So, this is a rewrite of Bring Her Back and will, hopefully, be a lot better. There are a lot of improvements, in my humble opinion, and some ideas I literally kicked myself for not adding in the first version. If you read the old version then you most likely also saw the authors note that basically said that I wasn't really happy with the direction the story was going in. I have been trying and trying to keep it going but honestly, I've hit a brick wall. When I wrote that, I'd just write the chapters with no plot in mind and everything was just really messy.

I know a lot of you loved the first story and this is essentially the same thing which is probably annoying to you guys. But I will try to update the old version as soon as I can because I don't want to let any of you down.

Well, anyway, here's the first chapter!

It was late evening when Ella and Cameron had finally made their way back from school. Since it was Senior Year, the twins had been putting extra effort in and making sure they were keeping on top of their work. Even if that meant that they arrived home after their mother who was the Principal of the school. Their house was a 10-minute walk off the school premises, close enough so if something happened their mom was on hand but far enough that the three of them had some semblance of privacy.

The pair looked slightly worn out as they trudged along the driveway that led to their family home. Despite the fact that they were both supernatural beings- as was every student at the Salvatore Boarding School- the sheer amount of extra-curricular activities they were involved in had definitely taken its toll on them. There were only a few months left until graduation, the twins making sure they were thoroughly prepared for their SATs.

Ella was on her phone texting her friends so they could decide a date to find Prom dresses. It was their school's official first Prom- the other years deciding to opt-out of the event seeing as there were so few students at the time. But the teachers- mainly Caroline- had been adamant about having one this year and the students were more than happy to oblige. It would be fun to take part in such a mundane custom even if it was only for one night.

"Hey, who are you asking to Prom?" Ella asked intrigued after Penelope brought it up in the chat.

Her brother was reaching to unlock the door, his hand hesitating on the doorknob as he turned to face her. Cameron wasn't sure how to answer her question, he hadn't truly given it much thought but that didn't mean he didn't have anyone in mind. "Who says I'm going?" He raised a single brow, challenging her.

El moved a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and scoffed at him. "You've met our mom. There's no way you're getting out of this."

He grimaced, knowing she was right. "You have a point there." Cam turned back to the door and pulled the keys out of his pocket and put it into the lock. "Still doesn't mean I need a date," he huffed at her. Turning the lock, he realised that it was already open and a frown became apparent on his face.

"The door's open," he pointed out.

His sister shrugged not deeming it important. "Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Enzo are coming over for dinner, remember? They're probably here and forgot to lock the door," she explained before pushing past him and into the house.

But once the twins had walked past the threshold, it was clear that their aunt and uncle weren't here yet. Nor was their mother. That was the first red flag.

Throwing their bags on the couch, the siblings became unnerved at the dead silence that had enveloped the house. That was the second red flag. There should be some sound even if it was just the washing machine. Ella made her way into the kitchen, where her mother should be, Cameron not far behind.

Ella gasped involuntarily at the sight, her hand moving to cover her mouth as she stifled a sob. Tears clouded her vision but there was no mistaking what was in front of her. She shook her head in denial as if that would change what had happened but the figure was still there.

Their mother still dead.

"No," was all Cameron was able to say. His voice was a mere whisper as to not disturb the corpse on the kitchen floor. He made a move to approach the body but something stopped him. The fact that once he adjusted her position, when he saw her lifeless eyes, it would make it all real.

The boy was so fixated on the image in front of him hadn't realised his sister had taken action and rang their aunt. Tears streamed down his face silently but he couldn't bring himself to wipe them away. What good would it do anyway? They would continue to fall regardless.

Ella's voice was distant to him but the words were distinct, the hurt evident in her shaky tone.

"Uhm, we just-Cam and I, we, uh," she took a deep breath trying to calm herself, "came home late. She was...lying there. She's dead, Aunt Bonnie." The girl sobbed not knowing what to do, what to say. "Whe-where, what should we...um, we do?"

She nodded as she heard her uncle saying they would be there shortly and to wait for them to arrive. Hanging up the phone, Ella walked over to her brother and placed a hand on his arm, leaning her head on him for support. Cameron shut his eyes tightly not wanting to see his mom like this anymore.

With his eyes still shut, he took a deep breath in an effort to control himself. Everything in him wanted him to lash out at the world, there were people out there that had no idea what had happened in their home. Ignorant of what the children had lost. He wished that he could go back to this morning when his mother was annoyed at Ella for being late, glaring at Cameron when he made an offhand comment about how she wasn't that different to Caroline. The blonde vampire had been more than frustrated at her children. They dreaded coming home and have their mom angry at them- especially since she found out they skipped class. But angry was way better than dead.

