A/N - Just a quick note to say thanks to all the followers and everyone who left reviews. Please keep them coming! And also thanks to Klovec again for being my beta! I recommend you all go read her fics, they're so much better than this!

Chapter 2

She awoke the following morning, stretching out across the bed to reach for him. His side was cold and empty. Grabbing her robe from the foot of the bed, she wandered downstairs to find him reading the morning paper with a coffee in his hand.

"Good morning. Why did you let me sleep late?" she asked as she walked to the counter to pour herself a fresh cup of coffee.

"Morning, Love. You looked peaceful, thought you would appreciate the lie in." He didn't bother to look up as he spoke, not that unusual; he often became engrossed in the news.

With a quick kiss on the cheek, she took the seat next to him at their dining table, "Wasn't that great of a sleep actually."

He folded the newspaper and put it down, "Same dream again?"

"Maybe. I don't know. I can never remember the details. I just know we're both there and something is very wrong. Like we're not human or something. Crazy, right?"

"It's probably just stress. Once your interview is out of the way, and you get the promotion you deserve, things will go back to normal. You'll see. And if it's really bothering you, speak to Bonnie. Didn't she study that kind of thing at college? Dreams, etc?"

He was probably right. It was one of first things she had learned about him, he was always right. Not even in an ignorant way, which she assumed when she first met him, but in a logic way. There were times when she hated it but right now it calmed her. She most likely was just stressing unnecessarily.

"I've got to slip out for a bit. Left some papers in the office. I'll see you soon" he kissed the top of her head before heading out the kitchen.

"See you later." She called but the front door had already clicked shut.

She finished her coffee and gathered the other cup and plates that cluttered the table, dumping them in the dishwasher; she was feeling lazy. She knew she should probably spend some time prepping for her interview. It was only two days away. For just over a year she had been a research assistant at her local newspaper and while she loved it, she wanted more. Then the position for a reporter had opened up and she jumped at the chance. She knew she could do it; she just had to be able to prove it.

Thirty minutes and one text message to her best friend later, she was showered, changed and sat crossed legged on the sofa with an array of papers around her. Various past interviews, different types of articles, many she had helped work on herself that was she trying to sort into a decent portfolio. There was only so much preparation she could do but she still felt unprepared. It was nerves, it had to be. She hoped to walk into the interview with a smile on her face, radiating confidence and the nerves and the dreams would disappear.

-x-x-

She stared at the ceiling, trying desperately to remember her dream. She had been waking up with smile every day for the past few weeks. At first it hadn't bothered her, who hates good dreams right? She had just assumed that it was about Tyler. That they were together and they were happy. But now she wasn't so sure. She remembered tiny flashes from last night's. A quick hand touch, a gentle kiss, his face. Klaus. Of all the people she had to dream of, why him? How on earth could that possibly make her happy? So when the dream, even though she wasn't sure it was the same one each night, happened again, she refused to get out of bed until she remembered more of it.

It was fruitless; all that came to her mind was his happy smiling face.

In frustration, she turned over onto her side and reached across to her bedside table for a cell phone. She doubled tapped Bonnie's picture on her home screen and waited for the phone to start ringing. She sighed, voicemail again.

"The person you are calling is currently unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone."

"Hey Bon. I hope things are going well with your Mom. I've really missed talking to you this summer. Your voicemail is now my new best friend! Come home soon please. There's only so much more Damon being in love that I can take before I stake him," She paused, did she really want to discuss her crazy-ass dreams over voicemail? Fuck it, what did she have to lose, Bonnie probably already thought she was crazy after listening to the umpteenth message she had left this summer anyway. "I'm having these really weird dreams. I don't really remember everything but I have the distinct feeling I'm human. And Klaus is there. I know, mental! Anyway, need your witchy powers to interpret them. Call me."

She had left countless messages for her friend during the break but she hadn't received a single returned call or text. If she was honest, she was a little hurt. Granted she was probably having some major family bonding time but did it really take that long to send a text message? Perhaps it was just jealousy; everyone was off doing something while she decided to stay home.

She was just thinking of calling Elena when her phone beeped. Text message. From Elena.

"Huh? Maybe it's a vamp thing," she whispered to herself as she opened the message.

Hey Care. Can you swing by when you get chance? E x

Finally, some girl time! As she climbed out of bed and wandered to the bathroom, she wondered how her friend had managed to separate herself from her new vampire boyfriend. Least she has one, she thought as she turned on the shower. Ugh, jealous much?

