Note: In this story, Damon has already left the Confederacy, before Katherine comes to Mystic Falls…

Chapter 3:

I: Damon:

It was unusually cold, as I walked to, perhaps my favorite place in Mystic Falls- the apple orchard. My eyes were tiring for it felt like quite long since I had forfeited myself from the Confederacy. And yet I had come home yesterday and my father had a shouting match with me. Through his eyes, I was a helpless disappointment. It didn't bother me, to be seen as a disappointment in that fool of a father. My younger brother Stefan might have been hurt. But my father loved Stefan and never thought of him as a complete idiot. But Stefan wasn't one of those brothers who showed off, the fact that he was the one who would "redeem" the family name. (Personally, I thought my father already ruined the name long ago.) Stefan was in fact, my closest ally, by best friend, and a supportive brother. It was he, who in his calm manner, sided with me in the shouting match with that filthy man. It was he, who got father off my back last night. Without Stefan, I don't know where father and I would stand. I felt the wind kick up slightly and the air tingled at the skin of my hands. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Are you alright, Damon?" asked a familiar voice. I turned to face Stefan, who had a look of concern wiped across his face.

"Mmmm...Fine, Stefan. Just thinking," I answer glancing at the apple trees in the orchard. It reminded me of how hungry I was. I had left the dinner table last night, in the huge son and father rampage, and had not a bite to eat. This morning, I skipped breakfast, feeling slightly ill. Now, I was better and my stomach yearned for something.

"Father's not all that bad Damon," Stefan said all of a sudden. "He's just a bit confused, that's all." I frowned at Stefan, shaking my head. For a minute there I wanted to laugh at Stefan and his stupidity.

"Confused," I spat. "He's not confused, Stefan. Father's a bastard at his own right. You can't blame confusion for father and his idiocy. It's him, Stefan. It's just him."

"But...well maybe...." I watched my brother chew his lip, at a loss of words. The unfinished sentence hung between us.

"I appreciate your optimism, brother. But in circumstances like Father, it's just going to make the situation worse.

"But we could at least try, Damon."

"Ha, that's what I've always wanted to do. Help the Father who I've always been a complete disappointment to," I snarled sarcastically. Stefan's eyebrows creased, and I knew what he was thinking. I knew he knew he was fighting a lost battle. I also knew, that he was trying his hardest not to surrender.

"Stefan, it's not going to work. Trust me. I know our Father too well. There is nothing good about him. He's lousy and an idiot." Stefan tried to plead with me through his eyes, but he didn't say anything more. The conversation had ended. There was nothing left to say.

"Well," he said, after a long silence. "The apples look ripe..." I grinned at him, and we both rushed over to the trees like how we did when we were boys.

II: Adelaide:

The carriage jolted to a halt. I turned to look out the window, as I carefully lifted the satin drape over the window. Mystic Falls seemed like a quiet place. There were no children laughing in the streets, there were no workers bustling about. There was only one other carriage driving past. I sighed; I was certainly no longer in New York City. I turned to Emily, who looked exhausted. She had dark rings under her eyes, but she gave me a small smile. Pearl motioned us to stay in the carriage, as she stepped out. I squeezed Emily's hand and she squeezed it back. Pearl stepped out of the carriage and I waited, sighing to myself. I wasn't tired. I don't know any vampires who get tired...or who even sleep. In fact, in was one of those known facts about vampires. But Emily was a witch. And witches do get tired and go to sleep. Pearl stepped back into the carriage and took Anna's hand, leading her out. I sighed and stood up, following Anna, with Emily at my heels. We stepped into the house, quietly. It was a lot more modest than the house that I previously resided in, but it was warm and it made me feel safe. After I had a long warm bath and put on one of my new silk gowns, I stepped out of the house to take a walk. As I walked around in my satin shoes, I realized that I liked the atmosphere of Mystic Falls. It was quiet and it left me on my own, unlike the city, which had always been watching me every step. I smiled, my blue eyes shining with delight. I heard someone behind me and smiled as Pearl fell in step with me.

"Liking your new home?" she asked.

"Yes, it is quite lovely," I said as I did a graceful pirouette, laughing for sheer joy. Pearl laughed too. She was trying to keep me happy, I knew. Not to worry me. Inside I was feeling light and joyful, but my mind was worrying. It always worries with the dreaded, what ifs...? What if this happened? What if that happened? I tried to banish them from my mind as I dance happily in circles. Pearl took my arm, and we walked together, for some time.

"Are you hungry," she asked, after some time. I looked slightly surprised. With other things on my mind, I had completely forgotten about feeding. Now that she mentioned it, I realized that I was indeed, quite hungry.

"A bit," I said, biting my lip. "But I'll feed later." Pearl nodded and we walked on. I saw two young men by the apple trees as we walked by. They had strewn their day jackets and shoes. I smiled, how lovely it would be, to be a human again. When humans had worries, they had wonderful ways of ridding them. Like freshly picked apples. They saw us walk by and they both gave me a low bow. I grinned radiantly and curtsied, Pearl pulling me alone.

"Ah, you," she laughed when we were out of the orchard. I smiled, skipping ahead, trying to rid my worries. Trying to feel like a regular, young human girl, instead of an old vampire. Strange how one could look so young, but be so old. When we arrived back at the house, I rushed upstairs, much to my surprise to see a rather hassled Emily.

"Something wrong?" I asked cautiously. She looked up at me.

"Adelaide," she sighed. "I fear the safety of you and the others. This place, just doesn't feel right..." I frowned, yet another worry to think about.

"Come," I said trying to coax her into a game of chess. "Please Emily..."

"Oh, alright," she grinned, as she settled down to play the game. "I'm the white pieces, though." I nodded, happily, but inside I was feeling rather sick.