up the stake and advanced on them for a third time.

Aliyah spun around and backhanded him across the face, sending him to the floor. "Are you bloody thick?" She snarled. "How many times do I have to kick your arse before it gets into your head not to hurt her?" Her eyes flashed and her fangs were bared, ready to rip into his throat.

"Damon, stop, she's my friend." Elena interjected, staring at Damon with wide, brown eyes.

Damon hesitated, his hands slipping around the stake, as he stared at Elena, who refused to back down. Then, he dropped his arm.

"Whatever happens, it's on all of you." He growled, furiously.

Bonnie rushed up, having heard the agitated sounds from a little while away. She stopped in her tracks when she saw the way Aliyah was wrapped around Caroline.

"Caroline?" Her brow furrowed.

Aliyah pursed her lips and shot Bonnie a warning look. Bonnie's judgement was the last thing that Caroline needed in this frightening time.

"Come on, pretty girl. Let's get you cleaned up." She said, soothingly, wrapping her arms around Caroline and leading her away, in Bonnie's direction.

Bonnie paled when she saw the bloodstains on Caroline's face. Her eyes dawned with horrifying realisation. She stared at Aliyah, helplessly, hoping that the older woman would refute the things running through her head. She felt tears sting her eyes when she saw Aliyah's grim nod.

"No, you're not; you can't be." Bonnie whispered, shaking her head, furiously. She rushed over and touched Caroline, lightly, on the arm and recoiled away in horror.

"Bonnie." Aliyah groaned, tightening her grip on Caroline.

Caroline sobbed anew, seeing the horrified look on Bonnie's face. "Bonnie?" She said, helplessly.

Bonnie's eyes widened when she saw the body of the carnival worker that had attacked Tyler earlier, lying in the back of the truck with his jugular ripped out. She didn't dare admit it to anyone – although, she may to Aliyah – but a part of her relished in the idea of the man who had dared to lay a hand on her Stray lying there dead, on the floor.

She swallowed hard. "Oh, god!" She breathed.

"Bonnie…" Caroline whispered, attempting to explain.

Aliyah shook her head and touched Bonnie's arm, breaking her out of her haze. She felt a pang strike her heart when the young witch stared at her with such a tortured look.

"Peace, Bonnie girl." Aliyah said, soothingly. "Let me just go and help Caroline and I'll come back, darling."

Aliyah led Caroline away from the parking lot to a public bathroom, gently pushing her through the door. She stood Caroline in front of the mirror and snatched a few tissues from the dispenser to run under the cold water, while Caroline bent over the sink, still gasping out tearful breaths. She took the damp tissues and helped wipe the dried blood on Caroline's face, Caroline washing as much as she could with the water.

"She hates me!" Caroline exclaimed. "Bonnie hates me." She sobbed, feeling lost, confused and frightened.

Aliyah pursed her lips, remembering waking up in a hut with bloodstains on her dress, feeling disoriented and lost, desperately scrambling for something to hold onto, only settling somewhat as Elijah and Niklaus helped her to her feet.

"No, darling. Trust me." Aliyah said, soothingly. "I'm a vampire and Bonnie cares about me. She's just in shock, pretty girl. She'll get over it and she'll be your best friend over again."

"And, what about Matt?" The tears started dripping down her cheeks, mixing with the remnants of the blood. "What am I supposed to do about Matt?" She wailed, her shoulders shaking as she gasped for breath.

"Hush, darling. Let's just get you cleaned up." Aliyah crooned, sweeping her hair away from her face.

"I'm a m-m-murderer, Aliyah. I'm a monster!" Caroline stammered, scrubbing at the blood on her hands, her head falling onto Aliyah's shoulder.

"Look at me, Caroline," Aliyah said, firmly, and placed her hands on Caroline's cheeks, stunned by exactly how young Caroline really was. Caroline licked her lips, the tears dripping. "Your emotions are heightened at the moment. It's part of the transition. This is completely normal, I promise you, okay?"

Caroline took in sharp breaths and attempted to relax, but nothing seemed to be working. She whimpered when saw the veins appearing under her eyes and she started to panic, feeling furious at herself. She shrieked, slamming her hands down on the sink. "Why does this keeping happening to my face?!" She spat, turning away from the mirror in disgust. "I look hideous-" She hissed, covering her face with her hands.

"Look at me, look at me, look at me!" Aliyah snapped and the order rang through in Caroline's mind. She turned to look at Aliyah. "Look at my face, look at my face!" She let her eyes change colour and the veins under her eyelids appear. "You are not hideous. You are beautiful. Pretty girl, you're a vampire. Same as me." She said, reassuringly.

