A/N: Welcome back for another chapter update. If you are reading this, it means that you are enjoying this story so far; regardless of the fact that sometimes I am late with the updates. I really appreciate it :)

If you haven't previously reviewed, please do so. But no flames will be accepted.

I don't own The Vampire Diaries. All characters are owned by author L.J. Smith, with the exception of my OC Grace.

She belongs to me.

Enjoy xx

HERE'S TO NEVER GROWING UP

"Maybe life isn't about avoiding the bruises. Maybe it's about collecting the scars to prove we showed up for it."
~Unknown.

True to form, Rebekah proved once again that the Mikaelsons had gotten used to the finer things in life over the thousand years we had been apart, by her reaction to where I lived.

"Please tell me that you are joking, Grace." Rebekah pleaded as I parked the car and got out, and she reluctantly followed eying the apartment block with distaste. "This cannot seriously be where you live." She said, with disgust. I giggled, earning a perplexed look from her. "What's so funny?" Rebekah asked, as I popped open the trunk and started pulling out her shopping bags.

"Nothing. Just your reaction to where I live. Which by the way is all I can afford on a student's pension until I graduate this year." I replied, removing one more bag and closing the trunk. "Plus, your reaction is similar to Elijah's when he first brought me home after a disastrous night battling werewolves." I added, sheepishly. Rebekah sniffed.

"We'll I'm sure you could've chosen somewhere a little more decent." She insisted. I rolled my eyes as we crossed the vestibule and upstairs to the second level.

"That's because you haven't seen the inside of my apartment yet, Bekah. Don't judge just yet." I urged, and stopped in front of my apartment door; shoving the house key home.

"Fine then. Impress me." Rebekah orders. With a smirk, I push open the front door and breeze on in, leaving Rebekah to collide with the mystical barrier blocking the doorway. "You need to invite me in." Rebekah reminded me.

"Yes, sorry. Please come in Bekah." I rattled off distractedly as I opened my curtains and windows to air out my slightly stuffy apartment. Then I turned towards her to see her reaction now. "Well, thoughts?" I asked, amused.

"A vast improvement from the outside." She admitted. I sighed and shook my head.

"Also similar to what Elijah said." I told her, then jumped when Henrik appeared from out of nowhere, looking annoyed. "Hey Henrik!" I greeted him out loud, drawing Rebekah's attention.

"He's here?" She asked, alert and glancing about despite the fact that she couldn't see him.

"Yeah. He's my invisible roommate. He has no choice, it's like we're permanently valcroed to each other since my birth almost 22-years-ago." I explained, darting into my bedroom. Rebekah nodded like she understood what I was telling her and continued wondering around her new lodgings, picking up and inspecting my stuff. That was when she zeroed in on the canvas paintings I had dotted all around the room.

"You're a painter like Niklaus too?" She blurted out, sounding astonished.

I nodded. "Yeah. Don't tell me you've forgotten me telling you back at the warehouse in Chicago?" I stated, exasperatedly. Rebekah flashed me a look.

"Of course not, silly. I just haven't seen any of your work yet." She explained. I nodded, conceding to what she said, and watched as Rebekah immediately stopped at the large Mikaelson Family portrait (minus Henrik) that I had painted months ago. "Why are our faces blank except for Elijah's?" She asked, curiously. I was impressed that she seemed to pick up almost immediately that this was a portrait of our family.

"Because when I originally drew this as a sketch; I didn't completely remember any of you." I explained, and Rebekah looked saddened by this. "However, when I was reunited with Elijah, all memories of him came flooding back and it occurred to me that this would happen with every member of our family I reunite with and decided to fill in each face as I remember them." I told her. "So, once I reunite with Kol and Finn, all my memories from a thousand years ago should be restored." I concluded.

Rebekah grinned. "I look forward to when that day arrives." She chirped. "So where's my room?" She repeated the question from back at the Boarding House. I smiled and led Rebekah to the spare room, where I had stashed the bed this apartment had come with as well as the guest chest of drawers and bedside table. "This will do. Thank you." She said, a little snottily. I rolled my eyes.

"I'll leave you to unpack." I said, and walked from Rebekah's bedroom to give her privacy. However, the very second I did this, there was a knock at the door. Frowning, I answered it. It was Stefan, looking freshly showered and ready for school … which started hours ago. Hmmm… "What can I do for you, Stefan? Your bodyguard services are not required today." I informed him. He scowled at me.

"Very funny. I'm here to escort you to the High School with me." He informed me. I blinked at him with confusion.

"Pardon?" I asked.

Stefan smirked and then overenunciated what he said to me. "I'm. Here. To. Escort. You. To. The. High. School. With. Me." He said. Rebekah immerged from her room, scowling at Stefan with unamusement.

"She heard what you said, Stefan. Don't be an arse and just answer her question." She demanded. Stefan rolled his eyes.

"You're coming with me to the High School so I can keep a better eye on both you and Elena." He explained. I frowned at him.

"I'll pass. I've already been through High School once; don't wish to do it again. Besides, I'm perfectly safe here in my apartment and I promise not to do anything stupid." I insisted.

"Sorry, Klaus' rules. Not mine, let's go." He ordered. I was about to continue protesting when I realised that Rebekah had changed clothes for some reason and was also preparing to leave too.

"Where are you going, Bekah?" I asked, confused.

