Hello lovelies! Two chapters in one week? Y'all are spoiled! But I'm on a week off so I've been able to get a bit of writing done. I'm not positive when the next chapter will be, but no more than a week or so.

This chapter contains no Damon (sorry!) but mainly Elena being a BAMF. I had so much fun writing this chapter, so I hope you like it! Y'all are actually so lovely, and seeing your reviews makes me smile. Honestly, you are all so sweet and just agh! I love you so much. Y'all are the best readers a girl could have :')

Talk soon darlings,

x

"Elena, wake up!" Someone was shaking me. I groaned and opened my eyes to see Jeremy glaring down at me. "What do you want?" I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.
"You need to get up. There's...someone at the door for you."
I sighed and rolled out of the bed with a thump. Jeremy rolled his eyes and left, leaving me alone to stumble blindly around my room looking for a jumper to throw on. I realised I hadn't even changed into pyjamas last night; I had just slept in my dress. Brilliant.

I eventually found a thin black cardigan and slid it on, before dragging a brush through my still silky hair and shoving it back in a messy bun. Whoever wanted me at 6.00am was seriously deranged, so I figured they wouldn't care if I was a mess.

"Are you serious?" I snarled when I walked into the kitchen and found Caroline shifting awkwardly from foot to foot. She winced and that was when I realised Stefan was there too. Great. I was sure Mom would be totally thrilled with me – three vampires in the house in the space of two days? Daughter of the year award, here we come.

"Get out of my house Caroline." I snapped, storming to the door and flinging it open, not so subtly hinting that she had to leave. Caroline hesitated before speaking.

"I used to be in and out of here all of the time." She whispered and I had to count to ten to allow the rage I was feeling die down just a little.

"You also used to be a human, but that's changed too, hasn't it? Besides," I glanced at Stefan, who was standing beside the cupboards, looking at me with a weird kind of sympathy. Much as I wanted to, I couldn't make myself hate him. For whatever reason, he seemed...nice. But I couldn't let them know that. "He was never here. Neither of you are welcome Caroline, so just go."

She shook her head, and I wanted to scream at her. "What do you want for God's sake?" I snapped, and her lower lip wobbled. No. She wouldn't dare to...

"I'm sorry; you're just the only person who I knew could help me!" She wailed, tears beginning to flow down her cheeks. I seriously contemplated just leaving the house myself, because I could not deal with this crazy vampire this early in the morning. Stefan apparently realised this and stepped in, talking over her sobs.

"Caroline was wondering if you would be so kind as to help her talk to her family. They still live in the ...on this side of Mystic Falls. Correct?" I stared at him. He was crazy, they all were.
"Why would I do that?" I challenged, waiting to see what glorious reason they would come up with. I owed them maybe? Or so that he wouldn't kill my dad? I couldn't wait.
He shrugged, glancing at Caroline. "There's no reason to." He said softly. "It'd just...well, it'd help us out. Caroline and I are getting married, and I've always wanted to meet her family."

I stared at him. Married? I mean Christ, I didn't know what I expected from them but marriage had certainly not been one of those options considered.
"You're only twenty. I mean...marriage?" I protested weakly to Caroline who gave me a watery smile.

"I'm going to be twenty for a good while longer now that I'm a vampire." She whispered. Oh right. Vampires don't age and all that. That was weird – I realised, in twenty years, I'd be forty. But Caroline would still be twenty.

I was snapped out of my thought process when I noticed Jeremy standing in the doorframe, glaring at our visitors with such fury that even I felt a bit concerned.
"Get out of our house!" He spat, his voice pure acid.
"Jeremy, just go back to sleep." I sighed tiredly, not able to deal with a rebellious brother as well as the rest this morning. His wild eyes swung to me, looking at me like I was crazy.
"She's a traitor Elena!" He hissed. "A total traitor! You shouldn't even be talking to her! You should be calling Alaric, and getting him down here with vervain and flaming torches!"

Oh no. I was just going to pray that he hadn't just said that, but judging by the horrified look Caroline was giving me, along with Stefan's far more curious expression and the fact that he was now slipping his hand into his pocket and pulling out a cell phone, it hadn't been my mind playing tricks on me.

"Alaric? Alaric Saltzman?" Stefan asked, his voice far too casual. "What's he got to do with anything?"

