A/N: Since Stefan isn't around I decided Elena probably would've met Damon later than she did in the show. The next chapter will be from Damon's POV so their will be answers as to what he was up to during the time gap. Sorry about the wait, but A)real life kept me busy and B) Taking Stefan out really forces you to think, because a lot of his actions started a chain of events.

Months Later...

"Hey bird" Elena said. She was in the graveyard once again, writing in her journal at her parent's graveside. The bird started showing up sporadically about a month ago. At first it creeped her out, it was like the crow knew everything about her somehow. It was all very Hitchcock. She'd tried to shoo it away to no avail and ended up running away in fright. When she went back the next day it was there again, but she felt silly for being afraid of a bird. Elena Gilbert wasn't going to let a stupid bird keep her from visiting her parents. It wasn't always there, but she'd seen it enough to assume it must have a nest nearby. Oddly enough after overcoming her ridiculous fear, she began to feel a sort of camaraderie towards it. Sometimes she found herself voicing opinions aloud in its presence. It seemed a bit silly, but she'd come to think of it as a friend of sorts.

The first time it appeared had been the first day of school. Elena had pledged that morning to move on, to get back to living her life. She'd been right when she told Jeremy that people had stopped caring that they'd lost their parents. even said is much to her one day when she didn't know an answer to a question. Her & Jeremy's world had been turned upside down and inside out, but their world was the only one destroyed that dreadful evening, and society demanded that they pretend it was right once more. She knew she should stop coming to the graveyard everyday after school and cheerleading practice, that she should go have fun instead, but she wasn't ready to give this solace up. Thus she found herself talking to a crow whenever it bothered to make an appearance, usually once a week.

While Elena would love nothing more to hide away in the cemetery forever, tonight was the Founder's party and as a Founding family member she was expected to attend. Months before the accident her mother had promised Carol Lockwood a variety of Gilbert heirlooms to put on display. Yesterday she and Jenna had scoured the attic, collecting everything on the list..everything on the list except for her Dad's pocket watch. Traditionally the pocket watch was handed down from father to son. In the time before Jeremy wouldn't have minded lending the pocket watch out, but now it was a sacred belonging of their fathers he was understandably unwilling to part with.

Elena had argued with Jeremy, trying to explain that it was still his and just being loaned to the Lockwoods, but Jer was steadfast in his refusal to hand it over. Her arguments were half hearted at best, because in her heart she agreed with Jer. On top of her own deep seated reluctance Jeremy was already disconnected and unruly enough as was and Elena didn't want to risk straining their relationship even more. She had hoped Mrs. Lockwood wouldn't notice, but of course she had. Elena had intimated that she couldn't seem to find it, however the Lockwood matriarch was quite persistent.

"So what do you think bird? Give the witch the pocket watch so she'll back off?" Elena asked with a sigh. The crow just looked at her, tilting its head as if to say 'seriously?' "Yeah, you're right calling her a 'witch' probably means I'm not going to." As though it understood her every word the crow suddenly let out squawk in seeming affirmation. "Okay enough of talking to birds in graveyards" she announce as she climbed to her feet, dusting the dirt and grass from her jeans.

Upon walking through her front door Elena was tempted to aboutface as soon as she crossed the threshold. Jenna was making a valiant attempt at trying to get Jeremy to talk about his grades, but it didn't seem to be working very well.

"Jer you need to stop skipping class!" Jenna stated.

"Yeah, whatever" Jer said, continuing his trek up the stairs.

"Hey!" Jenna yelled, grabbing an orange off the counter and launching it at her wayward nephew. The fruit smacked into the back of Jeremy's head eliciting a yelp of surprise.

"What the hell!" he cried in outrage, finally turning around to face his aunt.

"Jeremy I know it sucks and I don't mind if you drink a little or smoke pot, but you have to go to class. I don't feel like getting called in every other week to get reamed about by your teachers for being a bad guardian." Jenna said. She seemed close to tears, unsure and unprepared to be a parent of two grieving teenagers.

"Yeah, okay whatever" Jeremy said, continuing to stomp his way up the stairs. The slamming of his door signified his exit from the conversation and Jenna went to the kitchen, slumping down on a stool at the counter. Elena walked to the cabinet and took out a bottle of merlot and a wine glass and then placed them before her clearly distraught aunt.

