Chapter 1

...

"You're so nice.

You're not good,

You're not bad,

You're just nice.

I'm not good,

I'm not nice,

I'm just right."

~Last Midnight, Into the Woods

...

There were many a thing that I'd like to tell you, to have you understand about the situation. About the facts. About everything that's happened since then, since you left us. But the reality is one I don't think you would be able to accept. That you would never be able to look past. Your thoughts clouded, judgement biased and gray. I wanted to tell you, truly, deeply wanted you to know but it just wasn't meant to be. It wasn't something that could be. Because deep down, no matter how hard I wanted or how much I knew you would never have been with what came after you died. With what became of us, your children, our family. The monsters we let into our home, the demons we loved, and the terrible truths we hid from ourselves. In all your supposed righteousness you'd be disappointed.

I am so sorry.

The truth. None us had ever stood a chance. There was nothing that could have changed that. Even if you had lived. We would still be at this point, frozen within the eye waiting for the oncoming storm. Your daughter, my beautiful niece, she was at the center of it all. I couldn't save her from it, just like I couldn't have saved either of you.

Because you see, my brothers, there was no running from fate. She always caught up to you one way or the other. There was no stopping fate, fate would come no matter what you did. Even if it meant leaving trials of blood littering in her wake. That was just the way the world worked. If only I could tell you. If only you would understand.

It was only a matter of time.

Oh my brothers, I am so, so very sorry.

"Aunt Ria?" Someone calls her name softly, knocking on the closed door. She calls out a quick just a second tucking the letter into her jacket pocket to be kept for a later time.

Stepping away from the vanity after one last glance at her appearance she walks over to unlock the door and opens it to reveal her niece. Her heart aches for the teen, for the pain she knows she'll face, for all the suffering and heartache heading there way. The winds had turned, on their draft she knew, something wicked comes their way. All she can do in that moment was offer the grieving girl a sympathetic look, a small comforting smile. Regardless if it wont do a thing.

"Are you riding with us to the service?" She nodded her head then at the fidgeting teen. Reaching out to brush a fallen strand of brown hair from the girls cheek.

"I must have lost track of the time, are we leaving soon?" Her niece gives a small affirmative nod. Looking as if at any moment she would fall apart. She felt for her, because she had loved them too. Grayson was her eldest brother, even if she had let him die it didn't mean she felt nothing over his loss. Contrary to what most would believe she wasn't heartless. Ria loved and felt the lose just like everyone else, for her it was only a matter of how she showed it.

"Well let's not keep the others waiting." All that met her words was numb nod of head. After today she hoped her niece would get a moment to herself to process the grief. But for the moment they had a funeral to attend.

.

Moria Gilbert was what most would consider a beautifully cold woman. A smart, far more mature than her peers, inquisitive, but cold. She was the youngest of her siblings the age gap between each of them significant. Nearly twelve years between her and Grayson and then almost nine between her and John, she'd literally grown up in their shadows. Although it would hardly matter to her since she would outlive them both by centuries.

When Grayson and his wife died, John long since left them for reaches faraway she found herself in a position of guardianship. Along with Miranda's younger sister Jenna. Each woman had been asked to step in and they'd both agreed. They got along well enough, their personalities similar enough to work together but both had their own quirks. It made for an interesting dynamic. A well rounded household if you were to ask her.

Especially when the supernatural storm blew in. When after all these years vampires returned to Mystic Falls. Not that it had been a surprise to her, but the facts remained.

So Elena's sudden appearance in the one space of the house she had claimed completely as hers doesn't shock her. Disappoint her maybe, because now she wouldn't get to finish her book, but she can't say she's surprised. A shame really as it had just become interesting.

"Did you know?!" She raises a careful brow at the tone of voice her niece has chosen to use. There is accusation, contempt, disbelief all warped into one singular entity and she doesn't appreciate it in the slightest. The book in her hand comes to a snapping close. Giving away just how disappointed she felt.

The teen gives her this petulant expecting look, she takes a breath and then sighs holding out her hand. Silencing her with the motion. Unlike her Sommer counterpart, the Gilbert woman was not the fun aunt. Even though she loved both her niece and nephew and would do just about anything she still held a certain level of dignity. Especially from them. She would not see them become spoiled children. "Try that again Elena."

Elena draws a deep breath, she knew she shouldn't have let her emotions get the best of her. She let's the breath go and nods her head. "Aunt Ria, did you know about the Salvatores?" There is a brief moment where the room is completely still and Elena is afraid that her aunt won't know what she's talking about and then she'll have to explain. But then the woman closes her oddly colored eyes, nods as she runs a hand over her face.

Moria had read the Gilbert journals, she was the current Gilbert on the council. It shouldn't have been that hard to put together. "Damon's the one behind the animal attacks." The girl breathes, her fear, confusion easy to see to feel. She felt for her, honestly, but this was just the way it was meant to be.

"And Tanner's death too I'd suspect." Although she felt absolutely no remorse for the dead history teacher. She'd known him when they were younger and he'd always been a prick. Not to mention the parent teacher conference he held and hadn't invited her too. Bastard.