"I'm going to experience High School for myself." She explained. "It's about time I enjoyed a somewhat normal life for once. That and I promised Nik that I would keep an eye on his first ever Hybrid. It would make it so much better if you were there too." She added, smiling pleadingly. I was shocked that she was siding with Stefan. But seeing as I apparently had no other choice in the matter, I gave in.

"Fine. Give me two minutes to get changed out of yesterday's clothes and we'll be on our way." I promised, begrudgingly. Stefan nodded, and went to lean on the banister outside my apartment, while Rebekah perched casually on one of my bar stools. After getting changed, I quickly stuffed one of my novels in my purse and my sketchbook, so I wouldn't be bored stupid sitting in Stefan's classes.

I just hope that this isn't going to be forever.

MYSTIC FALLS HIGH SCHOOL
SCHOOL CORRIDOR
DAY

Take a freaking picture, it will last longer… I couldn't help but bitch as I strode behind Stefan down a corridor where he was intending on going, and being gawked at by hormonal teenage boys and curious teenage girls. It wasn't like I had much of a choice, but I sincerely hoped that Alaric would understand and just go along with this. He was a nice guy, and I didn't want him to be unnecessarily hurt because Stefan had to be a little compelled brown-noser with my boyfriend. I still think that I was safer staying at my own apartment, but Stefan apparently needed to have his own way. Hence my presence at this school.

Rebekah broke off from us, temporarily, to register herself at the student reception; leaving me to deal with the emotionless Salvatore who was smirking and enjoying my annoyance and feelings of discomfort. Soon we came across Elena who was emerging from a nearby restroom, and naturally, Stefan decided to be a dick and taunt his ex.

Wonderful.

"Hello, Elena." Stefan greets her. Elena is surprised to see Stefan, and immediately frowns.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded, cautiously.

"What do you mean? I'm going back to school. Go Timberwolves!" Stefan responded, pretending to be confused by her question. This shocks Elena completely, since it's obvious that Stefan had his switch off and was a danger to not only her, but all the other innocent and ignorant students and teachers at this school.

"What? Why?" She blurts out.

"Klaus wants me to keep an eye on you and Grace." I bristled at the reminder. "I'm just doing what I'm told." He tells Elena, who raises an eyebrow.

"So why aren't you off 'protecting' Grace then?" She asked, a little snidely. Stefan smiled.

"Don't have to. She's right here." Stefan steps to the side to reveal me standing slouched against a nearby locker; probably looking thoroughly peeved. Elena looks at me with astonishment and (surprisingly) the tiniest amount of sympathy. I gave her a tight smile.

"Hey." I greeted her, half-heartedly. Elena scrutinizes both of us before she turns away from Stefan.

"I'm going to be late for class." She mutters and walks away. However, Stefan grabs her upper arm tightly, stopping her in her tracks. She cries out slightly from the pain. I immediately straightened up from my slouch.

"Steady on, Stefan." I said, alarmed. He ignores me.

"Class is this way." He tells Elena, calmly. She glares at him warningly.

"Let go of me, Stefan."

"Elena, do you think I want to be a senior for the 100th time? No. But if I don't have a choice in the matter then neither do you." He tells her. Both Elena and I reached for Stefan's hand, trying to pry it from Elena's arm.

"I said let go of me." Elena repeated herself.

"I agree, Stefan. You've proved your point, now let go of her." I insisted. Suddenly, Alaric walks forward behind Elena and lends his assistance.

"Let her go." He said, firmly. In reply, Stefan shoves Alaric against a locker; alarming both Elena and me.

"What the hell, Stefan!?" I yelled at him, angrily.

"Stefan, stop it!" Elena squealed, afraid for Alaric's safety as well. Alaric bravely steeled himself for whatever Stefan had to say or do as the emotionless vampire came in close.

"You're not gonna want to get in my way. Okay Ric?" Stefan releases Alaric and reaches for my wrist, much to my chagrin. Alaric looks at me with concern, as Elena stares at her ex with horror. "We'll see you both in History." Stefan promises before he drags me away to wherever his first class was. I mouthed 'sorry' over my shoulder at Alaric as I stumbled away. Later on, Stefan dragged me into Alaric's classroom before abandoning me to my own devices as he walks for a desk beside Elena's. However, there was another student sitting there. "You're in my seat." He tells the student, who pales when he sees the menacing look on Stefan's face and quickly moves to a different desk. Both Caroline and Elena gape at him in outrage, but Stefan merely responded to this with a pleasant smile. "Hey you!" He chirps at Elena, before facing the front leaving both girls to exchange mystified looks with each other.

"Are you alright, Grace?" I was interrupted in my observation of Stefan's emotionless interaction with his 'classmates' by Alaric who looked a combination of concerned and annoyed. I quickly grabbed his arm and stepped out of the classroom (making sure that Stefan could still see me and not suspect that I was doing a 'bunk') and started to explain.

"Nik compelled Stefan to act as bodyguard for both Elena and me until he returns." I told him.

"Oh, shit..." Alaric despaired. Thanks Stefan for putting me in this situation.

"My theory is that in his emotionless little world, he believes he can better protect Elena and me if we're within reach of him. So he basically kidnapped me." I explained. Now Alaric looked disturbed.

