𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬

𝟼

Aeliana walked up to the Gilbert house, already annoyed about her lovely morning being disrupted by an 8 a.m. phone call from Elena, saying it was urgent and she needed to come immediately.

As usual, she just walked right in, seeing a random man standing in the middle of the kitchen watching the television.

Elena came down the stairs, relieved to see the older vampire standing there.

"Ana, thank god. I didn't know who else to call," she rushed out.

"Who's the dude?" Aeliana asked the doppelgänger, eyes never moving from the blonde haired man.

"That's my actual father, his name is John," Elena muttered quietly.

"Your uncle dad?" Aeliana was filled in previously about Isobel and John, but never had faces to go with the name. They walked into the kitchen together, Elena ready to confront her birth father.

"Morning," he announced, giving the vampire a strange look before turning his attention over to Elena.

"What are you doing here?" She got right to the point.

The man completely ignored his daughter, "Coffee?"

"We're not doing that. We did that last night. No more avoiding. Why are you here?"

"I'm here to protect you. That's all I can say for the moment," uncle dad explained.

"What do you mean that's all you can say?"

"Yeah, that's a little vague." Aeliana pointed out.

"I'll tell you more when I'm convinced I can trust you," John told his daughter pointedly, giving Aeliana yet another look, "and who are you?"

"Aeliana Albertsen," she held out her hand.

Ignoring her outstretched hand, "Right, the girl with 900 years worth of memories missing."

Just as she was about to defend her self, Jenna and Alaric walked into the room.

"Oh God, I'm late," Jenna was laughing and trying to put on her shoes.

"That's what you get for hitting the snooze three times!" Alaric joined in.

Jenna finally noticed John standing there, "What the hell?"

"Good morning to you, Jenna. Alaric."

"It's okay I'm confused, right? Because we were not expecting you, like, ever," Jenna complained.

"Well, I got in late last night. Elena let me in."

"You know, I'm uh, probably just gonna take off," Alaric announced to the group awkwardly before leaving.

"I'm still confused here," Jenna raised her hands.

"I decided to come back and stay for a while."

"Not here, you're not."

"Actually, you can't stop me from living here."

"Isn't this her house?" Aeliana defended Jenna, not liking how demanding John was being.

Jenna gestures towards the vampire in agreement before looking back over to John, "Actually I can, as legal guardian."

"Yeah, about that, Elena, you want me to explain the situation, or would you like to do the honors?"

"Okay, what's going on?"

"I'm sorry, Jenna. I should have told you earlier, but-" Elena went to explain, before being rudely interrupted by John.