The sun shone down on the public library where we met. Most people had gathered for the Founder's Day parade, leaving us primarily alone.

And then, there she was, Izzy Fleming, in the flesh, standing before me. Her hair glowed under the sun's rays and looked like a fiery redhead. She always loved wearing black, which contrasted with her pale skin.

'You look beautiful,' she said, complimenting me.

I shrugged at the compliment. 'I guess.'

'You don't think so?'

'My parents always told me I was.'

Isobel looked away nervously before finally asking the question that was weighing on her mind. 'Did they ever tell you about your birth mother?'

My chest tightened as she paced in front of me.

'No.'

'Really? You know nothing?'

'Nothing, really. I haven't asked.'

'What about your father?' Izzy asked. 'Has anyone told you about him?!'

'I didn't ask about them.'

'Why not?'

'I thought it disrespectful to seek them out; I'm sure they had their reasons.'

My hands felt numb, and I felt dizzy.

Isobel stopped pacing. 'Such as?'

'I could be a child of assault, or- I don't-'

'Beau was your father, Bella.' she turned to me. 'He never assaulted your mother. She loved him; Beau was the one who gave you the name Isabella.'

Uncle Beaufort was my father.

'Why?!'

I had to push past what I was feeling now.

Refocus your attention.

Focus on your breathing; take slow, deep breaths.

Remind yourself that feelings are not dangerous and will pass.

You can do this, Bella.

I sat in a chair, and Isobel knelt beside me. 'My blood can heal you,' she offered.

'No,' I took a slow, deep breath, 'I got this... How do you know?'

'To honor your birth mother.'

A lot happened last night.

I found out who my birth parents are.

Caroline, Matt, and Tyler were in an accident.

John Gilbert was attacked.

And I think Jeremy tried to kill himself.

I was sitting in Caroline's room with her; Gran was asleep in a chair.

'What exactly happened?'

'Tyler grabbed his head and lost control of the wheel. I tried to grab it to save us, but we crashed.'

'Was he drinking?'

'No, claimed he heard something-'

'Caroline-' Elena burst into the room, making Gran and me jump. 'You.'

The way she said you, one might think I'd stabbed her.

Or stole her boyfriend.

'Yes, me.'

'Elena, you came.' Caroline said.

Elena stalked over to Caroline; Gran and I exchanged a glance.

'Well, it looks like you're in good hands now,' I said as I turned away from Elena, 'I'm going head home.' I looked at Caroline as Gran stood. 'Caroline, I'll talk to you later.'

'Okay.' Caroline said quietly, clearly upset.

'Leaving so soon?' Elena sizzled as she tried to edge in front of us.

'Bella has homework.' Gran yawned.

'Bella, I need to talk to you.' Elena breathed.

'I'm not really in the mood to talk.' I told her as I sidestepped the taller girl.

I am definitely not in the mood to talk to you.

I hurried out of the room, passing Damon.

'Little Swan-'

'Bite me.' I threw over my shoulder.

'Bella.' Jenna said. 'I heard about what happened-'

'I'm fine.' I assured her.

'Did you ever meet up Jeremy?' I shook my head. 'He's been a little moody; I think he and that girl, Anna, broke up.'

'I'll talk to him.' I held Gran's hand and wished her, Bonnie, and Matt a good night.

'What about me?' Damon said with mock sadness.

I rolled my eyes, and we left.

'Ready for this?' asked Stefan as we entered John's room.

'For this? No.'

He looked like he was napping; it reminded me of when I was ten and I broke something of his.

I was terrified that he would hate me.

When I begged forgiveness, he beamed and told me he could never despise me.

I peeked back at Stefan, then back to my... John...

Does John hate me now?

'John?'

He opened his eyes, turned to me, and panicked. He tried to grab the button, but Stefan took it away.

'I'm Elena.' I proclaimed. 'I'm not - I'm not Katherine.'

'We know she did this to you.'

'We need to know why.'

'Where is she?' John gasped.

'You tell us.'

'I don't know.'

He tried to sit up, but Stefan pushed him back down. 'You're a little too weak to play tough guy. Why don't you sit back and answer a few questions?'

I put the Gilbert ring into John's hand. 'Please, tell us why she's here. What does she want?'

John looked up at me but didn't respond.

'She'll try again; we can't help you if you don't confide in us.'

'In you?' he said, looking at Stefan, his voice full of venom.

'In your daughter, then.'

'My daughter should have driven a stake through your heart by now.' He looked at me again. 'I never spoke with Katherine directly; she never trusted me.' He looked at Stefan. 'So either kill me or get out because I can't stand seeing you with my daughter.'

'You see the world with such animosity.' I heard my voice say. 'It's going to get you killed.'

'Hey,' Elena told me when I met her outside, 'I just have to swing by home to pick up Jenna and Jeremy so we can go to the Lockwoods.' How did you leave him there, John?'

'I...I asked him to leave town.'

We stop walking and look at each other.

'Asked?' she repeated. 'You threatened him.'

'Yeah, I threatened him.'

'Good. I want him gone, Stefan. I know I shouldn't feel that way, but I don't want someone like that. Or Jeremy's life.'

'I know.'

She embraced me. 'So what now?'

'Now,' I let go of her, 'I need to find Damon.'

'Please, Stefan, don't fight with him.'

'No, Elena, he tried to kiss you. I'm not okay with that.'

'That's not the problem; Katherine is. She's already messing with both of your heads, and Damon is not stable when it comes to her. The last thing we need is to make things worse.'

The sound of a door opening woke her up; Caroline opened her eyes to see her friend.

'Elena?'

'Hey, Caroline.'

'What are you doing here?'

What was she doing here? Caroline thought as she eyed her girlhood friend.

Caroline jerked awake at the sound of the door creaking open. Her eyes flicked open to see her friend standing in front of her.

"Elena?" she asked, a hint of irritation in her voice.

"Hey, Caroline," Elena replied.

"What's going on? Visiting hours ended hours ago."

Caroline was suspicious.

She knew the nurses had even kicked her mother, the sheriff, out of the hospital room.

"Look, my name is Katherine, and I need you to do me a favor. I want you to pass a message to the Salvatore brothers for me," Katherine said, her voice firm and direct.

Katherine?

Has Elena flipped her lid?

'What are you talking about? What message?'

'Game on.'

'What?'

Elena or Katherine grabbed one of Caroline's pillows, pressed it down over her face, and smothered her.

Caroline screamed and struggled, wondering when Elena got so strong.

It was getting harder to fight her and even more challenging to breathe.

What's wrong with you? That was Caroline's last thought.

Katherine took the pillow off and placed it next to Caroline; she casually sauntered out of the room.