"Elena believes that we need to do something to protect ourselves against Stefan. You up to help?" He asked me, seriously. I tensed, glancing absently into the classroom and in Stefan's general direction. He was looking right at us, with a calculating frown on his face. I knew that he could hear every word we were saying to each other, despite the fact that the classroom was full of gossiping, laughing, shouting etc. students that were probably drowning out our words.

I sighed. "I've spent the entire summer with Stefan when he had his emotions, and high on blood. He was difficult to communicate with him then; so it'll possibly be a slim to nil chance that we'll be able to get through to him now without his emotions, or even stand a chance. Unless, we all want our heads ripped from our bodies as a concellation prize." I explained. Alaric's hazel eyes darkened. "However, I'll do all I can to help. It's every man for himself until Nik returns." I stated. "Stefan is still my friend despite the fact that his switch has been turned off."

Alaric nodded. "So how do we explain your presence here?" He asked, worriedly. In reply, I pulled my sketchbook from my purse and held it up to him.

"I'm in my final year of study for my Fine Arts degree at Yale University. I have a project that I need to complete in order to pass. You could suggest to your students that I'm here gathering inspiration for my final project." I suggested. Alaric frowned, skeptical.

"Not sure what my history class would have to do with your degree. But yeah, let's give it a go." Alaric agreed, reluctantly. I nodded and followed him in, stopping beside Alaric's desk as he got the class started. "Welcome back, seniors. This is Grace Williams; she is a Yale College student studying her final year, and she is here for research for her final project." Alaric introduced me to his group of curious history students. Stefan smirked at from his place among the students.

I ignored him.

"Nice to meet you." I greeted the rest of the class with a small smile. Tyler, Elena and Caroline looked at me suspiciously and then at Alaric questioningly.

"Please take a seat anywhere." Alaric asked me and I nodded and picked up a spare chair and sat at the side of classroom nearby Alaric's desk, pulling out my sketchbook and pencil. "Now, let's turn our brains back on, starting with this country's original founders … the Native Americans." Alaric began the class as he wrote 'AP AMERICAN HISTORY' on the blackboard in chalk.

"What about the Vikings?" All heads swiveled towards the classroom door and in sashayed Rebekah. We both caught each other's eye and I smiled and nodded slightly, while she winked and took her seat at a vacant desk. I quickly zeroed in on Tyler, Elena and Caroline; each narrowing their eyes at my sister mistrustfully. Alaric looked surprised by her question.

"There's no evidence that Viking explorers actually settled in the United States." Alaric corrected her. "Who are you?" He asked, authoritatively.

"My name's Rebekah. I'm new, and history's my favourite subject." She replied, promptly. I sighed, rolling my eyes and made myself comfortable as I picked a subject to sketch.

This was going to be a long lesson.

It was the longest history lesson I have ever sat through. It didn't help that I constantly felt on guard every time somebody's eyes focused upon me. And it was clear that most of the students were skeptical about my presence in the classroom. But it was either fudge an excuse about why I was intruding on their lesson, or face difficult questions with impossible answers.

For the duration of Stefan's classes, I had to follow him around like a lost puppy. And inspired by Alaric's acting skills at the beginning of his class this morning; Stefan compelled all of his teachers to just introduce me as a placement student until further notice. It was a humiliating experience that I would probably never be able to live down for a while. By the time school let out for the day, I had completed three sketches: the Hand-fasting ceremony (two joined hands with a ribbon binding them together), the Mikaelson Family Crest, and a picture of myself posing 'family portrait-style' with the members of the Mikaelson Family that I currently remember: Henrik, Elijah, Rebekah and Nik in 21st century garb.

Currently, I was sitting on the bleachers with a clear view of both the cheerleaders practicing, and the football field practice wishing that Nik or even Damon were here so I could at least have somebody to talk to that was 'physically' closer to my own age.

"Why so glum, Grace?" I looked up to see Rebekah walking up to me dressed a hot pink tank top, black short shorts, and white sneakers. Her long blonde hair had been pulled back into a high ponytail. I raised an eyebrow at what she was wearing.

"You're lucky your brothers aren't around to see what you're wearing." I told her, earning a slight scowl. "However, I personally think you look great, and are embracing the 21st century far quicker than I thought you would." I complimented her. Rebekah's scowl softened immediately. She was always a sucker for compliments.

"You didn't answer my question." Rebekah insisted. I stood up and stretched.

"This isn't my 'glum' face. This is my 'I'm so bloody bored, why did Stefan make me come here and waste my whole day' face. Huge difference." I replied. "Then I remembered: it's so nobody dies because I pissed off a blood addicted vampire with his switch turned off." Rebekah rolled her eyes.

"Please don't tell me that you've become melodramatic since you've been gone?" She begged. I grinned, cheekily.

"Just a tad." I admitted, as we both walked down the bleachers. "But it only flares up when I'm being forced to do something against my will. But then we'd have to be careful that I don't slide into resentment and open hostility. Then you'd have a problem on your hands." I stated, bitterly.

"You just described Nik in a nutshell." Rebekah groaned, as she leads me over to where the cheerleaders were warming up for their practice.

"Oh, perish the thought." I teased, and smirked. Rebekah giggled and nudged me lightly in the ribs. Then I paused when I realised her intentions far too late. "Cheerleading? You can't be serious." I made a face.

