Hey guys!

So here's the next chapter of my story! I must say, I actually enjoyed writing from John's POV – it felt really natural. I'm warming to John just a little bit – after all, you can't deny he makes things interesting. He also has a softer side, more than Isabel (speaks one that has not seen episode 2x17 – hate living in UK – so no spoilers please! The annoying thing is I could actually watch it via the internet, but I promised my mum we would watch it together. Yes, my mother who is...well, let's say a respectable age, likes Vampire Diaries. She has good taste).

Anyway, I want to say thank you to those who has reviewed my stories – any writer can understand how much they mean to me, so thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Happy reading!

xXx

I never wanted to be a parent. Let me just say that here and now. Having kids was never part of the plan. I was too ambitious for that. But that's sod's law for you.

Isabel became pregnant. She was the only person who was more ambitious than I was, so what a pair of excited parents we made. She didn't even want the baby – I had to convince her not to have an abortion. My daughter would be surprised to find that I am not completely heartless.

I knew Isabel didn't feel the same way as I did. I had to entice with my stories of vampires, which she had a fascination with. If I'm honest I wish I had never told her them – maybe things would have turned out differently.

Isabel did not call me when she went into labour. Instead she went to my brother, who was a doctor, and delivered it. I had never told him about Isabel and the baby, but he knew that I adored Isabel and put two and two together. We had a big argument about it. He called me a useless parent and reckless; I called him a fool who should keep out of his nose out of other people's business.

"Gave me the baby, Grayson," I told him. "I'll put it up for adoption."

But my brother refused. He informed me that he and Miranda would take care of it. I knew they had been trying to have children. I knew Miranda was getting worried about it – they had almost given up, or gone to see specialists.

"Don't you want to know what it is?" he asked me. I gave him a confused look. "A girl, John. It's a girl."

I nodded once, and repeated, "A girl." Then I turned round and headed towards the door. I could feel a headache coming on, and it seemed there wasn't enough oxygen in the room.

"Do you have a particular name in mind?" he called.

I couldn't believe he was asking me this. I tried to think. I didn't want to be there long. I had never imagined having children, so I hadn't got any names in the back of my head. Well...

"Elena," I told him. "Call her Elena." It's a Spanish name, meaning bright. Don't ask me why I chose this name for her. But at least one of her parents had.

Grayson's stern eyes softened, and he nodded. With that I walked out.

I tried not to visit them too often. When my brother called or emailed, he usually carefully avoided mentioning about Elena. But one Christmas when my poor mother was still alive, she insisted that we all have a family get-together. I knew she was fading, so I agreed. I told my brother that our mother deserved to have a Christmas with both her sons there – after all, it may be the last one. I didn't let myself think that it was because I secretly wanted to see my daughter.

My first thought when I saw her was that she didn't look like either of us. Her hair was as dark as ever, as were her eyes. She wore her hair curly, and proclaimed that she looked like a princess. She seemed mildly curious about me, but didn't pay me much attention. I imagine that I looked like any old grown up to her. Jeremy had just been born by that point, so Elena was paying a lot of attention to him.

It hurt, seeing her. So I tried not to. I only saw my brother's family once or twice a year.

Then he and Miranda died.

Elena was scary then. Physically her wounds and aches would heal. But emotionally... She was depressed. No doctor said that, but it was obvious. She barely spoke to me. Everyone at the funeral said it was a travesty, losing her parents so young. Part of me wanted to admit to her then that I was her father, that both her parents were still alive. But I was a coward. Every time I tried my throat closed up. Besides, by that point Isabel had turned and how could I explain that to Elena? I didn't want to confuse her even more.

But it happened anyway, too soon.

Of all the vampires to find Elena, it would be Stefan and Damon. I already knew too much about them from Katherine. The thought of Elena being with them turned my stomach. As soon as I got wind of it, I knew I had to get down there to stop it.

In truth, I wasn't too worried about Stefan. Katherine loved Stefan, so it was only a matter time before she got him back. Damon... Damon scares me, even now. He is unpredictable, passionate, stubborn. More importantly, I see the way he looks at Elena – like a man seeing the sun for the first time.

What scares me the most? Damon holds a lot of the same qualities that Elena does: Elena is unpredictable, passionate, and by God she is stubborn when she wants to be! If she wants something desperately enough, she'll get it. I worry one day I will have to watch her with Damon. I don't think I could bear it.

There was one moment when I was truly scared that the moment had come: I had returned, and Damon, Elena and I were in the Grill. I had my eyes on Elena the whole time, and panicked when I saw her and Damon go into the girl's bathroom. Unfortunately Jenna and Alaric were talking to me (they had ignored me the whole time and now they decided to talk to me?) so I couldn't follow them until a few minutes later. They were clearly arguing about something. That's what Damon and Elena do. But Elena was looking at him as if... As if she believed in him. As if she cared. And it terrified me.

I never intended for Elena to find out that I was her father. But she realised anyway – something I blame Damon for once again (he was the one actually smart enough to put two and two together). Deep down, though, I hoped she would. At least then I didn't have to lie to her anymore. It doesn't matter – she still rejected me.

I love her, and I hate it. Why? Because she makes me weak. If I didn't love her, then I wouldn't be here now – I could be off far away, doing any job I wanted. But instead I worry over her. Stefan and Damon Salvatore are bad news, as is Katherine Pierce. Sometimes I toy with the idea of taking her away to live with me. I know she wouldn't come willingly, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I can't imagine Isabel joining us, but at least I could keep her safe. She would still hate me, but she'd be safe with me. At the end of the day, a parent doesn't care about being loved by the children – they would rather they'd be safe. I'd be able to be a real father to her, finally.

I love my daughter, and I hate her because she's just like me – she falls for people that isn't meant to. You can decide for yourself which Salvatore brother I mean.