Thank you all for your lovely reviews, it means a lot since this is my first ever fanfiction. Anyways, I decided to keep Jeremy in Mystic Falls just to add to the plot line. Hope you don't mind!

I sat with Jeremy and Alaric on the couch playing video games, the sound of the fake gun shots covered up the emptiness of the house now that Jenna was gone. We were all still coping with her sudden death. But she would have wanted us to move on, and that's what we were all trying to do. Some days hurt more than others though, and today was one of the more painful ones. Alaric had taken on the role as Guardian to all three of us, I am sure it wasn't something he would ever have imagined doing, so it meant a lot to us. It also felt natural, we all knew he cared about us and he had cared deeply about Jenna, in a way, he had been accepted into our family before any of the legal papers had been signed.

Elena let her presence be known to us all by letting out her signature deep sigh. Alaric and Jeremy looked at me, worriedly. I had already informed them about me sneaking off to the ball, and apparently now Elena had been told too, no doubt by Damon. This will be a long day. I kept my eyes forward, hoping that if I ignored her, she would delay the nagging session.

She walked in front of the television and switched it off. I jumped up in protest; I had been beating them both in the game for a change, and I was determined to overtake Jeremy, becoming number one on the leader board. Jeremy and Alaric looked frustrated too, but they knew better than to mess with Elena when she was on a rampage. They were going to be no help to me.

I sent my sister a glare which she returned, only angrier. Correction- this will be a really long day.

Suddenly, both Jeremy and Alaric seemed desperate to get out of the house, "Want to go to the Grill?"

"Yeah, sure." They both left in a hurry, grabbing their jackets on the way out. Leaving me to face Elena's wrath, alone.

"Damon said you went to the ball, last night." She stated, after a minute of staring angrily at one-another in silence.

I shrugged nonchalantly, "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't."

She let out another deep sigh. "Ivy, I told you-"

"Stop being such a hypocrite!" I snapped at her, sick to death of her feelings of superiority. "I saw you there with Stefan. How come you are allowed to go and not me? It is completely unfair!"

Elena snapped back, "There are some things we haven't told you, Ivy. For your own protection. Could you just, please, do as I say and not approach the Mikaelson's again. They aren't good people."

I rolled my eyes at her speech. These days she would never justify her points or actions to me, just expect me to trust in them completely. The past few weeks Elena had been progressively taking on the role as a parent to me and Jer, it was becoming increasingly annoying for both of us. Especially, since she was just one year older. We could understand why she felt the need to, giving she was the eldest child, but with Alaric around it was unnecessary.

Everyone spoke about 'protecting me', but when you aren't aware of the dangers it is impossible to avoid them. I knew they were all hiding a secret from me, a big one, and they were adamant I would never find it out. It hurt a lot being left out within your own family, and I felt it had secluded me from the rest of them, meaning we all weren't as close anymore. I had been feeling this way ever since Stefan and Damon had moved into town. It had gotten a lot worse recently however, with the arrival of the Mikaelson's. Everybody seemed to loathe them, but nobody explained to me why.

"Why can't you just tell me why you hate them? No more of this 'protection' crap."

I watched Elena who remained silent. I could tell she was considering telling me, I waited patiently for her reply.

"Ivy, could you please just trust me in this?" she pleaded desperately, after a minute of deep contemplation. I knew there was no chance that she would be telling me the secret today.

I sighed, disappointed in her. "I am going to the Grill."

I grabbed my jacket and walked out the house. On the way out, I stole a glance at Elena. She was still stuck in her spot not speaking, looking out into space thinking about her options. I let out a deep sigh, maybe her not telling me this 'secret', is causing her as much pain as it is doing me.

I entered Mystic Grill in a hurry, happy to be out of the cold, and searched the seats for Jeremy and Ric. Neither of them were there, so I figured they had left to go and train. They were both obsessed with hunting. I didn't think they were very good at it though, since they had never brought home any of their catches. I had told them that once, when I was miffed because their training had made them late for a family meal, but instead of being offended they had both laughed the comment off. I refused to mention their hobby to them again, feeling guilty that I had insulted their sport, even though if they had both found it hilarious.