"Same as you?" Caroline whispered and watched in shock as Aliyah's face turned back into normal.

"It's just the blood rush, darling." Aliyah crooned, sweeping the hair away from Caroline's face and wrapped her arms around the young girl, as Caroline looked at her reflection in the mirror. "You see the blood and you feel hungry. Your fangs descend and your eyes change. It's a biological reaction. But you can force it down. You can get through this. You are strong enough." She said, firmly.

Caroline shook her head and she sobbed, brokenly. "No, I'm not." She whimpered.

"You are." Aliyah said, determinedly, feeling the rush of emotion hit her as if it were contagious. It had been so long since she had been near a newly transitioned vampire that she had almost forgotten the lack of control over their emotions. It was like seeing Rebekah's face mirrored in Caroline's. "I need you to take a deep breath. Just calm down and focus on the sound of my voice. I need you to forget the blood and just focus on me." She ordered.

Caroline's chest heaved as she took deep breaths and she finally managed to retract her fangs and the veins under her eyes finally disappeared, leaving her face clear but for a few specks of blood on her chin. Aliyah grabbed another piece of tissue and ran it under the water, stroking it, gently, over Caroline's skin and removing the last of the blood, leaving her face clear of blood and runny mascara and eyeliner.

"There's my girl." Aliyah said, proudly, and brushed her hair away from her face, stroking through the straight locks.

Caroline swallowed hard. "Why did Katherine do this to me, Aliyah?"

"I have absolutely no idea, pretty girl."

And that's a lie.

"I can't do this, Aliyah." Caroline stammered, tears falling all over again. 'I can't do this own my own-"

"Hey," Aliyah frowned, and leaned down, stroking Caroline's cheekbones with her thumbs. "Who said you're going to do this on your own?" Her knuckles tilted Caroline's face to see her. "I may not know why Katerina did this to you, but I can assure you, the manipulative little bitch will die for what she did to you." She swore. "I give you my word that I will not let anything happen to you." She said, honestly. "And I never break my word."

Caroline threw her arms around her, burying her face in her neck, and Aliyah rocked her the way she would Rebekah, Kol or Henrik when they cried. Suddenly, the smell of petrol assaulted her and she frowned.

"Bonnie's attacking Damon." Stefan said, quickly, shoving open the door to the bathroom. He looked at a weary and exhausted Caroline in Aliyah's arms. "Is she okay?" He asked, worriedly, and Aliyah nodded, stiffly.

"Oh, bloody hell." Aliyah hissed. She looked down at Caroline and kept her hands wrapped around Caroline as she led the younger vampire out of the bathroom.

---

"I can't believe this is happening." Bonnie chuckled, wryly, pacing, swiping at her damp cheeks.

She fisted her hands in her hair. This was meant to be her eighteenth birthday. She had woken up this morning to Tyler in her bed, a chocolate cake on her desk and Aliyah's grinning face. While she had one best friend in the hospital and the other too involved with her own problems to wish her a happy birthday, she had quickly comforted herself with the thought of going out to dinner with Tyler at night – maybe even having an honest talk with him about their relationship – and spending some quality time with Aliyah – getting a tattoo to remember her Grams by and hearing Aliyah's story after waiting for so long.

Instead, she had received one completely indifferent best friend, and another who was just turned into a vampire by a psychopath who had the same face as her indifferent best friend. She had to contend with the guy she may or may not be in love with getting into a fight with some random guy – who happened to be her vampire best friend's first meal – and have his uncle, who had plenty of secrets of his own – yellow eyes, anyone? – come in and interfere and lead her Stray away.

Damon arrived with a shovel clutched in his hands. He rolled his eyes when he saw Bonnie's miserable frame. "Come on, don't pout about it, I've got a body to bury." He joined Elena at the rear of the truck. He leaned in, chancing a look at Bonnie. "I thought you were calling the shots, no? It sucks to be you, buddy."

Bonnie rounded on him, her eyes flashing. Her magic danced around them and Damon and Elena turned to her in shock, feeling the air change around them. She felt anger burn low in her stomach and she wished with all her heart that she could set Damon Salvatore on fire. It would be perfect; to light him up here, just a few feet from the latest person to die because of him.

She would dance on his ashes, just as him being alive was a mockery to everyone who had suffered at his hands: her Grams, Tyler, Caroline, Elena, Alaric, Jeremy, Stefan, Vicki.

