It took several years for me to fully accept my new life and the people in it. It was the arrival of a runaway pregnant girl that finally cemented it in my mind that it was happening. I became the older sister of Elena Gilbert and two years later again to the trouble maker known as Jeremy Gilbert. By this point I was making plans. There was no way I was going to become the unsuspecting mind-controlled puppet of one of the many vampires who will make Mystic Falls their home. With my advanced (see 26 year old) mind, I quickly became known as a genius. I didn't want to have to go through the boredom of sitting in elementary and eventually high school all over again. By the time I was 12 I was attending online correspondence courses through Whitmore College. I had decided to do everything I couldn't in my last life now that I was given the resources through Grayson. I majored in Biology for Health Sciences, specializing in Biomedical Toxicology and minored in History. I think Grayson was just happy I could possibly take over his work with the St. Augustine Society, while Miranda was ecstatic, I showed interest in her passion for history.

I never could get along completely with Elena and her friends. While I loved my sister dearly, at the tender age of 10 you could already see the manipulative side that comes with her Petrova DNA. She would bat those big brown eyes and everyone would fall before her. I couldn't hate her for it, I knew that it would happen before everyone else did. I just had little tolerance for the way Jeremy and I were brushed aside. So I spent as much time as possible with Jeremy, helping him cultivate his drawing and helping him advance quickly in school.

At the age of 19, I had become so immersed in my new found life and family that I completely forgot that for our story to continue, we had to lose our loving parents. So when I got that call from Aunt Jenna, saying our parents were gone and Elena was in a coma I dropped everything and booked the first flight out of Africa. 30 hours later, I was walking up the front steps of my childhood home.

The door swung out without warning and a blur of black came rushing down at me, knocking me backwards and into my suitcase.

"Ow! What the hell?" I exclaimed as a rubbed my hip. "Ivy?" my little brother asked.

"Yea. Where do you think you're going in such a rush?" I asked.

"None of your business! Ill be back later." He muttered as he slunk off down the road.

I looked up to the house to see Jenna and Elena looking at me with dejected and slightly hopeful looks on their faces.

"He's been like that for the last couple of days, I think its getting worse." Elena explained while throwing herself at me.

"Hey sis. Jenna said you were in the hospital still. When did you get home?"

"Just a little while ago. Im still sore but I can move around a lot more. They gave me something to help with the pain for the next couple weeks." She explained.

"Good" I smiled at her as I patted her head a few times and then let go to approach Jenna.

By the time I reached my aunt she had broken down as we collapsed onto the stairs with her in my arms. "I cant to do this, Ives! Im not her! I cant raise 3 kids I can barely raise myself let alone make sure Elena and Jeremy get through school!" she sobbed into my neck.

"Itll be okay Auntie Jen. We will get through this together. Were a family we will be okay as long as were together." Accepting her response as she nodded and wiped the tears away on her sleeve.

Elena and Jeremy ended up staying out of school for the rest of the school year. I knew they wouldn't be able to concentrate let alone keep up their usual grades if they attended classes. I helped them through online courses so they would be ready for next year. By the time September came, we had finally found a routine in the house. Jeremy still did drugs but he at least came home at a respectable time. Elena has finally stopped waking up screaming from night mares, Jenna's anxiety had eased a little bit when she realized I was staying to help and she wouldn't be solely responsible. Whereas I had changed my entire life to come back and help out my siblings. I no longer travelled studying diseases and how they affected the human body in the field and instead had samples sent to me which I dissected in my fathers lab.

The first day of school, I was preparing myself for the upcoming weeks that would bring turmoil now that the Salvatores would be introduced to the family. I had already been growing and adding vervain to everything in the house to make sure we were protected.

Jenna was rushing around the kitchen, and I could hear Elena and Jeremy walking around upstairs.

I had just gotten back from my morning training. As soon as I was old enough, I tried convincing my father to train me to fight. Instead he put me in kickboxing and gymnastics.

Jenna was already out the door for her presentation, by the time Elena had made it down for her daily caffeine dose. Twenty minutes later I had the house to myself, I sat watching the news coverage of the two who had been killed in the middle of the night. This just confirms to me how dangerous this world can really be. Now it was no longer a TV show but people really getting killed for Damon's amusement and pleasure.

I was going to spend the rest of my day making Zach's acquaintance and visiting with Grams. Zach had never believed in allowing a "child" into the vampire business, but now I wanted to prove to him that I could follow the rest of the Gilbert's foot steps and help protect Mystic Falls from his uncles.