I saw Caroline and Bonnie, two of my sisters friends, at the pool table in deep conversation. I contemplated joining them but decided against it. They were nice enough people, but they were Elena's friends more than mine. The amount of drama that went on within their group was crazy; drama seemed to follow the three of them around like a lost puppy, and I had no intention in getting involved in it.

Instead I took a seat at one of the empty booths and ordered a glass of coke. I was away to text Abigail to come round and keep me company when somebody unexpected approached.

"Mind if I sit here?" I looked up from my phone and it was Kol, who smiled down at me. I put my phone back into my jeans pocket, not wanting to be rude.

"No, sure, go ahead." I smiled back.

He sat down across from me so we faced each other. "What brings you here then, Ivy Gilbert, all alone?" In the low lighting levels of Mystic Grill his eyes seemed to sparkle with playfulness.

I paused, thinking about whether or not to tell him the truth. In the end I went for it, still being angry with Elena for her refusal to tell me the secret that everyone was hiding from me. "Just escaping my family. You?"

"Doing very much the same thing. They are all such a bore. But I have my entertainment now. You are far more interesting than all of them put together. " He smirked. He was charming, I'd give him that.

"So that's why you torment Rebekah, because you get bored." I stated, ignoring his attempt to flirt. I wasn't in the mood.

"My siblings and I have a complicated past. They deserve every insult I throw at them." I noticied that Kol's voice had taken on a dark undertone when he spoke about them, it almost seemed threatening. He, no longer wanting to talk about his brothers and sister, changed the subject to my family. "Let me guess, Elena is cause of your anger."

I hadn't realised I appeared angry until Kol pointed down to the wooden table and I saw my clenched fist. I automatically unclenched it, slightly embarrassed that Kol had noticed.

"You've guessed it." I hesitated before proceeding, my curiosity getting the better of me. "Kol? Why does Elena hate your family so much?"

Kol frowned deeply, "Do you honestly not know?"

"Know what?"

A large smirk crossed his face, from knowing something I didn't.

"Perhaps I will tell you someday, then." He looked towards the door of the Grill, somebody who entered caught his attention. "I must be off, nice meeting you Ivy Gilbert." He took my hand which was still lying on the table, and softly kissed my knuckles something he couldn't do when I was with Damon. I jokingly rolled my eyes at him, smiling. Kol grinned devilishly in response and left to join a male around his age on the bar-stools. The male looked at me for a few moments curiously, before turning his full attention to Kol.

"Was that Kol who just left?" Rebekah said out of nowhere, taking a seat where her brother had been a few moments ago.

"Yeah-"

"Sorry about him. He can be a real pain in the arse. I told him yesterday to leave you alone, so naturally he didn't listen."

"Oh." I would be lying if I said it didn't hurt. I now wasn't sure completely, if he had spoken to me because he had wanted to, or because he had wanted to irritate Rebekah. Knowing Kol for the short period I had, I figured it was likely he just wanted to annoy Rebekah. But there was a small shred of hope within me, that he had wanted to talk to me too.

"Where's Damon? I thought he was your private body guard when you are in public."

I shrugged, looking around to see if he was at the bar. He wasn't. "Probably off comforting Elena, I upset her by going behind her back yesterday."

Rebekah rolled her eyes, "Oh yes well, everyone loves Elena." she looked at me, surprised, "Sorry! I forgot you guys were sisters."

"It's fine. I won't tell." It was oddly refreshing speaking to somebody who wasn't half-in-love with my sister, I felt I would be able to share more secrets without having the fear of Elena being told about them. Even Abigail wasn't completely trustworthy; she had informed my sister immediately when I told her I had a small crush on Tyler during his 'player-phase'. And everybody worked hard to keep us apart from one-another. Not that I wasn't thankful after, I only see Tyler as a friend and things would have gotten weird between us if we had begun dating.