"I want to experience High School." Rebekah insisted, sounding embarrassed. I shrugged, not really caring otherwise; but mostly hoping that Rebekah didn't take it too far. Nik would dagger her faster than you could say 'oops'.

"Has anybody seen Dana?" We overheard one of the cheerleaders ask, looking around with confusion. Rebekah fronted up to Caroline, who looked at her with trepidation.

"Sounds like you have an opening on the squad." She observes.

"What are you doing?" Caroline demanded. Rebekah begins to stretch with the other confused cheerleaders. "Hey. Hey, you can't just come here and infiltrate all our lives." She protested, fiercely.

"That's not what Rebekah is trying to do, Caroline. She's just trying to experience a normal life." I explained to her, trying to avoid a brawl and to help maintain the peace. But Rebekah just couldn't resist 'poking the bear' and offered Caroline a nasty little smile.

"Exactly. I'm interested in yours. Your spunk, your popularity." Caroline looked offended and I mentally clapped a hand to my face.

"Bekah…" I warned. She ignored me, as she observed the footballers and moves in for the kill.

"Maybe even your boyfriend." She added, before she moves away and Caroline glares at her back. I smiled apologetically at her.

"Uh, sorry about my sister." I told Caroline. "She's still adjusting to the 21st century." I explained, low enough that only Caroline, Rebekah and possibly Tyler (who was in the middle of football practice) could hear me. One of the cheerleaders suddenly spoke up, looking curious.

"She's your sister?" She asked, distracting me long enough for Caroline to make an escape to wonder over to Tyler.

"Uh, yep. Why?" I asked, surprised and cautious. The girl squints at both Rebekah and me, obviously comparing us.

"You don't look anything alike." She rudely observes. I frowned, and Rebekah looks up from where she was stretching and glowers at the oblivious girl too.

"Not that it's any of your business, but Rebekah is my sister-in-law. That's why we don't look alike." I replied, curtly. The girl's eyes zeroed in on my left ring finger and she puts on a puzzled look.

"I don't see a ring." She stated. Rebekah zips up to our side, still glaring at the girl.

"You won't see a lot of things if you don't cease and desist with the prattle." Rebekah snapped, before grabbing my wrist and leading me away. "Come, Grace. Help me stretch." Rebekah ordered imperiously. I give a mock salute and followed her away.

"Thank you." I said to Rebekah with relief. She waved a dismissive hand.

"Don't worry about that. I was serious about requiring your assistance." Rebekah responded, a little impatiently. I sighed, and shrugged off my jacket and purse, and removed my boots, dumping them on the grass out of the way from the group.

"Get into the splits and lean on your elbows." I instructed her. Rebekah nodded and immediately slid into place and I sat cross-legged on her back. Rebekah barely grunted. "Am I too heavy?" I asked Rebekah, just to keep in character.

"Not really." Rebekah replied casually.

"Good. Just let me know when you're stretched enough." I asked her, and continued rubbernecking around the area. It took roughly fifteen minutes for Rebekah to appropriately 'warm up' before I got up off her back and stepped back to watch her practice as I slipped my boots and jacket back on, and looped my purse back over my shoulder. We both ignored the stunned expressions on the faces of the cheerleaders, and some of the footballers as Rebekah performs three impressive handsprings and cartwheels before ending with a perfect forward split.

"Wow!" The rude nosy cheerleader exclaimed before she turned to me, looking curious. "Can you do that?" I ignored her. Apparently, she didn't like that. "Hey! I asked you a question." She demanded, crossly. I threw her a sharp look, which caused her to take an immediate step away from me, out of fear.

"Which should've told you, you stupid bint, that I didn't wish to answer your question. Go bother somebody else." I snapped and turned back for the bleachers, choosing to read my novel until Rebekah was ready to leave. I was just getting to a good point in my book when a shadow suddenly descends over it. I didn't have to look up to know that it was Stefan; I had spotted him earlier tormenting Elena as she was running around the track.

Guess it was my turn now.

I feel so privileged.

"You look awkward sitting here by yourself. Why don't you go mingle?" Stefan's voice practically dripped sarcasm. I didn't bother looking at him.

"What's wrong, Stef? Elena won't come out to play?" I deadpanned, turning to a new page.

"I don't care." Stefan automatically replied. I rolled my eyes.

"Of course. What a horrible suggestion." I agreed, sarcastically. "Is there anything else you require from me or can I return to my book?" I requested. Then I looked up at him. "Or can I go home now?" Stefan just smirked at me.

"Nice try. But we're going to the bonfire tonight." He replied.

"Bonfire?" I parroted. Stefan nodded, thankfully not in a mocking kind of way. "Wow, schools around here really do go all out to celebrate the fact that class is back in session." I mused, curiously.

"That's nothing. Wait until you're constantly invited to various formal social events, or balls. You'll be sick of them." Stefan stated, with distain. I had nothing to say about that; because it sounded like it could be very true. Rebekah jogs up to the both of us, giving Stefan a slightly annoyed glance before focusing all her attention on me. She looked excited about something.

"Let's go. I gotta prepare for tonight." She insisted, and I frowned with confusion.

"Prepare for what?" I asked, bookmarking my place in my novel and getting to my feet as I followed Rebekah back down the bleachers and over to the student car park. Stefan seemed to have disappeared. That annoyed me; why couldn't he have done that before?

"There's this bonfire occurring tonight. I plan on making an appearance." Rebekah responded.