Bonnie clenched her teeth and narrowed her eyes at Damon, sending a wave of magic to burn his brain from the inside out. Damon clutched at his head and collapsed onto the floor, unable to keep himself up while waves of pain were attacking his mind. With her eyes constantly on Damon, she managed to open a faucet to a nearby petrol line, the gasoline pouring from the hose and spilling everywhere.

"I told you what would happen if anyone else got hurt." Bonnie growled, swiping at her wet cheeks.

Damon gritted his teeth in pain, his nails digging into his skull. "I didn't do this." He managed to say.

Elena took a step forward, away from the truck. "Bonnie, it wasn't his fault." She said, slowly.

Bonnie shook her head, feeling another stab of anger at his friend who continued to defend Damon, despite everything he had done.

"Everything that happens is his fault, Elena." Bonnie said, grimly, feeling her magic blaze at the tips of her fingers.

Stefan frowned. "Bonnie, what are you doing?" He asked, carefully.

Bonnie let out a deep breath and a spark lit up over the petrol, a line of fire spreading across the stream of petrol, moving towards Damon.

Elena's eyes widened, realising what she was about to do. "Bonnie, stop it!" She turned to Stefan, helplessly. "Stefan, do something!"

Stefan growled and rushed off in search of Aliyah, thinking that she was the only one who could bring Bonnie back from whatever dark place the young witch had found herself.

Damon started to burn the second the fire touched him, the petrol that had soaked his clothes only worsening the damage to his skin. The fire heated up his skin, uncomfortably, and his skin started to burn and blister. Damon started to shout and pat away the flames, his hands singing as his fingers touched the fire.

"Bonnie, Bonnie, stop it! You're going to kill him!" Elena shouted.

Damon continued to burn, his skin starting to char from the force of the flames. As the fire continued to eat at his body, his healing factor wasn't seem to be working, and Damon just laid there, roaring in pain as the flames tortured him.

Bonnie mumbled the spell under her breath, inwardly rejoicing with every scream of pain that she drew from Damon's mouth.

---

Aliyah rushed out of the public bathroom, Caroline curled up against her. Her eyes searched for Bonnie and saw her standing there, a line of fire separating Bonnie and Elena, which ended where a burning Damon was screaming out in pain. On a good day, Aliyah would be proud that Bonnie was finally defending herself to the waste of a vampire, but today was not the day for Bonnie to display the extent of her magical prowess.

She growled under her breath and turned to Caroline, softening. "Caroline, darling. I want you to stay right here and I'll be right back with Bonnie, okay. Don't wander off." She said, soothingly.

Caroline nodded, emphatically, and wrapped her arms around herself, leaning against the wall.

Aliyah flashed over to the scene.

"Bonnie, that's enough!" Aliyah snapped, gripping Bonnie by the arm and spinning her around to face her.

Bonnie stumbled, her concentration breaking when Aliyah touched her. The fire started to recede the second that Bonnie's concentration broke and she rounded on Aliyah.

"Why-why did you stop me?!" Bonnie spat, swiping her hand away. "After what he tried to do to Caroline-"

"Because this isn't you." Aliyah said, firmly. "Bonnie girl, this cannot be you." She shook her head, staring at Bonnie earnestly. "Bonnie, don't become me. You're so much better than me." She said, sadly. "There's too much good in you to lose that now." She said, slowly.

Bonnie choked something out and she collapsed into Aliyah's arms, Aliyah wrapping her arms around Bonnie and leading the young witch away, towards where she had asked Caroline to wait for her. Elena made to go after them, but Stefan held a hand out and stopped her.

Bonnie held onto Aliyah for dear life, her wet face buried into Aliyah's neck, as she led them away from a burnt Damon, an upset Elena and a wary Stefan. Finally, she and Bonnie reached Caroline, who was standing, despondently. When Caroline saw a broken Bonnie in Aliyah's arms, she straightened and a worried look formed on her face. She took a step forward.

"Is she okay?" She asked in a small voice.

"She will be." Aliyah said, grimly, looking down at Bonnie's crying form in her arms. She looked at Caroline. "Is your mother working tonight, pretty girl?" She asked, carefully. Caroline nodded. "Good, I want you to text her and tell her that you'll be spending the night at Bonnie's place, okay. If she asks why, tell her that you didn't want to be alone on your first night out of the hospital." She ordered, gently.

Caroline nodded and she pulled her phone out of her jacket, typing furiously. Finally, she finished with a small smile and put her phone away, looking at Aliyah, expectantly.