Rebekah stared at me, searching for any hint that I was lying. Finding none she continued, "Everyone is desperate to sacrifice themselves for her. It's pathetic. Even Matt would, if he had to, and she broke his heart not that long ago."

"Matt would do that for anybody he's friends with." I shrugged, it was true. Matt was one of the nicest people in Mystic Falls, he would help anybody out with any problem they had.

"But why?" Rebekah asked, confused. I got a sad feeling that she had never had any proper friends before, she didn't seem to understand why people helped each other out in times of need.

"True friendship is a lot like love; you put someone else's needs before your own." I explained, pretty sure I had stolen that quote from a movie or television program somewhere.

"Well, it's stupid."

"Do you know where Matt is?" I asked changing the topic, it was clear Rebekah didn't agree with me. I hoped that one day she would, it must be lonely not having close friends. "I thought he was supposed to be working today."

"Kol crushed his hand at the party, so I don't think he will be able to work for awhile." Rebekah shrugged it off, as if it was no big deal.

"By accident?" I asked, taking a sip of my drink to hide my shock.

Rebekah shook her head, laughing at my comment. "Of course not!"

I choked. Okay, so maybe Damon's right about Kol.

"What? Why?"

"How should I know? Kol does what he does because he is a psycho-lunatic."

I was astounded, "But Matt doesn't have medical insurance. How is he going to pay?"

Rebekah shrugged again, "I suppose he will just have to be off of work for a while."

"I need to go home, I think I need to apologise to Elena." I said leaving the table in a hurry, thinking about how right she had been to be concerned. I was in such a rush I didn't plan my exit route strategically, and tried going the quickest way, past the bar- where Kol was sitting. He jumped off the bar-stool and stood in front of me, blocking my exit. Oh crap.

"You seem to be in a hurry to leave. Now, what ever has my darling, little sister done?" His tone was mocking, and the man who Kol had left to go and drink with seemed deeply amused, chuckling sinisterly at my bewilderment. I recognised him from the party, he was another member of the Mikaelson family. Are they all psychopaths?

"I simply informed her what you did to Matt." Rebekah said, standing beside me. She had been apparently following me out, but her footsteps were so quiet in the loud restaurant I must have not heard.

"Matt?" Kol looked confused.

"My date." Rebekah tried reminding him. Kol just stared back blankly. "You broke his hand yesterday."

A look of recognition crossed Kol's face. His brother was getting more amused with each passing second. "I simply held on too tight while shaking it." Kol denied his sister's accusation, who scoffed loudly in response. "I do apologise, Ivy, my sister has the tendency to over exaggerate."

This earned him a glare from Rebekah, "See what I mean?" Kol whispered to me, this time earning a punch from her. The man on the bar-stool could no longer contain his chuckles and laughed deeply.

"Oh shut up, Klaus." Rebekah sneered. Klaus put up his hands in a mock surrender.

Kol quickly changed the subject, trying to be the sole aggravator to his sister. "I heard you were quite the strumpet last night, sister. Will you be sleeping in your own bed tonight?"

Rebekah's glare was instantly replaced with a pleading look as she looked at me and then back at her brother. "Kol-" she warned.

"That Salvatore boy," my heart juddered, knowing instantly who he meant. I was scared Rebekah would think of the night more than a 'one-night stand' and have her heart broken like so many before her. "Damon, is it? That's you had them both now, albeit over slightly different time periods. You're nearly most as bad as dear Elena now, sister."

I instantly frowned, comprehending exactly what it was that Kol had said. I looked at her, horrified. Rebekah has had sex with Damon and Stefan? But her family has only been in town for a few weeks. Wait, did Stefan cheat on Elena? I immediately felt incredibility guilty for not listening to my sister and began jumping to conclusions. She obviously didn't want to tell me of her unfaithful boyfriend in case I would judge her for staying with him. I thought it made perfect sense why she hated the Mikaelson's but I figured it was Stefan's fault more than anybody else's since he was the unfaithful one, Stefan is going to be dead by the time I am through with him.