"So I've heard. Apparently, Stefan is dragging me along for the ride." I said, sounding a little bitter. "I think he's taking Nik's bodyguard instructions a little too seriously." I stated. Rebekah looked surprised.

"Why? Don't you want to go?" She sounded disappointed, and I hadn't even given my answer yet.

"Not necessarily. I just thought that we were going to be having a girl's night in tonight. That's all." I admitted, tiredly. Rebekah immediately perked up.

"We can still do that. I'm just interested in seeing what this 'bonfire' event is all about." She insisted. I sighed with resignation.

"Fine. I need to do a store run anyway if we're still doing this girl's night in." I told her and we piled into my car. Perking up almost immediately, Rebekah sat back and stared contentedly out of the window as I pulled out of the parking lot and out onto the main road towards the grocery store.

"If you want to have a shower first, go for it. I'm not going to compete for the hot water." I insisted, and Rebekah shrugged and headed for the guest bathroom almost immediately. That gave me the opportunity to unpack my supplies for our night in: buttered popcorn, chips and dip, two different flavours of ice-cream, raw cookie dough. You name all the junk food you could think of for a 'slumber party' then I probably have it. Along with a bottle of bubbly to share between the both of us.

After shoving everything into their storage, I nearly collided with Henrik when I turned around to head for my bedroom to find something to wear tonight after I had showered to scrape the grime of my boring, wasted day off.

"How was school?" Henrik asked, smirking a little.

"Horrendous. Brought back way too many memories of my high school years." I responded, shuddering a little. Henrik made a face at me.

"Don't be an idiot, it wasn't that bad." He insisted. "It's not as though you had an image that you needed to maintain, if you remember." Henrik pointed out and I smiled a little.

"I know. It was such a relief, being just underneath the social radar. It looked like too much drama in the first place, and I was already dealing with my own if you can recall." I told my little brother, who immediately sobered and nodded.

"Well, it was worth it in the long run. You're halfway there reuniting with our family." He grinned with excitement.

"It certainly is." I agreed.

Rebekah immerged from the guest bedroom, looking clean and refreshed and dressed to impress in a pair of tight dark jeans, a white blouse with a sweetheart neckline, boots and a dark cashmere cardigan. Her freshly brushed blonde hair had been straightened and hanging loose down her back. She was frowning at me, curiously.

"Who are you talking to?" She asked.

"Henrik. Excuse me, Bekah. I'll be back soon." I responded before making a beeline for the sanctuary of my en-suite bathroom, leaving behind a confused Rebekah.

Dressed in a black and white polkadot skater dress with a v-line neck, my black leather jacket and my boots; I followed both Rebekah and Stefan back to the woods behind the high school where this 'bonfire' event was going to take place.

"I need a drink. You coming, Bekah?" I asked, wondering over to a massive, warm and inviting looking orange-yellow flames licking towards the treetops. My little/big sister nods and falls into step beside me while Stefan trails behind, watching the both of us calculatingly. Already there were students huddling around the bonfire in clusters, attempting to shield themselves from the cold change just coming through, signaling the beginning of Autumn, just talking and laughing and drinking from red cups of probably cheap beer.

Wordlessly, I snatched up two cups and poured myself and Rebekah some of the beer.

"You alright there?" Stefan suddenly asks her, and I glanced up and noticed Rebekah looking a bit … distant. Not upset or angry, just curious. Rebekah barely makes eye contact with him.

"I thought Tyler would be here." She explained, still craning her head and looking for Nik's first Hybrid. Stefan made a face.

"You're into Tyler now? That's kind of fickle." He observed. Rebekah stiffens in annoyance, and gives him a sharp look.

"When you're willing to give me the time of day again, then we'll talk." She tells him. "Until then, a girl has needs." I straightened up and handed Rebekah her cup. She takes a sip and wrinkles her nose at the taste.

"You'll be waiting forever, Bekah, I'm sorry to say." I told her, and her face fell a little at my words. I glanced over her shoulder and frowned slightly. "Big reason why is heading straight for us." I said, taking a sip and pointing behind her. Both Rebekah and Stefan turned and watched as Elena strides over to the beer keg and pours herself some.

"Excuse me." She says to Rebekah, who steps aside to let her past; giving the doppelgänger room to get her drink. Stefan smirks and approaches her.

"Elena, hi. What are you doing?" He asks, and Elena straightens up and frowns at him, ignoring me like I wasn't there and giving Rebekah a wary glance.

"I'm having fun, Stefan. You got a problem with that?" She retorts, crisply. Then she chugs down the entire cup in one breath. Both Rebekah and I raise an eyebrow at this display of immaturity. Stefan is predictably unfazed by Elena's coldness.

"Alright, take it easy." He attempts to take the cup from her. "We both know you're kind of a lightweight." He tells her. Elena snatches the cup out of his reach.

"Uh-huh. Really? You think I'm going to let a blood addict tell me how to drink?" She pointed out, aiming to wound; and probably forgetting (or simply not caring herself) that her sniping words would simply bounce off him like a ball against a brick wall. Elena turns to leave, and both Rebekah and me look at a nonplussed Stefan.

"She's got a point there, Stef. Let's not try to become a hypocrite now, shall we?" I mocked him a little, and turned to head for a smaller campfire to relax a little, and breathe in the lovely smell of campfire smoke and observe the other students having a good time and enjoying their adolescence.