"No! Nothing, I don't know what he's talking about!" I squeaked in a high pitched voice as I lovingly shoved Jeremy from the room, although not before he could cry "The Liberation Militia will win!" It was at that point that I slammed the door in his face. I was going to murder him later. What the hell was he thinking, screaming about a rebel organisation which our father was in jail for being a part of, when there were two vampires in the room? And then there was the whole issue with Jeremy. Much to my mother's and my horror, Jeremy had begun taking an active role in the LM since our father's arrest. Every chance he could get to talk about it, he did and I knew that it was only going to get him in trouble.

Caroline and Stefan were staring at me. "He's just...high." I offered desperately and Caroline nodded encouragingly. What was freaking me out was that she knew what was going on – I had confided to her all about the LM about a year ago. (When she was still human obviously.) But judging by the glances Stefan kept giving her, she hadn't told him a word about it and I had to, extremely begrudgingly, feel a little grateful to my once best friend.

"So, can you help me out with my family?" Caroline asked quickly and I nodded hurriedly, both of us attempting to distract Stefan whose fingers were still hovering over the keyboard of his phone.
"Yes! Yes, come on, let's go!" I squeaked, yanking on my worn down shoes and as good as running out of the house. Caroline grabbed Stefan's hand and dragged him out too, allowing me to slam the door behind us. Nice bit of teamwork from us.

I glanced around and realised with a jolt that the entire neighbourhood were pretty much pressed against their windows, glaring at me. "Oh God." I muttered, pulling the cardigan tighter around myself and stomping down the street. Caroline and Stefan trotted quickly after me, exchanging glances. I could practically hear the insults that I was positive were being hissed after me.

"Don't they have anything better to do at 6.00 am?" I snarled to myself as we turned a corner and nearly bumped into an elderly woman.

"Mrs. Spinelli, I'm so sorry!" I cried, grabbing her arm to stop her from falling. She grinned at me, her green eyes twinkling and her toothy smile warm. Mrs. Spinelli was at least 80, an impressive feat in the Pail. She was tiny, about 4 foot 11, with curly white hair and a voice that crackled like a fire. "Don't worry about it dearie." She smiled, patting me on the arm before noticing Caroline. I braced myself, ready for any kind of reaction but she only smiled mildly.

"Hello Caroline dear. I haven't seen you in a while."
"Mrs. Spinelli!" Caroline rushed forward to shake her hand and as soon as their skin touched, I could see the switch flip in Mrs. Spinelli's head about Caroline and the vampire. But, to my extreme surprise, she said nothing about it.
"It's lovely to see you sweetheart. And looking so well!" The older woman caught sight of Stefan and her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "The young man, I assume, who you fell in love with?" She asked lightly and Caroline nodded. Stefan stepped forward, offering his hand.
"It's lovely to meet you m'am." He said politely, matching her airy tone. Mrs. Spinelli looked at his hand for a moment before shaking it carefully. Caroline's shoulders sagged in relief and I couldn't help but feel the same way.
"Mrs. Spinelli, it was lovely seeing you but we really must dash." I chirped, realising that a few of the neighbours were getting adventurous and looked like they were preparing to come out for a confrontation. Mrs. Spinelli nodded, her eyes not moving from Stefan.
"Well you take care dears." She said, sounding distracted, and we all nodded obediently. She gave us a cheery smile and hobbled off on her way.

"Come on." I muttered, beginning to walk again. Caroline gently touched my arm and I spun around to glare at her.
"Thank you. For helping me with this." She said softly and I rolled my eyes and kept going.
"I'm going to knock on the door and tell them that you're back." I said through gritted teeth. "Then you go in and make amends. Stefan, you go in later and for the love of God, do not tell them that you're engaged –"
I stopped, freezing. Caroline's old house had come into view – and we had an audience. All the surrounding houses' lawns were filled with people, all glaring at us in total silence. And in the centre were Caroline's assembled family, not looking at us with as much hatred as sadness.

I took a deep breath and grabbed Caroline's hand. "You keep your head up and you walk with me. Do you understand?" I told her quietly, and she nodded shakily. I couldn't believe I was actually going to do this...