"I got Bonnie's voicemail again. Left another message." she called out as she walked into the Salvatore's den.

She had gotten ready as fast as she could, but slow enough that she didn't look desperate for company. Frankly, she was getting lonely but she didn't want to admit it. The two of them hadn't hung out in a couple of weeks and with college fast approaching, it was time to prep. This was the perfect opportunity to plan everything. They were just missing Bonnie. Yet she was looking forward to this, she had missed her and needed some girl time. As soon as she walked in her mood changed though. The atmosphere in the room hit her, dragging her down.

"Guys... What's happened?" Damon was nursing a scotch in the corner of the room while the two Gilberts sat opposite each other on the sofas. Neither looked happy. Elena kept her head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone but she was sure she saw tears.

Gingerly, as if the ground was going to swallow her whole, she walked to the sofas, taking a seat next to her best friend. Still no one had spoken and it was beginning to freak her out. "Ok, what's going on?"

Jeremy looked up at her, tears definitely evident in his eyes, "Caroline... There's something you need to know..." He was stumbling over his words. Not sure how to get them out, what order they needed to come in.

That was when Damon cut in. "Bonnie's dead."

"Damon!" Elena's head shot up; tears had ruined her makeup. Before she could say anything else, emotion took over and she fled from the room. Jeremy trailed after her, muttering "jerk" under his breath.

She didn't know where to look. Did she follow her friend? She couldn't even comprehend what Damon had just said. It didn't register. He quickly swallowed the last bit of scotch before pouring two more, one of which he sat in front of her as he took the seat opposite.

"When the veil was up, she basically traded her life for Jeremy's so Elena could have her little brother back." He explained as he watched her carefully.

"When the veil was up? At graduation? But Bonnie was there. We graduated together; we discussed our plans for college." Damon nodded as she rambled.

"She asked him not to say anything. The whole 'spending summer with Mom' was a cover."

She was numbed. How could her friend do this to her?

"I'm sorry I told you like I did. I know I've done wrong by you in the past but I do consider you a friend and I thought you deserved the truth quickly and bluntly." He was trying to be sincere, she could tell. It didn't come naturally to him so it touched her that he was trying.

She gulped down the scotch in front of her, her hand shaking the entire time she held the glass. She didn't know what to say.

"Let me drive you home." He took the glass from her, setting it back on the table before taking her gently by the elbow and leading her to his car.

She knew he had watched her until she had closed her front door, she heard his car drive away as fast as possible. He was most likely in a hurry to get back to Elena, to play the comforting boyfriend. If she was honest, he did play the role well; he so obviously cared for her.

The house was quiet; her mom wouldn't be home for a couple of hours. She thought about making herself something to eat but after spending a good ten minutes just staring at the contents of the fridge, she decided she just wasn't hungry. Instead she turned around, went to her room, lay on her bed and willed herself to go to sleep, that this was all just a bad dream that she needed to wake up from.

–x-x-

Something wasn't right. Had she been dreaming again? She was woken by a strange sensation. Like someone was licking her face. She opened one eye slightly, unsure of what she may find. Two giant brown eyes stared back at her. Looking up at her, two paws resting on the sofa was a little golden puppy. She pushed herself up so she was sitting up and the little thing jumped up next her, making instantly forget the bad feeling she had woken with.

He was perched on the coffee table watching her, "Surprise."

"What's this?" He gave her a look. "I mean, I know what it is. But why?"

"Well we've discussed getting a dog before and I know a guy whose dog just had puppies so it seemed like the perfect time." The little bundle of fur flopped down on the sofa, clearly exhausted from the excitement. "Should I not have?"

"Of course, you should have. I love him!" She scooped him up and sat him on her lap, "It's just a surprise, that's all. What's his name?"

"Whatever you want but for the past couple of days I've been referring to him as Buddy."

The pup's ears instinctively pricked up.

She smiled, "I guess he's Buddy then." The little pup began gently knowing at her finger. "I texted Bonnie. Asked her about dreams and stress. She agreed, probably just me being worried about the interview."

He pulled himself up on to the sofa next to her, draping an arm around her and pulling her close, "See, what did I say? Nothing to worry about. Now how about I get this little boy settled in in the kitchen and I meet you upstairs."

He winked at her. It always had a way of making her feel ridiculously girly. She nodded, passed him Buddy and made her way to their room to wait for him.