At one point, I watched as some of the boys hoist up a mate by his legs over a beer keg so he could do a keg stand. Nearly everybody starts chanting 'drink, drink, drink' while the boy attempts to become shit-faced by drinking the entire keg. I observed Elena laughing and chanting along with her classmates until she randomly stops, and the smile on her face disappears when she spots something across the way. A quick glance in the direction reveals that it was Stefan, who was (thankfully) focusing mostly on Elena and leaving me the hell alone. Elena raises her cup at Stefan, defiantly, in a mocking salute and drinks from her beer. He reciprocates the gesture.

"They are their own worst enemy." I mumbled, picking up a stick and prodding the campfire; sending a shower of orange embers shooting up into the star-filled skies above us. Rebekah nods, agreeing with me, as she attempts to roast yet another marshmallow on her stick. Suddenly, somebody sits beside me on the log I'm sitting on and plants a wet kiss on my cheek. "What the f-?!" I turn to give the cheeky person a vicious slap across the face, but paused when I saw the smirking face of Damon.

"Hello, cutie!" He greets me, and I roll my eyes and pulled him in for a tight hug, as Rebekah idly observed us from her spot.

"What? No friends your own age?" Rebekah commented, dryly. Damon just gives her a look as he leaves his arm wrapped around my shoulders, and I lean against him; feeling content for once, because one of my boys was here with me.

"Like you can talk." He points out. Rebekah ignores him in favour of bringing the flaming lump of molten confectionary to her mouth and blows it out. The entire marshmallow is burnt. I stifle a giggle at the frustrated pout that results from my sister.

"Is this supposed to be fun? I've been through ten of these." She complains. Damon sighs, and reaches for the stick she is holding.

"No, you're just looking at it all wrong. This is a little rough on the outside." He peels off the top layer of charcoal on Rebekah's marshmallow, revealing the hot, sweet and sticky gooey mess inside. "But the inside … yum." He grins and offers the stick to Rebekah who takes it, and eying both him and the somewhat restored marshmallow, puts the marshmallow into her mouth and slowly chews. Almost immediately, a bright smile spreads across Rebekah's face.

"Mmm. It's good." She approves, earning a pleased expression from Damon as he licks his fingers clean.

"Yep." He turns to me. "You want one?" He holds up a pink marshmallow and spears it on the end of a stick. I nodded, but took it from him.

"I can roast my own marshmallow, thanks very much." I stated, and scooted closer to the flames. I placed the marshmallow on the stick as close to the embers crackling at the base of the campfire as possible without coating my cooking marshmallow with ash. "This is how you do it, Bekah. You don't hold it directly in the flames, you hold it close to the coals or the burning wood and just rotate it like you would roasting a pig or turkey on a spit." I explained. I demonstrated this until I managed to produce a marshmallow that was evenly cooked all around. I pulled it back and showed it to her. "Here. I'll make another." I stated, and Rebekah smiled and took the sticky, molten marshmallow off the stick and took a bite. "And maybe when we get back to the apartment later on tonight, I'll make us some Smores." I offered.

"Smores?" Rebekah frowned. "Never heard of them." She admitted unsurprisingly. I grinned at her, as I finished toasting my marshmallow.

"Then you'll be in for a treat." I promised. Damon shrugged and picked up another stick and impaled a couple of marshmallows onto it.

"Or I could make you one now." He offered. I paused in the middle of eating my marshmallow when I suddenly realised something was off. I stared into the flames in front of me and immediately found myself being drawn into a sort of trance…

(PREMONITION)

I found myself standing a dark and damp cave in an unknown area, standing behind a hooded figure.

"Uh, excuse me. Where the hell are we?" I asked the unknown stranger in front of me. I received no reply. I frowned at the back of their head. "Hey, excuse me. I'm talking to you." I attempted to get their attention; but when I was ignored again I stepped around to face them and noticed an open stone sarcophagus with a desiccated vampire (with a blurred out face – which told me that I knew this vampire) lying chained down in there and in unsuspecting slumber. I glanced back at the hooded stranger, and realised that it was a possessed witch, judging by the dazed expression on the witch's face.

"This better work. Or she won't be pleased…" The witch mutters to herself, before slitting her wrist. I frowned as I watched her dripping her bloodied wrist over the vampire's mouth. After a few minutes a pale tongue whips out to gingerly remove the drops on his lips. Then suddenly.

"No! Get it away!" The vampire orders, fiercely. I froze in stunned horror. I recognized that voice. The witch makes an irritated noise underneath her breath and yanks back her wrist away from his mouth.

"You need blood." She insisted, sounding both wary and annoyed in the presence of this specific vampire. And for a VERY good reason.

"Get it away from me!" He insists, and I'm immediately flung back out of the trance...

(REALITY)

My mouth falls open in what appeared to be a silent scream, and I was failing to comprehend what I had just seen. Was it currently happening right now, or had it already happened and we were currently in the process of becoming royally screwed if the vampire was who I honestly believed it was, became reanimated? My frantic thoughts were cut off when two strong hands suddenly grabbed my shoulders and started gently, but urgently shaking me to pull me out of my shocked stupor.

