Disclaimer! I do not own the Vampire Diaries or its cast (sadly) Alex and her story, however, are mine. Please do not 'borrow' either of them!

Present

Alex

The cabin was cold and empty. It was never cold here, never. Always a fire burned in the grate. Always a warm embrace waited for me, accompanied by glass green eyes that stole my breath away. But neither awaited me as I stepped into the dark parlor. Shivering, I moved to light the fire.

"Alexandria." The voice was quiet, hard. Yet within it I could hear desire. My heart pounded as I turned to the door.

A small smile touched my lips. "Damon, I didn't think you would be here." Why wouldn't he? This place was ours.

He smiled, and all to suddenly my blood ran cold. "I came to see you Alexandria." At this my smile widened, but my heart pounded haphazardly in my chest. Some small part of me said this was wrong. Alarm spread like poison through my veins and his eyes widened, innocent and beguiling. "Why, Alexandria are you scared?" A chuckle left his lips. "Why? Are you hiding something from me dearest?" Damon stepped towards me, and hurriedly I took a step back, finding a wall in my way.

"N-no." I whispered. I wasn't hiding anything from him. I would never hide anything from him. Why would I?

"Really?" In a blur he was before me, arms caging me between his chest and the wall.

I gasped as his cold fingers clamped around my wrists. "How did y-'' I managed before he squeezed. A hiss of pain was tugged from lips as he snarled.

"You're lying." Damon growled. My heart was pounding now, so hard I could scarcely catch my breath.

"D-Damon stop!"

"Tell the truth Alex!" he snapped.

Alex?! He never called me Alex! I squirmed, trying to seek purchase, and suddenly found myself slammed into the wall. Stars sprouted in my eyes as I caught sight of bright red eyes and a flash of gleaming white. "D-Damon!"

"Too late…" he whispered, voice a caress, before pain bloomed at my throat.

"Jesus Christ!" I shot form the bed, covers flying and a hand at my throat. Quickly I scanned across the room as my breathing slowed. No one was standing over my bed; there wasn't so much as a sign of a vampire anywhere. It was a dream. Just a dream…quite possibly the worst dream ever. But it was not a memory. Somehow it felt more realistic than some of the flashbacks I've had before. Head aching, I pulled myself from the bed and located my cellphone. It was seven in the morning. How had I managed to sleep in that late? Did jet lag hit me late? Ugh, and I could use another hour or so of sleep. I didn't have anything important to do toda-

Damn.

Damon Salvatore was playing tour guide for me today. Goodie…My headache suddenly reached migraine proportions. Groaning, I hit the pillows and debated the sick card. Da would let me stay in bed, right?

Damon

"Are you sure this will work Bennett?" I sneered doubtfully from the front door. I had someplace to be in ten minutes, but I'd rather have a clarification on certain things before I left.

Bonnie was packing her things from the spell she had performed last night in the living room, looking unhappy about being around me as per usual. "It'll work Damon. At least, it will if she's this Alexandria chick you keep mumbling under your breath about."

"I do not mumble." Well not too often at least. But her answer was suitable enough. "Let's hope for the best then." I tossed over my shoulder, giving a small gesture of farewell before leaving the boarding house. At the moment, I wasn't entirely certain what the 'best' outcome of this could be.

The Conner place had been under lock and key since Stephan and I had returned to Mystic Falls. Never once had I even thought about taking a peek inside. Not until Alex had stopped by at a Founder's meeting… The speedometer jacked up a good ten miles per an hour at the thought of the redhead. I was praying, well no, not praying as I don't do that sort of thing…Alright so I was hoping that there was a logical explanation to this crap. But it made more sense in the world I lived in for magic to have a hand in this mess. Still, if this Alex was an innocent girl who looked like my ex, I'd be much happier. And as much as I hated to admit it, I would probably be a helluva lot safer too.

Glaring out the window, I pulled into the Conner's place and parked. Taking Alex out was the best way to keep an eye on her. Especially if she did have a past in Mystic Falls. A tour around town might trigger something, and I wouldn't be missing it. Stoic, I knocked on the door and placed my characteristic smirk on my lips as it opened. Glancing down, I was certainly glad that in this era, woman wore tank tops and tight jeans. Well, at least I was until I caught her glare. The animosity in it would do Katherine proud. But it was only there for a moment before she smiled and stepped outside.

Alex

Jesus. I heard the car pull into the drive just as I downed a good four aspirin and was putting my shoes on. I was actually hoping he had coffee with him. Much to my disappointment, when I opened the door, he was smirking without coffee. The moment I glanced at him the nightmare returned in full force and I couldn't stop myself from glaring at him with what hate I was able to muster without coffee in my system. And then I remembered that this century Alex didn't hate Damon. He was her tour guide, she was supposed to like Damon. I switched the flip and smiled, shutting the door behind me as I stepped onto the porch. "No coffee? You disappoint me."

Damon smirked. "We'll grab some on the way." I only smiled a little wider, the headache making the act more painful than usual.

"Let's get going then!" The sooner we started, the sooner I'd get the damn day over with.

Well, there's that chapter. Cannot wait to add in the full scale chaos in the next one! Anyone like the nightmare scene?! Drop me comments, ideas, or criticism any time!

Theme Songs:

"Eden Echo" – Kamelot