A/N: Sorry for the longer wait, but we've had problems like computer viruses and revision…only two more weeks of exams! Hope you all enjoy the chapter and a huge thank you to everyone who reviewed! Response to this story has been amazing!

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1864
Elena POV

I was awakened the next morning by light streaming through the windows – I'd forgotten to shut the curtains. I could hear birds singing cheerily, and for a second thought I was at home, and would have to get up and go to school. Then I rolled onto my back, saw the canopy above the bed and remembered. I was in 1864.

I lay there, contemplating my next move. Katherine obviously did not like me, but as she was clearly curious about my looks and where I'd come from, it was unlikely she'd hurt me. I wasn't particularly scared of her – my anger at what she was doing to the Salvatore brothers was fuelling my courage. It had felt good to stand up to her last night, even in a small way.

Remembering this, I sat up in bed. No way was I going to hide out in my room until someone came to get me. I wanted Katherine to know I wasn't afraid of her.

As I sat up, I noticed a piece of paper lying on the dresser on the other side of the room. Curious, I climbed out of bed and began making my way over to it, but paused halfway there. Sitting on a tree branch directly outside the window, watching me with its beady amber eyes, sat a blackbird. I shivered as I caught sight of the familiar splotch of red under its wing.

I knew it was irrational to think I was being stalked by a bird. There were probably lots of blackbirds around here, and they probably all had the same red wings. Still, I couldn't help feeling the bird was the same one from the forest when I'd arrived – and that it was watching me.

Trying my hardest to ignore it – I was, after all, attempting to at least act unafraid – I read the note on the dresser. It was written in beautiful, swirling calligraphy.

Elena,

Katherine told Stefan and his father that you're her cousin from Chicago and you've come to stay for a while as you wanted to see where your cousin lived after reading her letters. Damon knows the truth, but he won't tell anyone. Please stick to this story for the time being, and I will need to speak with you later. There are clothes in the dresser for you – I will come and help you dress in the morning.

Emily.

Interesting. So Damon was allowed to know the truth, was he? And Stefan and his father might believe I was Katherine's cousin now, but would they continue to believe this when they saw me? Another question had occurred to me. Why didn't the 2010 and versions of Stefan and Damon remember me? I was sure, if they remembered any of this, they would have recognised me in 2010, especially as they'd both seen me in my modern clothes.

Head buzzing with questions, I opened the drawer to find the clothes Emily had brought out last night, as well as a few other dresses. Apparently Katherine, although she hated me, was going to provide for me well and treat me as a real guest of the house until she found out the truth. This might be the Salvatore's house, but I knew who was really in charge here.

The thought of waiting for Emily to come was extremely enticing, as then I wouldn't have to face the house alone, but I was feeling too full of restless nerves to stay in the room for long, and I wanted to get out and get a feel for my surroundings so I could work out what to do. I also felt a slight horror at expecting someone to help me dress. I was from 2010. Surely I could manage it on my own.

I pulled out the dress on top of the pile of the clothes, and then stopped short in horror. Underneath it was something that looked very much like a corset. Oh no. Surprisingly, the thought of having to wear the thing disturbed me more than anything else I was dealing with, including my possibly homicidal vampire doppelganger.

Ten minutes later, standing with my back to the full length mirror in the room, attempting to tie the corset strings, I was wishing I had waited for Emily. The stupid thing was impossible to put on myself, and breathing in to be able to tie it was painful. One more attempt, I decided, and then I'd just give up. I'd have to accept help.

Taking my biggest breath yet, I filled my lungs and yanked as hard as I could. The corset tightened so much that I couldn't stifle a cry of pain as it crushed my lungs. Suddenly dizzy, I sank to the floor, breathing deeply, trying to clear my head.

'Miss Pierce?' I heard a familiar male voice from outside my door.

'I'm fine,' I called, but it was too late.

The door opened to reveal Damon, looking concerned. His look of worry deepened when he saw me on the floor.

'Are you alright?' he asked, rushing over and helping me to my feet. When he caught sight of me in only the shift that went under the dress, the corset hanging loosely on my chest, he blushed a deep red and took a step back.

'I'm sorry to intrude like this,' he said, stammering slightly. 'I thought you'd hurt yourself.'

'It's fine,' I said, attempting to smile reassuringly. 'I decided to try and dress myself, but it didn't work out.'

Now that he saw I wasn't angry, he appeared to be trying not to laugh, and looked much more like the Damon I knew.

'Do you know where Emily is?' I asked. 'She promised to help me get dressed.'

'I think she just went into Katherine's room, so she'll probably be a while.' Damon replied. To my complete embarrassment, as soon as he finished speaking, my stomach gave a huge growl, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since lunch the day before. Or lunch 145 years in the future. Whatever.

'Sounds like you can't wait,' Damon flashed the cocky smile I knew so well, and for some reason, I felt a tingle in my stomach at the sight of it. I put it down to the relief of seeing something familiar.

I sighed. 'I suppose I'll have to, if Emily isn't available to help me.'