"Well, time to go home, then." Aliyah sighed. She motioned for Caroline to follow her and the three women walked towards Aliyah's car, both Caroline and Bonnie sliding into the backseat.

---

Aliyah stepped out of the house and ran her hands through her hair, needing some fresh air after the hell of a day she had. She tensed and her hand lashed out to the side, curling around the soft flesh of a woman's throat and pinning her against the brick wall of the house, the mortar cracking as Katherine's head came into contact with it.

"Tell you what," Aliyah snarled, her fangs descending and the whites of her eyes bleeding a bloody crimson. "You have some nerve coming anywhere near me after what you did to Caroline."

"Aw," Katherine smiled, mockingly. "Does the big, bad Original bitch care about the pretty baby vampire?" She grinned at the twist in the story.

Aliyah's nails tightened in Katherine's throat and started to draw blood. "Do you think I am a fool?" She hissed. "I know exactly why you turned Caroline, Katerina."

"Oh, why is that?" Katherine raised an eyebrow, wheezing.

"Because you're daft enough to believe that if you offer my husband everything he needs for his sacrifice on a silver plate, he'll pardon you." Aliyah smirked. "Mason Lockwood's sudden reappearance in Mystic Falls and Caroline's spur-of-the-moment transition. They are your werewolf and vampire sacrifices. Elena's the doppelganger and let me guess, you're looking for the moonstone?"

Katherine swallowed hard, struggling for air. "How did you know?"

Aliyah rolled her eyes. "You've been running for a very long time, Katerina. It makes sense that you would want to stop." She said, mockingly. "However, you will not sacrifice Caroline. She's off-limits, much like Bonnie. If you try anything against my fledgling, you will die a very painful death."

With that, she dropped Katherine, who was gasping for breath on the floor, and re-entered the house.

---

Aliyah made sure that both Caroline and Bonnie were burrowed deep in the covers of Bonnie's king-size bed, before she took a seat on the opposite sofa, curling her knees legs under her thighs, and turning the page of one of her books. She looked over to the bed and saw both of the girls fast asleep, both completely drawn from the events of the day. She walked over to them and smoothed the hair away from their faces and pulled up the covers around their shoulders, smiling ruefully at the two young girls who had become so important to her in such a short time. When she had first arrived in Mystic Falls, she hadn't expected any of this. She hadn't expected her little witch descendant to become like her little sister and she didn't expect the neurotic, blonde best friend to become her newest fledgling.

Aliyah rubbed her fingers over her eyes and looked down at a sleeping Bonnie.

She would have to come clean in the morning.

Happy Birthday, Bonnie girl.

---

A/N: Well, here was Brave New World.

Okay, so I did change who turned Caroline in this story, because it does play out differently in the future. I wanted Caroline's and Aliyah's relationship to grow and I thought this was an interesting idea to speed up the process. So, now Aliyah's connected to both Bonnie and Caroline in specific ways and Aliyah's incredibly protective over Caroline, as you can see in the chapter, and Caroline feels very comforted by Aliyah's presence. Hope you all enjoyed the Caroliyah and Bonliyah bonding in this chapter. I'm really interested in expanding the relationship between Caroline and Aliyah, as sire and fledgling.

I was actually looking up the timeline for TVD and I found out that Bonnie's birthday was in February and at the same time as all of these things and I was really shocked that they never mentioned it. I mean, both Caroline and Elena got episodes centred around their 18th birthdays and Bonnie's never got mentioned to my knowledge. I mean, it took them six seasons to do Bonnie's birthday and both Caroline and Elena had theirs covered in Season 3. Unfortunately, the Vampire Diaries Wiki page for Bonnie Bennett changed sometime after I finished this chapter and turned Bonnie's birthday into February 5 like one of the latest season 6 episodes. But I'm sticking by the original date on the Wiki as being February 22, which would Bonnie's 18th birthday around the same time as all of this Founder's Day aftermath. Even if I went with Bonnie's birthday as being February 5, in my story, February 5 was in between Miss Mystic Falls and Blood Brothers and I've already done those episodes. And that would mean that Elena just forgot about Bonnie's birthday again after she was so adamant about getting Bonnie's friendship back after Sheila's death. Sometimes that girl really surprises me.

I hope you all enjoyed the Tonnie moments in this chapter as well. We almost got a date between the lovebirds :( Maybe the next chapter!

Anyway, hope you all enjoyed the chapter and don't forget to review!