"Ivy, it is seriously not what it sounds like." Rebekah said desperately, as she saw the waves of anger cross over my face. I could barely bring myself to look at her. I was vexed that she had never told me, yet still pursued trying to befriend me. It seemed as if she was befriending me for some sick and twisted joke.

Kol smirked, "Do explain then, sister." I looked up at him, puzzled by his change in character. He had seemed so nice away from his siblings. I wasn't sure if the Kol I spoke to, or the Kol who was speaking now, was the real one.

"Ivy!" Caroline shouted, approaching the group. She glared at the three Mikaelson's but smiled brightly at me, I guess she knows about Stefan being disloyal too. I tried returning it but the attempt of smiling had failed, I was still too upset, especially since it seemed that Elena would rather tell her friends the secret more than her own sister. Caroline noticed my unease, "Ivy? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I was just planning on heading home." I felt sick. I couldn't believe she had never told me.

"What a coincidence, so am I. Would you like a lift?" Kol asked. I really didn't want to listen to anything else he had to say, I had the feeling whatever he would say, wouldn't be good. Thankfully, Caroline saved me.

"Kind offer but that really isn't necessary. I need to go over and speak to Elena anyways, so Ivy can get a lift with me." Caroline butted in, Kol shot daggers at Caroline for ruining his plan on giving me a lift, and she gave him a large fake smile, no doubt to annoy him further. She lightly took my arm and pulled me away from them; I was more than willing to follow.

We sat in her car in silence, waiting at a traffic light. I hadn't said a word since we left Mystic Grill and I could tell Caroline was curious to know the details. Surprisingly, she didn't push for answers; something she was notorious for doing.

"Kol said that Rebekah slept with Damon last night." I said, breaking the silence. I hadn't realised till then how much Caroline had changed over the year. She seemed much more caring, and selfless than she used to be. It was a drastic improvement, from the shallow girl I once knew.

"Oh," she frowned, "I didn't know you liked him that way."

I scoffed humorlessly, " I don't. But he also said that she had slept with Stefan."

The lights turned green and Caroline slammed down the acceleration causing my whole body to jolt forward, hitting the dashboard. I noticed Caroline's grip on the steering wheel had tightened, turning her knuckles white. Her face muscles had clenched.

"That was years ago. Before he had met Elena." Caroline told me. I let out a big sigh of relief, then began feeling bad I had doubted Stefan.

Ignoring my guilt, I prodded Caroline for details."They used to know each other?"

Caroline groaned, "I should really not be the one telling you these things." I stared intently at her whilst she concentrated on the road. I was craving answers and I knew the only true hope I had was Caroline. It didn't take her long to crack. "Stefan, Klaus and Rebekah, all go way back. They recently had a.. disagreement. And now they hate each other. Just please, don't tell Elena I told you this, okay? She'd kill me."

"I won't." I frowned, "But how come they know each other? I thought the Mikaelson's just came over from England."

She shrugged still tense, "They move all over the place. They can afford too. Apparently, they were actually all born around this area."

"Oh."

We pulled into my driveway, and Caroline kept the engine rolling. I unbuckled my seat beat and was away to exit when Caroline began speaking again. "Listen, I am not going to tell you, who and who not to hang around with, alright? But just please, be wary of the Mikaelson's. Elena isn't exaggerating when she says they have done some pretty bad things in the past."

I nodded, "I will. Thanks."

I stepped out the car and saw Caroline wasn't moving, "Are you not coming inside?" I asked, confused. She had said she needed to speak with Elena.

Caroline shook her head, "Nah. I need to pop back to the Grill for a bit. But tell Elena I said hi."

She drove off and I stood watch her leave, wondering whether or not I had been speaking to a completely different Caroline.