"Is there a problem?" I addressed the crowd breezily as I strolled as nonchalantly as one could when faced with an angry mob towards them. A single man stepped forward and my heart sank. Brilliant. Alaric Saltzman.

"Our problem is that you've brought her back." He announced and I glanced at Caroline before raising an eyebrow.

"I didn't know she wasn't allowed to see her family." I shot back, feeling Caroline squeeze my hand. Alaric snorted, damn him.

"She's not allowed back in here Ms. Gilbert. Neither her or the leech are welcome." He spat the last word and I felt annoyance bubble up inside of me.

"I'm sorry Alaric, I didn't realise that you ruled us now. Did I miss the vote?"

Alaric's features contorted in anger and he stepped towards us.
"What kind of a daughter are you? Your father's in jail thanks to these leeches!" I stiffened. He wasn't actually going to say it was he?
Oh but he did.

"He should be ashamed to have you as a daughter."

That was it. That was the final straw. I was sick of Alaric Saltzman and his bullshit. I let go of Caroline's hand and stormed up to him, forcing him to take a step back.

"You listen to me Alaric." I snarled, not even caring about the murmurs in the crowd. I was too worked up and I could only focus my rage on the smirking man in front of me.

"My father is the reason why I have to let some vampire drink my blood, so I'm not feeling that worried about him being ashamed of me right now. You understand? You do not own me, you do not control me and you certainly don't tell me who I can and can't help. So get out of my way right now, because so help me, I will do something to really make my father ashamed of me."

Alaric laughed. He laughed.

Before I could leap on him screaming however, I felt a whoosh of air and then Caroline was holding him by the collar, pressed up against the wall, snarling at him.

"You don't talk to my best friend like that, do you understand?" She hissed as he struggled to fight back. He was nothing, I realised, without his stakes and vervain and little army. He was just an angry little man – although he certainly disguised it well. He was looking at Caroline with complete disgust.

"You're a leech too? Well I'll have you know this Caroline Forbes, you will be the first person I kill when –"

It was at this point that Stefan chimed in – he had been quiet until now, when his voice was possibly the scariest thing I had ever heard and I could only be relieved that the pure fury in his tone wasn't aimed at me.

"Don't say it." He said very softly, but as soon as he opened his mouth, the entire place went quiet. "If you even utter another word of that sentence Saltzman, I will rip you limb from limb, extremely slowly. Now if I were you, I would run home and never let me see you talking to a lady like that again."

Alaric's complexion paled as Stefan spoke. Caroline released him so he fell with a thump to the dirt, before scrambling up hurriedly.

"The Liberation Militia will win." He hissed and I heard a few cheers from the crowd, although most just looked worried. Stefan didn't seem fazed however.

"It's not going to win today. Just get out of my sight Saltzman. Now."

To my extreme joy, Alaric muttered something and disappeared back into the crowd, most of who ran at this stage. Actually, the only people left were the Forbes, who looked exhausted. Caroline took a tentative step towards them.

"Mom...Dad..." She whispered; all of her bravado and courage was now gone. Mr. Forbes glanced at Stefan before sighing.
"Come on then Care. We all need to get acquainted with your new...friend."
"A cup of tea will do us all good." Mrs. Forbes added, before faltering. "Do...I mean, do you still drink tea? With your new...diet?"

Caroline nodded, her blonde curls bouncing. I realised her eyes were damp as she gave them a watery smile. "Tea is one part of my diet I refuse to give up." She said, her voice cracking. Mrs. Forbes shot her a look of what could only be described as pure pride and they all shuffled into the tiny house. I glanced at Stefan, who was gazing after her with, much as I hated to admit it, total love. I nudged his shoulder.

"Go on. Follow them. They want to know you too." I told him quietly and he smiled at me, his green eyes bright as he shook his head.

"I don't want to interrupt. I'll stay out here for a little while, and then I'll go in. They have a lot to catch up on." He sat down on the ground, leaning against the wall. After a few moments of hesitation, I sighed and slid down beside him.

"I'll wait out here too then. I'm not sure if I can cope with the tears."
He snorted and began talking about the weather or something – to be quite honest, I was paying very much attention. All I could think about was how they had both surprised me today – and maybe the vampires weren't as horrendous as I had always been taught.

By the way - review please. G'wan :)