***I do NOT own TVD! All rights go to LJ Smith and the CW! This is for recreational purposes only! I own all original characters! Read & Review! Enjoy! ***

"Damon? Is everything okay?" asked Elena.

Damon was sitting on the couch with a letter in his hand. He had read the thing at least ten times in the past five minutes. He almost didn't hear when Elena called out to him. She was waving her hand in front of his face.

"Damon? What's going on?" asked Elena taking the letter from Damon. "Who is Sofia?"

"Either a big pain in the ass or a big help," said Damon standing up from the couch.

"What?" asked Elena.

"Sofia can either be your biggest asset or your worst enemy," said Damon pouring a glass of scotch.

"Do you know her?" asked Elena.

"Yeah. You could say that," said Damon turning to face the fire.

"How?" asked Elena.

"That is a long story," said Damon setting his glass down. "And one I'm not going to tell."

Damon walked over to Elena and took the letter back. He walked out into the hall and made his way up the stairs to his room. It had been three months since Stefan left with Klaus. There had been one letter saying he was okay but nothing after that.

Damon collapsed on his bed and looked at the letter again. It had been a few years since he had heard from Sofia and it stricked him as odd to hear from her now. He laid the letter to the side and stared at his ceiling. He closed his eyes and he could see her face. Her almond colored eyes. Her blond hair. Her beautiful smile. Her sweet laugh. He opened his eyes and stood up. He needed a drink. He poured another scotch and walked over to the window and looked out. It was almost a day like this when he first met Sofia. It was pouring down rain with no sign of letting up.

Mystic Falls, 1863

"What are we going to do now?" said Stefan looking out the window.

It had been raining all day, keeping everyone inside. Giuseppe was locked away in his study while Stefan and Damon sat in the lounge. Damon was reading a book, completely ignoring his brother. The door to the study opened and Giuseppe walked out. He eyed his sons before continuing to the front door.

Damon laid down his book and walked over to the window his brother was staring out. Coming up the drive was a carriage. Both Stefan and Damon thought it was odd for someone to be out in this weather, let alone showing up at nine o'clock at night.

The front door opened. They could hear Giuseppe talking with another man. Damon turned from the window and took his place on the couch again and picked up his book. Stefan poured a small bit of scotch in a glass and continued to look out the window. A few moments later a throat clearing drew them both from their respective activities. It was Giuseppe.

"This is Mr. Karloff," he said.

Damon and Stefan nodded.

"Thiz iz my wife, Katariina," said Karloff in a thick Russian accent. "And my daughter, Sofia."

Stefan nodded again. Damon was awe struck. Karloff's wife had dark brown hair that was pulled up into a tight updo. She had brown eyes that looked like they could see into someone's soul, but she was nothing compared to the beauty that was Sofia Karloff.

Sofia's blonde hair was pulled back into an updo as well. But unlike her mother a few blonde curls hung down in the back. She looked up at the two boys through her eyelashes. Damon finally came to his senses and nodded at the young girl. She smiled at him and did a slight curtsey.

"This is my oldest son, Damon," said Giuseppe. "And this is Stefan."

"It'z nize to meet you," said Mr. Karloff.

"Yes," said Mrs. Karloff. "Nice to meet you." Mrs. Karloff turned to her daughter and said, "Come Sofia. It is late. Let them do their business. Good night, Mr. Salvatore."

Giuseppe nodded his head as the two women walked up the stairs behind one of the maids. Giuseppe turned to Karloff and placed his hand on his shoulder and led him to the study. Stefan had finished his drink and had resumed looking out the window. When he turned to say something to Damon he saw Damon was still standing and looking up the stairs. Stefan chuckled.

"I do not think father would want you staring after his business partner's daughter," said Stefan.

Damon shook his head and poured his own glass of scotch.

(End)

Damon had drifted over to the windows and was looking at nothing in particular. He finished off his drink and set the glass down on the bar. He walked over to the bed and grabbed the letter again.

Dearest Damon,
I'm coming for a visit. Expect me in the next week.
Love Always, Sofia.

Damon folded the letter up and placed it on the dresser and walked out of the room, hoping she didn't show up anytime soon.

(Across Town)

A blonde girl sat by herself in a dark corner of the Mystic Grill. She looked down at her phone for the umpteenth time in the past twenty minutes. She huffed again and dialed the number again. And again she got the voicemail. She looked down at her watch and sighed. She closed her phone and stood up. She dialed the number again and waited. When the voicemail picked up she left a message.

"Elijah, it's me. I guess you're too busy to meet with an old friend. Call me when you get this," she said hanging up the phone and walking out into the rain.

She looked up at the sky, not caring that she was soaking to the bone. She liked the rain. She smiled and continued on her way.