"We should call Alaric," his voice was low, unnervingly calm for someone who's mother lay dead a couple of feet away.

Ella stuttered before moving away from her brother, "Uh yeah, you're right." She pulled her phone back out of her pocket before texting him that it was an emergency and he needed to come over now. "Told him," she said sending her brother a small smile.

He hummed in response, his body numb, the house suddenly feeling cold and alien to him. Cameron didn't know what to feel. A swirl of emotions flitting through his mind, his heart heavy with the loss of the only parent he had ever known.

The front door swung open behind them and Bonnie walked forward, bursting into tears when she saw that her best friend really was dead. Enzo was holding her back, trying to calm her down so they could take action and move Caroline's body off the cold kitchen floor. He inclined his head towards the twins, silently telling her to be strong for them. The witch nodded her head wiping her tears away and pulled the twins into her embrace.

Bonnie cried with them and for them. Yes, she had lost a friend but they had lost a parent. Caroline hadn't even lived the course of one human life nevermind the centuries that were promised to her when she had turned. The woman couldn't help but break down at the similarities the children shared with one of her oldest friends. Ella's eyes that were exact replicas of Caroline it was easy for Bonnie to forget that it wasn't actually her childhood friend she was looking at.

"What did they do to you, Gorgeous?" Enzo whispered sullenly as he picked up Caroline's body. Carefully, he placed her on the couch in the living room, the three others following on shortly.

Bonnie reached out to take Caroline's hand, wincing at the cold skin she came into contact with. Nonetheless, she placed it in her lap waiting for the blonde to squeeze back, show them that she wasn't dead. Maybe this was a cruel joke.

"'Ric should be on his way," Cameron added. He stared at the carpet shuffling on his feet.

Enzo nodded at him and texted their family and friends about the situation. They would have to take action soon since they couldn't simply leave her body in the living room.

"Who would do this?" Ella burst into tears leaning on her aunt for support. She almost collapsed on her mother's corpse if it wasn't for Bonnie holding her back. The blonde sobbed uncontrollably burying her face in the embrace of the older witch.

But that was just it. Nobody had any suspicion of who could be behind such an act. The Mystic Falls residents hadn't made any enemies since the birth of the twins. Not since they had something much more precious to lose; two babies who had no way of defending themselves.

Cameron looked up, his curiosity getting the better of him and immediately regretted it. The three of them were crowded around Caroline's body, mourning her death. He averted his gaze to the ceiling and bit his lip in an effort to stop crying. The tears fell although no sound came out. He covered his mouth with his hand when he thought he was on the verge of fully breaking down. All he wanted to do was scream; the wolf in him threatening to escape.

So caught up in his own grief, Cam hadn't noticed his sister approaching him. She looked as broken as he felt. Trying to force a smile on his face, for her sake, it came out as a grimace instead.

Ella didn't want him to be strong or to be stand-offish. She simply wanted the only person she truly had left. It had always been the three of them since forever, now the three were reduced to two. And Cameron, try as he might, was definitely not unaffected by this loss.

Without a word, she wrapped her arms around him, a comforting gesture for both of them. Cameron continued to cry and his shirt was damp from Ella's sobs but he wouldn't comment on it. It seemed as if crying was the only thing they knew how to do.

"We'll get through this, Ella," the immortal promised. "Time is the best healer," he spoke softly. "And luckily for us, that's all we have."

"It's not fair, Cam," she cried, "I mean, we were never going to grow old together but we were supposed to have eternity together."

Bonnie placed a hand on Ella's back, "She'll be watching over you, Ella. Never doubt that."

The blonde turned around, sending a grateful smile to her aunt. She wiped her tears away and moved back to where her mother was, Cameron following close. Kneeling down, El took her mother's hand in hers.

"I'll find out who did this, Mom. Even if it's the last thing I ever do," she swore quietly.

Enzo and Bonnie didn't seem to notice. They were filling in Alaric on everything that happened and thankfully he had arrived alone. There was no need for Lizzie and Josie to also see such a scene.

Her brother, on the other hand, had picked up on the promise. He nodded at her in agreement, a silent vow to each other to bring their mother's killer to justice.

Whoever did this would pay.

Thank you for reading and please try to review the chapter. Constructive criticism welcome! This story is me trying to improve so any tips would be great. And I would love to hear if you liked this chapter!

Until next time...