The roads ahead stretched on ahead as Jacqueline drove to her destination, Mystic Falls. It was a sunny day and Jacqueline felt elated.
After months of contemplating she had finally decided to visit Mystic Falls.
She never understood why she had wanted to come to Mystic Falls of all places but she had just wanted to...like her life would be incomplete if she didn't come to this town.
She knew that the town was infested with vampires, but that somehow didn't stop her from coming. Any town with vampires wasn't safe but she couldn't stop herself.
And she knew that Uncle Ric wouldn't be pleased but she came anyways. A few weeks wouldn't do any harm, would it?

She turned on the radio and just focused on the road. A smile crept up to her face when she saw a sign that read 'Welcome to Mystic Falls'.
A small town with many mysteries, what did it have in store for her?
As she got into the town she could see that it didn't look much different from other towns. The buildings, the people seemed ordinary enough.
Driving further into the town, she came across a place called the Mystic Grill.
Alaric had told her during one of their occasional phone calls that it was the usual hangout of the teenagers and adults alike. The odds were Ric would be there.
So, she decided to check the place out. Parking her car in the parking lot (where else?) she got out of the car and locked it.

Jacqueline brushed her dark brown hair back with her hand, her blue eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief as she walked towards the entrance.
She pushed the door open and stepped into the restaurant/bar. The place wasn't really crowded maybe it was because of the fact that it was noon; the place was dimly lit, giving the whole place a cozy atmosphere.
Maybe that's the reason everyone comes here, Jacqueline thought.
She moved her gaze over the crowd and it finally landed on someone familiar sitting at the bar.
She tutted to herself and strode over to the bar; the bartender was pouring him another glass of scotch.

Just as Alaric was about to grab the glass, someone beat him to it.
He looked up in irritation, not knowing why someone would drink someone else's drink unless they were high or looking for a fight.
Jacqueline took a sip from the glass and grinned at Alaric, "Shouldn't drink during the day."
His shock at seeing Jacqueline was evident from the expression on his face. He didn't say a word as he stared up at her. Not being able to comprehend why she was there or why she'd decide to come to the town after all that he'd said about it.

"Why exactly are you here?" Alaric asked his tone disapproving.

"Feels amazing to meet you too, Uncle Ric," Jacqueline took another sip from the glass.

"Stop drinking, will you? Answer my question," Alaric stood up and took the glass from his niece.

"I just felt like it, okay? Utter lack of inspiration...you'd think being a writer was easy, I thought a new place would give me something to write about and you know Beau!" Jacqueline put her hands in the air as if in surrender.
She knew he'd react that way. He was...a lone ranger. He had always done things himself and he didn't like putting other people in danger.

"How long do you plan on staying here?" Alaric lowered his voice.

"As long as you want me here," Jacqueline shrugged.

"If it was up to me, I'd send you back to North Carolina this instant."

"Okay...a week tops," the girl said sighing.

"Alright, just a week," Alaric's voice dropped to a whisper, "And while you're here...nothing supernatural. I know a part of your coming here is because of the...folklore and nothing of that sort is in store for you. No vampire...witches...wizards, nothing."

"Alright, alright...none of that stuff."

Alaric finished off his scotch in one sip and set his glass down on the counter. He took out his wallet and paid for it.
"Let's get a table, I really don't like sitting at the bar with my niece," he led his way towards one of the empty tables.
Both of them took their seats across from each other.

"Really, why are you drinking during the day?" Jacqueline asked.
Alaric gave her a stern look.

"Two sips," she rolled her eyes.

"There was a lot going on in the town...vampires trying to kill the Founding Families, a hunter trying to kill all vampires...Damon nearly died because he wanted to be an ass..."

"Damon as in the vampire Damon, right? The one who turned Aunt Is—" she stopped herself immediately from saying her name.

"It wasn't his fault, she wanted to become a vampire...she left me, she left all of us," Alaric looked down at table, "and Damon is a good drinking buddy."

Jacqueline let out a small laugh, "So you guys are partners in crime?"

"You could say that."
And after a long time Jacqueline saw Ric smile.

"What do you do? Save the town from mystery creatures and all?"

"Uhhh...Mr. Saltzman?"
Both Alaric and Jacqueline looked up. It was a waiter, a guy who looked quite young, he had blonde hair and was kind of buff looking.
"Won't you place your orders?"
His eyes traveled to Jacqueline and then back at Alaric.

"Yeah...um...Matt, nothing for me."
Alaric nodded at Jacqueline who read quickly through the menu.

"Just a grilled cheese sandwich, thanks," Jacqueline forced a smile.
She knew what he had assumed and was frankly quite offended by it.
As soon as the waiter, Matt, had walked away she leaned forward, "I don't look that old, right? Old enough to be with you?"

"Of course you don't, these kids just assume stuff, okay?" Alaric rolled his eyes.
Jacqueline's sandwich arrived a few minutes later. Jacqueline smiled her thanks.
"Matt, how's Caroline?" Alaric asked.

"She's fine actually; the doctor said that she'll be discharged tomorrow."

"That's good," Alaric nodded.
"This is my niece, Jacqueline, by the way."
Jacqueline smiled to herself; Alaric could be the sweetest sometimes. He always got rid of what bothered her.

