Disclaimer- I don't own the Vampire Diaries

A/N- Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! I'm so glad you're enjoying the story. Here is chapter Three… Happy Reading!

Chapter Three

Elena and Tyler sat down across from his mother at the table.

"Hello... um Tyler... you look better" His mother smiled.

"My friend helped with that... I kinda thought I lost her" Tyler squeezed Elena's hand that rested in his.

"So what's your name dear?" Mrs. Lockwood asked.

"Oh… Um... My name is Katie" Elena bit her lip knowing better than to say her real name.

"Nice to meet you... Are you a good friend of Tyler's?" She asked.

"I'd like to say so" Elena responded.

"She's my girlfriend mom" Tyler smiled and looked over at Elena who nodded.

"Your girlfriend? You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend... but that's alright... I'm Tyler's mother... you can call me Carol" She smiled.

"Very nice to meet you Mrs- I mean Carol" Elena gave her another smile. "Well enjoy breakfast you two... I have a meeting... I'll be back before dinner" She smiled and hugged Elena and Tyler in turn.

"Tyler?"

"Yeah mom?"

"Don't do anything stupid" His mother warned before walking through the house to the front yard.

"Are you a troublemaker Tyler?" Elena asked falsely shocked.

"Yes Katie... I think I am" He laughed teasing her about the name she picked.

"Hey! I was thinking as fast as I could!" Elena laughed.

Tyler laughed too, "Well Katie I bet you can't do anything about it." Tyler stood up, challenging her.

"Really? Well I think I could" Elena stepped closer to him, her lips inches from hers. Tyler leaned forward close the distance but Elena turned and ran down the stairs and into the yard.

"Gotta catch me first" Elena smirked as Tyler chased her down the steps. He wrapped his arms around her as he tackled her to the ground.

"Gotcha" He smirked and kissed her softly.

"What's going on here?!" A voice asked that certainly didn't belong to his mother.

When they turned, they were both surprised to see Caroline and Mystic's Bonnie staring down at them, with Fells Church' Stefan and Damon close behind.

"Elena?" The Salvatore Brother's gasped at the same time, pushing past the girls to get to her.

They didn't even give her a chance to explain, she was simply picked up and was trapped in a huge bear hug by the two of them.

"I'm happy to see you too." She laughed, hugging them both back.

"oh Bonnie and Mere' will be so happy when they find out you're back!" cried Stefan, pulling away and grabbing her wrist.

Elena only got to glance back at Tyler with an apologetic smile as they dragged her away.

"Come on, Ty." Caroline punched his arm playfully and tilted her head toward the three figures that were slowly becoming smaller and smaller.

"right." Tyler grinned back for the first time in weeks.

"You actually smiled." Bonnie mused, chuckling.

"Well, it can't get any better than this, huh?"

XXX

"OH MY GOD! ELENA!" Bonnie and Meredith ran and hugged their friend.

"I missed you guys so much" Elena hugged them back with tears in her eyes.

"Oh gosh! I can't believe it! It worked! Our spell worked! You're here!" Bonnie laughed hugging her again.

"Tyler! Why didn't you tell us she was back!?" Meredith asked, only slightly angry.

The others turned to him for an answer, "Sorry guys... kinda wanted a little alone time with my girlfriend... and she came to me" Tyler smiled.

"Your girlfriend?" Fells' Stefan asked confused.

"Yeah... I think so" Tyler looked at Elena to back him up.

"Yes" She smiled over at him.

"Oh... okay... well why don't we do something together?" Fells' Stefan forced a smile.

"That's a great idea" Caroline smiled, "Like a 'Welcome back from the dead' Kinda thing" She added.

Tyler smiled and took Elena's hand in his as they all sat around the living room catching up with each other. No one noticed the fake smile, or far off expression on Fells' Stefan's face.

Finally, after some hours of cooking and setting everything up, everyone was sitting around the table, which had been adorned with cloths wrapped in bows. In front of them were dishes and dishes of food. One of them held a roasted Turkey, of which Caroline had joked about, saying "It isn't Thanksgiving yet." Others held ravioli and spaghetti, some simply had pizza. One very special dish was pushed to the side. It was filled with full bottles of fresh blood for the vampires.

"Look at us." Said Tyler as the girls handed out plates of food and drinks, "Sitting here like one big family."

Everyone laughed and the girls finally joined them, Elena taking a seat beside Tyler. She squeezed his hand and said, "I agree. Who would have that that we would go from trying to kill each other to this, huh?"

"Yes, that." Caroline nodded with a giggle, looking at their locked hands.

"Well I see I'm not the only one to make it official." Elena grinned, winking at Caroline, who was almost sitting on Matt's lap.

"Not the only one." Elena repeated, glancing towards Bonnie and Damon with a smile.

The red-head smiled back shyly and said, "'Lena, I was going to tell you later."

"Sure you were." Elena laughed, "I'm happy for you. All of you."

XXX

Later that night they were all laying around the living room together when Tyler stood up, "My mom wants me home... I have to go... Elena... she said you could stay with us in the guest room if you'd like" Tyler smiled.

Elena stood up brushing her blonde bangs from her eyes, "Yeah... that sounds great" Elena smiled, "Is that alright with you guys?" She looked over at Bonnie and Meredith.

"Yeah" They laughed.

Elena took Tyler's hand and let him lead her to the door. Once in the car Elena's phone, which Fells' Damon had kept and now given back, vibrated saying she'd gotten a text.

She pulled it out and was surprised to see Her Stefan's name on the screen.

"I need to talk to you" it said.

Elena's fingers flew over the keys: "When".

His reply came a moment later: "Breakfast... Tomorrow?"

Elena hesitated before replying: "Pick me up at 8".

"K" She slipped her phone back into her pocket and put her hand back in Tyler's.