"Why aren't you freaking out? Why aren't you upset? They're vampires, they've killed people!" Elena's voice raises slightly again. She gives the teen a look telling her to tone it down. Slowly Moria uncurls from her position on the chaise. Carrying the book back over to the shelf not even sparing her a glance.

"Other than the lying, has Stefan hurt you?" Moria questions instead of dignifying the girls previous statement with an answer. At that she sputters in her tracks as if really stopping to think about what was just said. Had Stefan hurt her? The truth was he hadn't.

"Aunt Ria, shouldn't you tell me to stay away from him. I don't understand, why are you defending them?" Moria expression soften then, glancing at her niece over her shoulder. In that moment she was just looking for guidance, just a regular teen seeking the approval of her elders. It almost made the woman feel bad. Almost, but not enough to change anything. She smirked at her niece.

"You're right. I don't approve of Stefan coming over late and keeping you up at all hours during the week." She told Elena, mirth filling her tone. Moria was met by an exasperated expression from the young brunette. The stress, uncertainty slowly falling away from the girl.

"Aunt Ria." She whined, which Moria wasn't a fan of but she let it slide.

"As long as he doesn't try to hurt you Elena I care not as to what you decide. Like him, date him, stake him it matters not to me. Just be careful, I shouldn't have to tell you how dangerous vampires can be. Also read the journals, they can be very insightful if you have questions." And if her niece was smart enough she'd realize that there was still more her vampire boyfriend wasn't telling her. Elena takes a moment to consider her words, Moria selects another book. Her desire to read the other long gone.

Elena gives her a weighted look, but Moria pays it no mind. Once it becomes clear that the older woman has no more to say on the matter Elena leaves the small study closing the door behind her softly. Moria rolls her at the spot the girl had just occupied. Well then, it appeared the storm was already upon them. Fast approaching, almost rapting on their door. The question was, what did she intend to do about such the time being, the answer remained.

Nothing.

There was nothing she could do. For now. At this moment she was content just to wait and see how the storm brewed. To determine for herself just how harsh the winds would be. Moria opened the book settling back on the chaise. Only time would tell. She could weather this storm.

Moria supposed the actual question is could they?

.

I suppose you wonder how any of this is relevant. Oh my brothers, I wish that I could tell you. About the all the reasons. As to why I am apologizing. For my sins, my transgressions that I've committed against the two of you. That I will commit against our family, my own blood. But neither of you would ever be able to understand, the truth, the facts.

It boiled down to simple carnal need. Chemicals reacting, building tension, and facts. You both knew how I felt about such things. The reasons were so simple, and yet so complicated all in one. No matter how much I knew. Fate was not something even I was equipped to fight or even wanted to on that note.

Down the rabbit hole Alice fell.

Nonetheless they are all just bad excuses for things that I cannot tell you. Things I want to tell you. Things that neither of you will ever forgive me for. You were both just so overprotective like that. Could never have reckless abandon with you two obsessively looming over my shoulders.

The relevance I don't even think matters. With all the secrets we kept. All the lies that we've told. It hardly even matter at this point.

I feel so alone, here without you both. That you went to your deaths without me knowing I could never follow. Knowing I never would. I miss you both so terribly, I wish I could have been a better sister. Wish I would have told you both how much I loved you more often. That honesty had been a language we spoke to one another. A trio of liars we were.

Lies follow you forever, echoed as regrets of words you wish you could have taken back. Never spoken in the first place. I'd give anything to be able to tell you the truth now. But how would you even understand. With these walls between us, walls we'd built ourselves. You both thought I was better off not knowing our family truth. Leaving me to learn it myself.

Leaving me here alone. Instructed to keep watch over your children. Keep them safe. I'm so sorry.

Out of the three of us, I'd never been a protector. That was all you Grayson, you were our Knight in shining armor here to save the day to slay the dragon, save the princess. John was your second in command, your right hand man willing to do whatever it took, no matter how dubious. I was the witch keeping the princess in the tower in the first place.

I wasn't a protector. I wasn't cut out for this in the slightest and you both knew that. And yet here we were. A page full of regrets, full of things I couldn't say, apologies never spoken, broken promises, hurt feelings. You both wanted to much of me. Expected me to be good, be grounded, be nice. Even though we all knew I was none of those things. That I could never be.

I wasn't good, never nice, just cold. Cold and right. Always right. Even when it hurt, even when it broke us. You couldn't fight fate. No apology, no explanation could ever express how truly sorry I was.

It would never be enough.

She stared down at the letter in her hand, the letter in which she'd written. Staring at the words wishing they weren't true. Wishing it could have been different than this. Knowing that wishing was for children which she hadn't been in a long time. Her eyes gloss over the words she knew she'd never be able to say, feelings she would never be able to express. There is a sharp intake of breath and then she holds the letter over the open flame. Watching with a guarded expression as the page returns to ash.

There was nothing she could do now. Nothing she would have done any differently if given the chance. This was the only option, the only viable path to take. She knew her brothers would never forgive her if they'd learned the truth. That life was nothing if not a graveyard for those living, life was a great lie and death the terrible truth. Moria set the still burning paper in a dish to finish it's set course.