Grams though- she is my favourite. Her blunt and sarcastic attitude helped keep me grounded when it came to the supernatural business. There was no way I was going to let her die this time. She is also the only person in this world who knew about my reincarnation. I had tried asking her to help find out how I came to be born in this world. At first she didn't take me seriously, but I was only seven the first time. When I asked again at the age of twelve she took me seriously and had brought me to the witch house. Asking the ancestors for their guidance and answers, none of them were willing to give us answers, the only thing they let slip to Grams was to help guide me.

The day passed quickly. I was meeting Jenna at The Grill, I wanted to watch the rest of the Pilot episode play out. When I got to The Grill, I found a booth in the middle of the bar and ordered. I could see Matt and Tyler at one table, while Bonnie and Caroline were ordering drinks at the bar.

"Hey Jeremy!" I called out as I saw him get shot down by Vicki.

He glanced at me, rolling his eyes, but stalked over to me anyways. Kicking out the chair beside me "sit" I said.

"So? How was the first day back?"

"Fine." As he picked at my fries that I had pushed in front of him.

I had gotten him into his classes so I would be sure he attended school rather than ditch like he had the first time around. I wanted to make sure he lived his best life. We spent the night laughing over teachers before heading home. Jenna had been caught up working on her thesis and had stood me up!

The next day, I got roped into helping set up the bonfire at the falls for the back to school party.

While I may dislike Vicki for getting my baby brother caught up in drugs. I didn't want anyone to get hurt. So I stuck around and hung out with some of the seniors, keeping an eye out for Vicki and Jeremy.

Half way through the night I found Elena and Bonnie. Sneaking up behind Elena, I made eye contact with Bonnie, putting a finger to my lips to keep her quiet. She had to look down to stop herself from laughing. Jumping on Elena's back, I caught her off guard and accidentally pushed her into Bonnie who steadied the both of us, with me piggybacking on Elena. That's when I noticed Bonnie had gone white and was staring at me.

"What was that?"

Both Elena and I were giving her questioning looks, as far as I was aware she had only touched me not Elena. That shouldn't have happened.

"I saw fog, and a man with a crow. Oh my god.." she whispered. "I have to go" as she ran off.

"That was odd." I muttered to Elena, circling my finger by my temple.

Elena, the goodie she is, wasn't impressed, smacking my hand down and giving me a look. "She was already pretty scared. The same thing happened when she touched me earlier."

"Just keep an eye on her. Maybe it would be best if she spoke to Grams. I know everyone thinks she's batty but she knows what she's talking about."

"Maybe.. I didn't think you'd still be here. Normally you ditch out pretty quickly at these things." Changing the subject.

"I wanted to keep an eye on Jer. I know he's doing better recently, but I want to make sure he doesn't fall off the wagon again."

"I caught him high at school this morning. I don't think he understands how it an affect him, Ivy."

"He does sis, I've already been on his case. I know you don't like drugs at all but Id prefer him smoking a bit over harder drugs and not knowing whether he's okay or in a ditch somewhere. Ill keep an eye on him, you be a regular teenager and go get your man!" I soothed her.

"How did you know about that?" she questioned.

"How do I know about anything?" I retorted as I winked and walked away with Stefan coming up the hill behind her.

I knew it was getting closer to the time Vicki would be attacked. I hadn't worked out a way to save her from Damon so I wanted to be there to give her first aid. I didn't want to be the one attacked in her place. It was then that I heard a scream come from the woods.

Running into the forest, I found a path and saw a light coming from further up. Tripping as I ran, I made it to see Jeremy holding Vicki. Stripping off my cardigan, I quickly pressed it to her neck and dug my cellphone out of my pocket to call 911.

By the time we had gotten her out into the clearing everyone was surrounding us and yelling trying to get a better look. I had pushed my way through to the driveway to get to the incoming ambulance. I helped load her in and let Matt pass by me.

Turning I saw Jeremy being scolded by Elena in the parking lot. "Elena that's enough. I think he's been through enough for tonight, a couple drinks isn't going to be too bad." As she scoffed at me.

"He needs to learn Ivy!"

"No what he needs is support not to be yelled at. Come on were gonna head home. We can see Vicki in the morning. She will be okay, Jer." Pushing his hair back from his forehead.

He pushed away from me and got into the car.

Elena caught my arm, "Why do you always take his side? Could you not back me up for once?"

"Maybe if you took a softer approach to him instead of demanding he would listen to you Elena. I know you only want the best for him but you have to give him space. You don't have to be his mother, just be his sister and be there for him. Okay?"

Elena looked down at her feet, playing with her hands. "I feel like its my fault. Like his grieving is because of me. I just want his pain to go away."

"It will. It takes time." As I pulled her into an embrace and kissed her forehead. "and don't you ever let me hear you say that about yourself again!" tapping her on the nose as I pulled away.

She giggled and said "yes ma'am" getting into the car.

I rolled my eyes heading to the drivers seat. Siblings.