"Thanks, Elena. You are my favorite person in this moment."

"Don't worry, Jeremy has the tendency to drive everyone to drinking."

"I just... I don't know what I'm doing here Elena. I feel like I'm going to say or do the wrong thing and he'll become even worse." Jenna lamented. She looked to be on the verge of tears.

"Don't think like that Jenna. You're the only one who could get us through this, you're doing fine. Jer's just... he's just grieving in his own, unique self destructive way." Elena said with a sigh. "I'll try talking to him. Perhaps I can bribe him into good behavior."

"Bribe him with what?" Jenna asked.

"Nothing you should worry about. It might not work, but perhaps its a start." Elena said, sliding off her stool and heading up to Jeremy's room.

Taking a deep breath Elena knocked on Jeremy's door, mentally bracing herself for their conversation. Jeremy didn't respond so she slowly opened the door and peeked in. Her brother sat at his computer, headphones on, and staring at the screen.

"Hey..." she greeted softly. Jeremy lowered his headphones to rest around his neck and turned towards his sister. His jaw tightened and Elena could tell he was preparing himself for an argument.

"I told Mrs. Lockwood that I couldn't find the pocketwatch." she said. It was peace offering, one she hoped Jeremy would accept.

"Thanks" he said. His lips twitched and only desperately hoped it was him fighting a smile. "She believe you?"

"I don't think so. She's called me about five times already asking if I've found it yet. After the party it won't matter anymore. She's like a dog with a bone."

"Thanks, Lena...really. I just... it's Dads and..."

"I get it Jer, I do. I'm sorry too. I just keep thinking if I smile and act like everything's fine one day it will be." she said. "Jeremy can you do me a favor?"

"What?" he said. He seemed to have relaxed since she informed him she was there to take away the watch.

"Can you please start going to classes? I know they suck and seem pointless, but Jenna is the one having to get the phone calls. She already feels like she's screwing us up and having parent teacher conferences with jerks like aren't helping."

"I'll... I'll try to be better Elena. No promises though." he supplied.

"Just try Jer, that's all I ask."

The Founders Party was about as horrible as Elena imagined it would be. had begun making inquiries about the watch as soon as Elena entered the room. Remarks about broken promises and missing antiquities had been bandied about in conversation regularly. On top of that Caroline was lecturing Elena about her poor cheerleading performances. Caroline had benched her for the last few games, much to Elena's relief.

"Elena I get that you missed cheer camp this summer, but really you need to start focusing." Caroline was saying.

"Sure, Care, I'll work on it." Elena responded absently, her eyes wandering over the party. She was keeping an eye on Carol Lockwood in case the woman decided to grill her again about the pocketwatch. Thankfully Mrs. Lockwood had become distracted by both her son's choice of date, one Vicki Donovan, and by the mysterious Damon Salvatore.

Upon entering the party tonight, after Carol's interrogation, Elena had heard various whispers about Damon Salvatore . He'd apparently shown up at Salvatore boardinghouse the night before and somehow secured an invitation to the event. Elena had yet to see the man himself, but from the giggles of her peers he was apparently quite the looker. While Elena held some curiosity about the previously unknown Salvatore his lack of appearance saw to her interest soon waning. Jenna was making the rounds and Elena was patiently waiting for the appropriate amount of time to pass before she could skip out without seeming rude.

"So have you seen Damon Salvatore yet?" Caroline asked her. The blond had been hoping to catch a glimpse of this supposed eye candy since she'd entered the house. Caroline, bless her soul, was determined to find this alleged 'ridiculously hot' guy that is wandering around the Founder's Party. However, despite her best efforts Caroline had yet to see hide nor hair of Damon.

"Nope. I'm starting to think he doesn't exist." Elena said. Caroline looked disappointed, but after a few moments decided to go in search of the illusive Salvatore herself. Caroline is nothing if not determined.

'Hmmm... I didn't know I was interesting enough to rate becoming a Mystic Falls Urband Legend." A silky and decidedly masculine voice whispered in Elena's ear.