"Grace? Grace, are you alright!?" The scared voice demanded of me and I refocused upon Damon's very serious and very alert face. I was hit with the aroma of freshly spilled blood, and I momentarily glanced away from him to see a recently discarded stick that had thick, dark red blood congealed on the sharpened tip. It wasn't hard to figure out that Damon had obviously said or done something to piss off Rebekah and she had retaliated or warned Damon by impaling him with it and walking off, since I saw no traces of her anywhere. Although, by the ruckus Damon was creating right now; she was sure to be by my side within a split second. Damon was still looking at me with worry in his icy blue eyes, and I couldn't say anything except for one word:

"Mikael…" I blurted out, fearfully.

Damon immediately stiffened the very second my stepfather-in-law's name fell from my lips; almost immediately confirming what Nik had told me over the phone to be correct. Damon definitely knew something about Mikael's rumoured re-appearance in our lives. I narrowed my eyes at him, suspiciously, and as predicted; Rebekah was at my side in seconds, looking panicked and scared.

"What about him?" Damon responded.

"Precisely. Care to explain why Nik told me that you knew something about Mikael, which persuaded him to change his plans at the last minute?" I demanded, sternly. I had half-expected Damon to immediately look guilty the very second I had asked him this question. But instead, he looked just as confused and wary as both Rebekah and I did.

"Only that I had received a random, anonymous phone call requesting assistance in locating and freeing your dick of a stepfather-in-law." Damon responded, unexpectedly. Rebekah looked like she was torn between wanting to seriously maim him, and fighting the urge to flee for her life and possibly take me with her to avoid her brother's wrath in the process.

"And what was your response?" I demanded, sharply. Damon looked both hurt and insulted by the obvious implication.

"I refused, obviously." He spat. "Like I was going to be involved in that shit storm and bring back somebody who wanted to destroy what is probably the best thing in my 172 years on this planet, her sadistic dick of a boyfriend and his seriously messed up siblings." I placed a calming hand on Rebekah's arm to avoid her launching herself upon Damon for insulting her and her family in his rant. "I may be selfish and a dick myself; but I choose life … in a matter of speaking." Damon insisted, and I relaxed a little; pleased that Damon was not as involved in this sudden Mikael related 'shit storm' as Damon had so vulgarly dubbed this situation. I glanced around looking for Stefan, and was relieved that he wasn't around. Probably hovering around Elena, and making sure that Nik's personalized Hybrid making blood bag was protected. Good enough for me; I had two powerful vampires to back me up should I require assistance in the event that I was unable to completely defend myself.

I just wished that Nik would hurry up and understand this, so we didn't have a repeat performance in the future. But for now, I just needed to grin and bear it.

"So what do we do now?" I questioned Damon, feeling a little paranoid. Like I was expecting Mikael to jump out from behind a nearby tree, car or building and attempt to kill both Rebekah and I, or hold us both ransom so Nik could return to Mystic Falls to be killed outright by Mikael. Damon shrugged, wincing a little; presumably from the assumed puncture wound Rebekah had given him.

"Turn in for the night? Not much we can do right now. But I might check up on Stefan and Elena. Can't be too careful right now." Damon said, before getting to his feet and giving me one last concerned look before hugging me tightly and kissing my cheek; then vamp-speeding away.

Following Damon's suggestion, Rebekah and I made our way back to my apartment in the town's square; stopping only briefly to buy a few extra party favours for our 'girl's night in'.

"Ready for tonight, Bekah?" I asked as I let us both inside and immediately dumped the milk chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers on the kitchen island bench and clicked on my kettle. I was dying for a cuppa tea.

"I don't know. I've never done a 'girl's night in' before, so I can't comment." Rebekah admitted, and went over to sit on my couch; unknowingly sitting beside her baby brother in the process. Henrik practically beamed at his older sister, which stirred up melancholy feelings within me as I observed this. "So what happens now?" She asked, trying to muster up some excitement despite being out of her element. I immediately dashed over to my collection of DVDs and snagged my pre-selected choices.

"We're going to be watching some movies, while we do some home beauty facials." I explained, feeling slightly nervous as it was rare for me to do home facials. I was a bit more of a tomboy than a girly girl. But I could do it if I had to; and in this case because Rebekah was a girly girl, I decided to suck it up and just deal with it for the sake introducing Rebekah to the 21st century. "Since you're new to this, you get first pick of the films I've selected." I held up three DVDs for Rebekah's selection. However, I was not prepared for her reaction to one of the movies.

"Dracula?" Rebekah sounded surprised. "You don't mean Vlad III Dracula do you?" She asked me, curiously. I blinked at her in astonishment.

"You knew Vlad the Impaler?" I exclaimed. Rebekah just gave me an annoyed look.

"Not personally. We knew of him. Elijah, Nik and I traveled through the Ottoman Empire – what you would now know as 'Turkey' - on our way to England during the mid-1400s." She explains. "And we heard rumours that Kol and he had become good friends because of Vlad's cruelty and creative methods of dealing with his enemies." Rebekah stated with distaste. I must've gone slightly pale, as she gave me a sympathetic smile.

"You mean his unfortunate tendencies to impale his victims on wooden posts and spears while they were still alive?" I asked. Rebekah nodded, and I gulped uneasily. "Remind me not to piss off Kol when we eventually reunite." I requested and Rebekah shook her head.