"Hi, I'm Matt. I'm in his history class," Matt looked a bit apologetic now.

"Hey," Jacqueline now smiled genuinely.
Matt nodded and walked away.
After finishing her sandwich, Jacqueline paid for it after much argument with Alaric and they exited the Grill.

"Anywhere you wanna go? There's a carnival going on in the school," Alaric said, following Jacqueline to her car. He usually didn't go around in his car just school and somewhere further away from his apartment.

"No. I wanna go to your place," Jacqueline smiled as she unlocked the car and got into the driver's seat and Alaric got into the passenger seat.
"It's nearby right? Seeing that you didn't bring your car."

"It's right across the street actually."
Jacqueline sighed and got into her car; this was kinda stupid. She quickly drove into the parking lot of the apartment complex and got out.
Alaric got her suitcase and carried it into the building, Jacqueline on his heels. They went up the stairs while finally standing on the landing in front of the door with a large number 9 on it. Alaric set the suitcase on the floor and took out his keys and unlocked the door.
"Welcome to my humble abode," he announced as he led the way inside.
Jacqueline looked around it was a nice place. There was a shelf on one side of the room covering the entire wall, filled with books. There was a couch and a coffee table, a small standard living room. There were two doors that led to other rooms. She supposed one led to his bedroom and one to the kitchen.

"It's nice...very Mr. History Teacher," Jacqueline grinned.

"I don't want any arguments here, I'm gonna sleep on the couch."
Jacqueline was about to open her mouth but a look from Alaric stopped her from saying anything.

After getting her suitcase into the bathroom and taking a shower, the rest of the evening was spent watching random stuff on the TV, they ordered pizza for dinner and talked, no one mentioned anything 'supernatural.'
Maybe both of them had forgotten how it felt to have someone's company, someone you've known for ages and knew that they'd be there for you no matter what. They forgotten how it felt like to talk about things from ages ago, things that made them laugh and smile. They had forgotten how it felt to have a family.
"I can't believe how much you've grown," Alaric chuckled.

"Don't say that...it'll make you feel old," Jacqueline pouted, "and we don't want the handsome history teacher to feel old, right?"

"Yeah and it's time for bed," Alaric said, standing up.

"You're treating me like I'm eight..." Jacqueline pouted, or at least tried to.

"Eight or twenty-one...you're still a kid."
She rose and went to the bedroom door and after bedding Ric a quite 'good night' she slipped into the room.
She slept soundly that night, no dreams.

Jacqueline woke up in the morning feeling positively happy. She went into the small living room and saw that Alaric was still sleeping soundly on the couch. She went into the kitchen for some coffee. It was a habit of hers...first thing in the morning had to be coffee.
Just as she was searching up some drawers, rather loud knocking noises made her get out of the kitchen.
The knocks seemed to have awoken Alaric as he was now sitting up on the couch.
"Could you get that please?"

Jacqueline went up to the door and opened it to see a girl with brown hair and brown eyes, standing there an urgent look on her face.
She seemed surprised to see Jacqueline there.
"Uhhh...Hey! I'm Elena, is Alaric in?"

Recognition dawned onto Jacqueline and she smiled, she knew she had looked familiar. She'd seen the picture in one of books of Isobel's research. Elena was supposed to look exactly like Katherine Pierce and she did! The resemblance was uncanny.
"Of course! Elena! He's inside," Jacqueline led the way in.

As soon as she had closed the door, Elena started talking.
"Morning...Ric. Uhhhh..." her eyes drifted to Jacqueline.

"It's alright Elena, she knows. This is Jacqueline by the way."

"Oh! It's nice to finally meet you, Jacqueline."

"It's amazing to meet you...we're cousins, technically, you know that right?"

"Yeah..." Elena smiled but Jacqueline could see that something was bothering her.
She turned to Alaric, "I'm guessing that Damon told you what happened last night. And that Caroline transitioned. And we seem to have some more problems...come over to the Boarding House, Stefan will explain it all."
Jacqueline raised an eyebrow at Alaric; what could have happened over the course of one night?
Alaric held up a hand to Jacqueline, signalling that he'd explain later.
Elena looked at the exchange between the two but continued anyways.

"I'll be there, I guess, but only if Jacqueline can come."
Elena shook her head.

"It would be okay if it was just Stefan but Damon...you know?"

"With everything happening the way they are, I think Jacqueline is safest if she is with me."

"I do have my vervain bracelet too. I didn't come totally unprepared," Jacqueline crossed her arms.

Elena nodded, "If Alaric wants you with him then maybe it'll be alright. We'll meet up at the Boarding House, see you there."
Elena gave Jacqueline a hug as a sign of welcome. She waved goodbye and was out of the door in no time.

"So no supernatural for me?" Jacqueline mocked.

"At least I know them. And by the way, Damon's a dick so...stay away, okay?"

"Yeah...nothing supernatural...just paying some vampires a neighbourly visit," Jacqueline paced towards the kitchen again. "I'm always in the wrong place at the wrong time, aren't I?"
But deep within, she was thrilled. Her life had been too boring. Everyone needed a small dose of thrill in their life, didn't they?
She just had to be careful about not overdosing.

Author's Note:

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