It was the price of knowing the truth. Knowing that nothing she could do would ever be enough. That no matter what it couldn't save them. Her efforts, if she gave them, could never work. There was nothing she could do except watch the page burn. The fire slowly faded out until all that remained was smoke and the ashes of her regrets. She could not dwell on them. As she had said, there was simply nothing to be done. Fate would run its course regardless of their efforts.

Moria ran her hands down the length of her dress trying to remember why she had agreed to the heinous plan in the first place. Honestly she wasn't even sure why she got involved ito begin with. Especially when all she wanted was to stay out of it. Confident in fates ability to run its course, as everything else had gone as expected from her perspective as a spectator. Honestly attending the towns masquerade ball was of no interest to her than out of obligation. She hadn't expected to be pulled into some sort of vampire angst plot.

She pressed the dark laced masque over her face. Well then, looked like she was going to get a front seat show tonight. In consideration of the sheer height of her shoes she took careful steps down until she was standing in the middle of the living area. Her eyes drifted over to Jenna seeking confirmation from her. Confident that the other woman would tell her what she expected to hear. "You, Rick, and Elena still planning on watching chick flicks?" Moria questioned as if she didn't know the answer. Jenna offered her a smile.

"Yep, might eat all the ice cream." Moria smirked at that. If she managed to leave early enough she could bring more home, maybe pick up a bottle for them to share.

"Well then, I'll see you later. Have fun."Jenna rolled her eyes at the tone.

"You too!" She called out, just before the door shut behind Jenna heard her snort. Jenna shook her head, that woman. Moria had always been a bit of an enigma to Jenna. The youngest of the Gilbert siblings, younger than herself but she was just as smart as Grayson had been. Whenever Moria was around, when she spoke you couldn't help but to get the feeling to listen. That what she had to say was worth hearing.

Jenna listens as Elena comes bounding down the stairs a slight frown on her face. "Did Aunt Ria leave already? I wanted to see her dress." When she gives a nod in confirmation the teen just pouts crossing her arms over her chest. It was sort of cute.

"Don't worry, if she has her way she'll be back soon enough." If only that had been the case.

…

Well then. He was still just as attractive as the last time they'd met. Is the first thing she decides upon close inspection, close being a relative term since she'd rather not get too close to him at that moment. No matter how much she favored him. No amount of favoring would change the fact that she did not want to be bitten.

She would blame those damn Salvatore brothers for her current predicament and that fact they had involved her. Although in their defense they probably hadn't even realized she'd been taken along with Elena. Why would they, when even she hadn't understood the reasoning for it. Now how could she get the coat hanger out of his chest without endangering herself.

The last thing she needed now was for him to decide she was a proper meal. It wouldn't end well for either of them. "How long are you planning on standing there?" She tilted her head then, his eyes half opened squinting from the pain staring at her cautiously. Obviously he realized what sort of position she had found him in. Moria could only smirk mirthfully, taking a step closer hands up in a show of good faith.

"I was trying to decide the best way to help you without becoming a meal." She answers truthfully, finally crouching down to his level. Her bare knees settling in the rubble, as she wrapped her hands around the jagged length of wood. His eyes narrowed further, yet he did not protest.

"I know better than to take a bite out of your kind." She grinned wickedly in response pulling the coat hanger fully out throwing it away from them when she'd finished. Moria helped him to his feet watching him cautiously, he dusted off his coat and made a face at the bloody gaping hole in his dress shirt. There eyes soon met.

"It's been a while my love." He took a moment to examine her face, then he drew his hand to brush over the flushed flesh of her skin. Running his calloused thumb over smooth warm skin. His eyes held an amused tint to them.

"Indeed. My little spinner, why are you here?" Moria offered him the softest smile she could.

"To be franks, I'm not certain. Your lovely 'companions' brought me here when they took my niece." He looks intrigued by that offer her a hand carefully leading them out of the old home. He doesn't ask why then did the Salvatore brothers not grab her too, he doesn't ask what she's been doing since the last time they spoke, he doesn't ask a lot of things. Not with words at least.

Elijah never had to ask, not when it came to her. Because unlike everyone else around them he knew her. She wasn't as complicated as they wanted her to be. There wasn't as much gray with her, everything was just black and white. It was easy, simply, logical, in the way in which fire burns. Wild, chaotic, destructive, but clear, simple.

"I see." Moria shakes her head as they get into the forgotten SUV. She had the feeling that it was going to be a long day and despite her best efforts that this wouldn't be the last time she was forced to deal with the consequences of their insistence she be apart.

Eventually they would learn that there rules meant nothing to her. No one could place rules on a spinner, they had no inclination to follow them. How could they, when the very core of their being was meant to guard and protect the rules of fate. Moria drew in a breath. There was that word again, that word she'd never seemed to understand.

She was no ones protector.

XOXOX

At this point I have no idea, just an idea I had while reading some VD fanfiction and procrastinating writing chapters for my other works. I don't know what to say other than I'm sorry. This may become something, or this may be it. I don't know yet. So if you want to see more of where this could go let me know. Thanks for reading!

I hope you all have a great day!

Sincerely, La'Rae