Rachel had been super happy when her father told her about her new weekend plans and she quickly packed a bag.

She knew she was going to New York for a surprise but she didn't know what it was. Since she was going alone, she figured she would meet someone there, like maybe Puck or even Kurt, she wasn't sure, she could only guess.

She was taking a plane Friday morning on her own for the first time and meeting her surprise in New York. She couldn't wait and when she finally landed, she looked up to find herself face to face with a smiling Sage.

"Oh my god Sage!" Rachel exclaimed as she ran into the tall woman's arms.

"Rachel sweetheart… You should have called me… You know I would have come for you… We'll have so much fun this weekend, I have it all planed." Sage said as she pulled Rachel to the exit and her car.

Sage drove to the apartment she was renting and after Rachel settle down, they went to eat something, then shopping, then they ate again before they changed and went to see a Broadway musical.

When she went to bed that night, Rachel felt happier. Being near Sage always did that to her… Sage wasn't her aunt biologically…She wasn't family if you listened to blood and genes but in Rachel's heart, she was the substitute of the mother she never had.

"I love you Rachel…You'll always be one of my priorities." Sage told her after Rachel went to bed.

"I don't want to take you away from Finn." Rachel replied silently.

"You're not honey…I will be reunited with him some day… But he's not here right now. You are. And right now your well being is my priority. I love you Rachel… I don't want you to feel like you have to stay away from me…" Sage said, caressing her hair like a mother would her child.

"I love you too Sage… I've missed you so much…"

"Don't worry, I won't stay away so long anymore… I've missed you too… Over 900 years on my own, caring about only finding Finnik and now I can't bring myself to stay away from you for more than a few month… I grew to love you so much…" Sage looked down to see that Rachel was sleeping.

"You're the mother I always wanted Sage…Love you." Rachel muttered in her sleep.

"And you're the daughter I never had honey… I love you too." Sage said, kissing Rachel's forehead before she decided to lay next to her on the bed.

The next morning, after they hate some breakfast, they went for a tour of the town, ate lunch in a very fancy restaurant owned by a vampire friend of Sage, visited a few witches who, super happy and proud to meet Rachel, gave her a couple of books she could read before she came to her power to help her get ready along with their phone number should she need anything.

At some point, Sage started looking around.

"What's going on Aunt Sage?" Rachel asked her in a concerned voice.

"I don't know... I feel...I can sense Klaus around."

"Finnik's brother? He's here? Where?" Rachel asked exitedly as she started to look around.

"I don't know, I can't see him..." Sage replied.

"Maybe we should call out to him?"

"No!We're going to be late to the new Broadway play I got us tickets to." Sage replied, dragging Rachel away.

As much as she would have loved to confront Klaus, she didn't want to put Rachel to risk, she loved her too much for that.

After that, they went to an afternoon showing of another Broadway play, got some dinner and then went to another play before they went home and got some sleep.

"That's so cool. Three great musicals in two days and so much new things… It was a great weekend." Rachel said the next morning when they were making their way to the airport.

"Yes, I was great. I'll come and visit soon honey, I promise." Sage told her.

Klaus has been in New York, looking for a powerful coven of witches that might have the power to break his curse without needing the doppelganger. He was about to go and see them when he saw Sage, Finnik's old Love, walking out of the witches' house with a girl.

He didn't pay attention to the mass of brown hair that had her back on him and kept his eyes on Sage. He held a breath and hid behind the corner of the street as he kept on spying. Apparently Sage loved the girl as family and the two of them were going to see some shows on Broadway.

He listened to them talk and wondered why the young girl didn't look as scared as Sage did. Sage obviously wanted to protect her from him but why did she look almost happy at the idea of him being around?

He shook his head. He didn't have time for this. he couldn't let Sage catch him, even if she couldn't hurt him, she could still do some damages and finf a way to free Finik. Klaus couldn't have one more of his brother trying to stop his plans.

He turned around and decided to leave town for a while. If Sage was here, it meant she was on his trail and he couldn't have that. He would come back in New York later to see those witches...

If he had to choose between breaking his curse and keeping his family safe from Mickeal and Esther's attempts, he chose to keep them safe. Maybe it wasn't the best way to do it but it was the only one he knew.

Rachel got home feeling much better and proudly showed her father her new clothes and told him what happened with the witches. He was just happy that she had a good time. Rachel was now ready to do her best in the elections.

"So, do you need to go shopping for a dress?" Caroline asked her at lunch right after Elena apologised quickly for her behaviour.

"No, my aunt Sage took me shopping this weekend in New York. I have a couple of selection… I'll decide which one I'll wear later." She replied.

"What colour do you have?" Elena asked Rachel, trying to show Stefan that she could play nice.

"I have a red one and the other one is salmon. They are both really cute… I guess I'll choose later.' Rachel replied.

Stefan was sitting with Jeremy and Matt, giving the girls a little time. He was glad that Elena decided to play nicer with Rachel. He had had a long heart to heart with his girlfriend and he listened as she apologised earlier. He knew they wouldn't be best friends soon but they would at least be friendly to each other.

When the day of the election of Miss Mystic Fall's finally arrived, Rachel had decided on a very pretty red dress. Caroline had a green one and Elena had a blue one. She was, along with the other contestant, ready and waiting on top of the stairs for her name to be called. Caroline was first to be called and walk down to be greeted by Matt, then came a couple of other girls, then Elena went to join Stefan and then Rachel was called. She was the last one and smiled when she saw Jeremy proudly waiting for her.

They followed the others and did the traditional dance to perfection. They did everything they were supposed to and every time Rachel turned to look at her father, she saw him looking happily at her with Liz by his side. He had his cell phone on Visio so Sage could watch what was going on. Rachel gave them her brightest beaming smile and followed the other girls on stage.

Mayor Lockwood came back in front of everyone with an envelope in his hands.

"The time you've all been waiting for is finally here. Our judges have deliberated a while and have reached a decision. Your new miss Mystic Fall's is… the beautiful and talented young Rachel Salvatore! Caroline Forbes is second and Elena Gilbert third. Congratulations girls!" He said as the previous Miss Mystic Fall's put the crown on Rachel's head and the mayor gave her some sort of sceptre and put the scarf on her.

"I'm so happy for you Rachel!"

"Congratulation Rachel!"

"You were the best at this Rachel!"

Words of encouragement came from all around her and she only had eyes for her father who was still holding the phone with Sage. Rachel ran to Damon and hugged him close, listening to Sage congratulating her too.

"I'm proud of you baby. You deserved it." Damon said.

"I just hope Elena isn't too pissed at me… She was just starting to be nicer…" Rachel replied.

"Don't worry about this… Now, why don't you go back on stage and sing us something? Carole and Liz asked me if I could get you to sing something for them." Damon told her.

She nodded and went on stage, talked to the orchestra and after thanking everyone, she announced that to thank them she was going to sing one of her favorite Barbara songs, BEING GOOD ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH.

The music started and everyone turned to her.

She sang it perfectly and got a standing ovation when she was done.

When she got to bed that night, she had a bright smile on her face. She was Miss Mystic Fall's and she had gotten a standing ovation on top of it all.

I hope you liked it... I added the Klaus bit last minute for those of you who couldn't wait for him to come in the stroy... It's not much but it's all I can give you right now.

Next chapter, it's time for Isobel to come and it will give Rachel and Elena an occasion to play nice. With Isobel comes...JOHN! I played him a little differently than in the TV show... He will want more...

Thank you for all the reviews, keep it coming.

REVIEW please!

Lorelei Candice Black