Damon cleared his throat. 'I suppose I could help you, if you're really desperate,' he said.

Dimly, I registered that by the standards of 1864, this would be considered hugely inappropriate. However, I was starving, and didn't really want to wait.

'That would be great,' I said, with another smile, and turned around.

Gently, Damon took the corset strings. 'Take a deep breath,' he commanded, and I obeyed, filling my lungs with air.

As he carefully laced the corset up, his hands brushed my back. I felt my skin break out in goosebumps wherever he touched me, and shook myself internally. What was wrong with me?

When he was finished, he took my shoulders, gently swivelling me around. For a second, we stared into each other eyes, then he cleared his throat again and took a step back, reaching for the dress I'd left on the bed. Wordlessly, he held it out for me to step into, then moved behind me to do up the back.

Again, I could feel his hands on me, this time through the material of the corset, and had to repress the small shivers that rushed through my body. I had no idea why Damon was affecting me this way.

I thanked him for helping me, and he again flashed his confident smile.

'It was my pleasure, Miss Pierce,' he said, sweeping into a sort of half bow. 'I'll wait outside until you're ready, and then show you the way to breakfast.'

'Thank you, D-Mr Salvatore,' I said, catching myself just in time. 'And, please, call me Elena.'

'Only if you call me Damon,' he grinned, and left the room without another word.

Not wanting to keep him waiting, I grabbed the brush lying on the dresser and quickly ran it through my hair, then joined him outside.

We'd only gone a few steps when Emily came down the corridor towards us. 'Elena!' she said, sounding surprised. 'I thought you'd need help getting ready!'

'I had help,' I said, smiling shyly at Damon. He grinned jauntily back and took my arm, looking at Emily.

'Don't worry Emily, I'll take care of Elena here, and I won't tell my father or brother her secret,' he said with a wink.

Emily looked faintly disapproving, but before she could say anything I asked 'Where is Katherine?'

It had occurred to me, that, despite my new plan to show her how unafraid I was, her reaction if she found out that Damon had helped me dress would probably not be pretty.

'She is….visiting with the other Mr Salvatore,' said Emily delicately, indicating a door further up the corridor. I thought I saw a hint of sadness flash in Damon's eyes, but it was gone in a second.

'Your father has gone to a Town Council meeting,' Emily added to Damon before turning to me. 'The elder Mr Salvatore said to apologise to you for not being able to see you this morning, but would like you to know you are very welcome in this household.'

I nodded, not really sure what to say to that. Damon tugged on my arm.

'Let's get you some breakfast,' he said, casting a dark look at the door Emily had indicated as we walked past it.

Downstairs, there was breakfast already laid out in a dining room that was fancier than any I'd ever seen in 2010. Damon chivalrously pulled my chair out for me before sitting down beside me.

'Help yourself to food,' he said, a knowing look in his eye.

Starving, I piled some eggs onto my plate and started eating. While we ate, I decided to just take the plunge. It might be better in the long run if I knew exactly what was going on around here, and exactly how much everyone knew about it.

'So Katherine is…visiting your brother?' I asked Damon bluntly. 'Last night, I got the impression that you and her were...?' I trailed off.

Damon looked uncomfortable. 'We are,' he admitted slowly. 'But she's…with my brother as well.'

'How can you let that happen?' I asked. It was something I'd always wondered, but the right moment to ask had never come along in 2010. Damon just looked at me, the sadness back in his eyes. Instinctively, I laid my hand on his arm as we looked into each others eyes.

At that moment, we heard footsteps on the stairs, and I hurriedly removed it again. Katherine and Stefan, both looking incredibly cheerful, came into the room.

Instinctively, I broke eye contact with Damon, focusing on my food. I felt that once again, I'd let him get to me. In a way he never had in 2010.

'Miss Pierce,' Stefan said politely as he sat down next to me. 'I just wanted to apologise for last night. You do look extraordinarily like your cousin…and I thought…'

Caught off guard by what had happened with Damon, I dismissed this by muttering something along the lines of 'don't worry, it's fine.'

I had just shifted my attention back to breakfast when Katherine said sweetly 'Elena, I was just wondering if I could have a word with you in the hall.'

I met her brown eyes, so like my own, straight on, and then stood up.

'Of course, cousin,' I said, careful to match her poisonously sweet tone.

Outside the room, Katherine didn't waste any time. She grasped my arm tightly, holding me in front of her.

'How did you get here?' she asked, looking straight into my eyes, her voice low and persuasive. Her pupils appeared to dilate, then shrink again. Vampire compulsion. I could recognise it, although I wasn't taken in by it.

'You already know,' I said, sounding much more confident than I felt. 'The watch…'

She shook me slightly. 'What do you want? Tell me the truth!'

I met her gaze, not breaking eye contact. 'I've told you. I want to get home.'

She gave a cry of frustration and headed straight back into the dining room, leaving me standing in the hall, gripping the necklace, hidden beneath the neckline of my dress, that had saved me. I was sure that Katherine knew I hadn't been taken in. Knew that I had Vervain on my person. Which meant that she would work out I knew about her powers.

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