"Kol might be homicidal and unreasonable at times, but if you recall; he was fiercely protective of you when you were alive." Rebekah reassured me, not unkindly. "If you recall, I told you that when Nik brought you back into the caves the night you were killed, Kol was ready to kill to avenge your death. Does that sound like a person who would kill you?" She questioned me, and I relaxed a little.

"So did Kol turn him into a vampire?" I asked curiously. Rebekah snorted at the idea.

"No, he did not. But he was unfortunately inspired by him and stole his impaling habits for his own. I believe that whatever would be in that movie would be highly fictionalized." Rebekah confirmed. I shrugged.

"Figures." I said. "So you wanna watch Bram Stoker's Dracula?" I asked, assuming that was what Rebekah had chosen because we had gone into a D&M conversation about it. However, my sister shook her head firmly.

"No, thank you. Put on Sense and Sensibility." Rebekah requested. I smiled, and opened the DVD case.

"I take it that you've met Jane Austen?" I asked, curiously, as I popped in the DVD and paused it just before the Columbia Pictures opening overture blasted through the speakers.

"Of course. She's one of my favourite authoresses. I was among one of the first to purchase her book when it was first published." She bragged smugly. I laughed, rolling my eyes. "Shall we start?" Rebekah asked, making herself comfortable on the couch. I shook my head and reached for her hand to pull her back to her feet.

"Nope. You're going to get into your pajamas and pull your hair back into a ponytail so that it is out of your face. Then, please wash your face." I instructed.

Rebekah frowned at me.

"And what are you going to do?" She wanted to know. I grinned.

"I'll be doing the same thing as you, but I'm setting up our snacks first." I explained, cheerfully. "C'mon. Times a wastin'." I told her and Rebekah nodded and walked uncertainly towards her bedroom and got ready for bed. By the time she had re-immerged, our snack food had been laid out, and two champagne flutes were standing ready to be used. Rebekah was dressed in a pair of loose white blue checkered flannel sleep pants and a lavender tank top. Her long, blonde hair had been pulled back into a ponytail and her face was slightly red from being freshly cleaned.

"Alright, I've done what you've asked for. When do we start the movie?" She demanded, sounding impatient. I returned from getting changed myself, and carried with me my facial products, some nailpolish and my manipedi supplies. I was wearing black and red polkadotted flannel sleep pants and a dark grey long-sleeved skivvy. I had twisted my hair up into a messy bun.

"Right now." I flopped down on my couch, depositing my bounty on the coffee table and encouraging Rebekah to sit beside me on the couch. I hit play on the remote and immediately the overture started playing.

"Oh, great. A chick flick?" Henrik whined from where he was lounging on the couch beside me, scowling with boredom, and I ignored him in favour of focusing upon Rebekah. I picked up some thick moisturizer and squeezed some onto my fingers.

"Alright. What I'm going to do is create a mask on your face with this moisturizer and we'll leave it on for a while before we'll go and wash it off. Then I'll treat you to a manipedi. How's that sound?" I asked her, and Rebekah immediately brightened.

"Heavenly. Thank you, sister." She grinned, and I nodded and beckoned her closer so I could start dabbing the moisturizer on her face.

It turned out that neither Rebekah or I could stay awake long enough to see the end of the second movie we put in after we had finished Sense and Sensibility, which turned out to be No Strings Attached; a movie that Rebekah enjoyed, but probably because she found the leading male (Ashton Kutcher) attractive.

Typical.

During Sense and Sensibility, both Rebekah and I smeared our faces with moisturizer in a cold mask, and while we waited for it to work its magic, I painted Rebekah's fingernails a dark red colour that closely resembled a fine wine. In between stuffing our faces with the goodies I had picked up from the grocery store and experimenting with our amateur beauty routine; Rebekah and I shared personal stories with each other about what went on in our lives since I had died. By the time we had both passed out halfway through No Strings Attached, we had almost completely caught up with each other. Neither of us knew of what was about to happen overnight until a frantic sounding Henrik made a desperate attempt to wake me up from our food coma.

"Grace! Grace! Wake up, I'm serious!" Henrik shook me awake, and I frowned and swatted at him, making contact with his hand…

… Wait what?

My eyes snap open and I sit up looking at Henrik and jostling Rebekah at the same. She had been using me as pillow like I had been with her and she mutters in her sleep with irritation.

"Henrik? What's going on?" I whispered, urgently, trying not to wake Rebekah up and glancing about for the danger. I was confused when there was nothing in the apartment that seemed remotely threatening. But still Henrik looked freaked out by something.

"I don't know. But whatever it is, it's not good." He responded. Rebekah's eyes snap open the second Henrik stops speaking. But neither Henrik nor I notice. If we had been paying attention, we probably would've seen her blinking hard, not believing her own eyes before focusing on her little brother with open mouthed shock. Both Henrik and I try to figure out what the hell was going on, and why Henrik was suddenly corporeal, when suddenly she speaks out.

"Henrik…" Rebekah whispers, sounding both stunned and overjoyed. We both turn and look at Rebekah, and Henrik's horrified face, due to the confusing situation unfolding at this moment, instantly breaks into a cheeky smile when he realizes his good luck and walks towards her too.

"Hello, Bex. I've missed you." Is the very first thing Henrik says to his older sister after a thousand years.

A/N: What's going on here? A spell gone wrong? Or Henrik's second chance? Find out next chapter. :D

TTFN xx