I ended up leaving after Charolette was born, seeing that sweet baby girl come into this world was wonderful yet it made me long for the child I lost. I spent 3 days in Mississippi before going to New York to wallow in self pity. I had a good cry for a day or so then straightened up and went to work, being back into that world had me nervous at first, but then I settled in fine. Damon surprised me and bought my house from my landlord with money he had been saving since he was 18. Back then he had been making good money with Stefan before the garage was opened, it may have been dirty money, but he was just doing all that he knew.

I am so excited to see Charlotte now, she is the most precious baby ever! She has just turned 4 months old and I have a shit load of baby clothes in my luggage that I've bought just for her. Damon is going to kill me when he sees the price tags, but I really don't care since its all about spoiling my little Char baby. So here I am taking my seat on the plane in first class and I'm beyond excited to see everyone for Thanksgiving. Damon and I had agreed months ago that I will come down to see them for Thanksgiving and when Christmas rolls around they will come see me in New York. Caroline is going mad with wedding details being that she and Matt will be getting married on New Year's Eve in New York. She misses the city and her crazy ass is literally going to have us all dressed and ready for a wedding that will be taking place in Time Square. Silly right? She has even detailed everything down to a T so as soon as the clock strikes 12 and the ball drops, she and Matt will be pronounced husband and wife.

I'll be happy to see Tyler as well, he finally got over Liv and met some girl named Nadia and they've been going strong for 2 months now. I'll be happy to meet her, she's a world traveler he said. They met each other in Vicksburg at the casinos when she was coming from Louisiana, she had only planned to be in Mississippi for the night. Then Tyler laid down his game and she never made it to Mobile, AL.

Then there's Stefan of course. He is living with Damon and Bonnie, in my old fucking house! Yay for me! So I have to be there in the same house with him for more than one day. Damon said that Stefan was fine with getting his own place, but he wanted his best friend in a nice neighborhood with people who loved him. Said that he couldn't have Stefan going back to Shady Oaks trailer park. I was right too, he never came back that day, he let me pour out my heart and just fucking left me. The next time I saw him was when he came to the hospital after Charlotte was born and he tried speaking to me when we both decided to leave and let the new mama get some rest. I told him that enough was already said. My words to him were, 'if he had anything to say it should've been the day he left my house'.

He nodded and we parted ways, now I'll be facing him again. I know that I have to get over this bullshit issue with seeing him, I mean he's my brother's best friend and he's in our group of friends like he's always been. Once I've gotten my bags I meet my driver outside of the airport pick up doors. Bon and Care insisted that someone should pick me up but I told them no. Everyone is running around doing last minute cooking, so I told my girls that I could get there myself.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow which means dinner, stories, backyard football and late night drinking by the bonfire. Yep, traditions are still going strong with us and it warms my heart knowing that even though we're all going on with our lives, we're still able to keep some things the same. My nightmares have come to an end now that I am on some medication and seeing a therapist again, I felt that it was best since I was entering the modeling world again. There are some days that I want to pack my things and return home, but then I remember that I can't let my past run my life.

Once the limo pulls into the driveway of my old home I start to regret my choice of car instantly. Everyone is standing outside on the front porch watching this massive black limo pull into their yard, I'm pretty sure I'll catch shit for this. Embarrassment much? Yeah. I pop my sunglasses over my eyes to avoid staring at everyone directly and when the driver opens my door I breath in and slap a good ole southern girl smile on my face. "Well, well, well, if it isn't miss hot shot herself." I hear Tyler says smirking at me and I shrug. "Last minute ride." I tell him and follow the driver to the trunk, but before I can lay a hand on my luggage my brother and ex are getting it for me.

"Damn Elena, what the hell do you have in here, a dead body?" Damon asks pretending to struggle. I erupt in a fit of giggles he has never understood a woman's need of more than one suitcase, "That one is shoes." I point to my brand new LV suit case. "What the hell little sis? Why in God's name do you need one big ass suit case just for shoes?" He's looking at me as if I've grown another head.

"Why not, I mean I'll be here for a few days and who knows where a girl might end up going. I'll need the right shoes for the right occasion." I simply say with a sweet smile. Damon laughs at me shakes his head and continues up to the porch handing my shoes off to Tyler. When I turn back to see Stefan he has my lingerie =bag and I want to laugh at that, but I don't. "Seriously five bags?" Stefan asks me with a 'are you fucking kidding me look' and again I shrug. I pull my wallet out of my matching purse and tip the driver then join everyone on the porch. "So am I going to get any hellos or hugs?" I ask them all basically offended. Caroline barrels out of her seat and launches herself onto me. "Of course!" she squeals and I hug her tightly, damn I've missed her. "We were just waiting for Mr. Driver man to leave so we could." I laugh, "Well, ok then."

Once I am settled into the guest room, I get into a pair of my skinny jeans, cowgirl boots, long sleeve shirt and a jacket. I got to hold Charlotte and feed her, let me just say that I have the cutest niece in the world! She's such a good baby and I keep telling Bonnie over and over how she's such an amazing mom. We're all sitting around a nice bonfire now drinking and talking about tomorrow's events when Bon pipes up. "So tell me what's it like being in New York again."

I smile because she knows that I love being there, despite the once a month feeling to leave. This company is on top of their shit and when we need a damn break, we get it. I'm happy that I took the job, but I do miss home. "Oh, I am in love with New York as you all know. Manhattan is incredible and though Central Park is the only place where there are a lot of trees I still love it." Stefan snorts. He's sitting across the fire from me with none other than fucking Tessa in his lap. I can't help but to scowl at him. "Something on your mind?" I ask him with my bitchy bitter tone. I can't believe that this is how its going to be between us, but if he's going to be a dick well I'm not just going to take it.

"You say that you love New York and you only mention the richest part of it and the damn park. Sweetheart have you even been to the other parts?" He asks me chuckling. He is from NYC so of course he knows every damn part of it and makes a jab at me. What the fuck is his problem?

I plaster a fake smile on my face and say, "Well, Brooklyn is pretty decent as well as Queens. I went to have dinner with a coworker at her mom's house in the Bronx. Went to a party two weeks ago at a club and woke up the next day in Long Island with some guy that I met and then we went to Staten Island to pick up his Harley from his brother. So I've been to a few different places in New York, yet to visit Jamaica Queens and Harlem, but who knows maybe I will. Besides its not like it was my first time being there Stefan."

Stefan stares at me damn near deadly, but I'm not backing down. "So tell me where your old stomping grounds are Stef, maybe I'll pop by and see for myself the life you used to live before joining the southerners." I know he grew up poor and did shady shit amongst hanging out with shady people. I just wanted to dig my heels in, I know I'm being a bitch, he brings it out in me. There is no way I would ever go looking around his old hangout spots. "You're funny Lena." he laughs and Tessa snuggles closer to him, ugh I want to vomit. "Don't call me Lena, Stefan." I simply say and with that I hear baby girl over the baby monitor and get up. "Damon this one's on me." I say before walking into the house. As I go into my sweet girl's room I turn off the monitor and pick up Char baby. "Sweetie don't ever fall in love with the bad boys, broken hearts is all you'll get out of it and a lesson learned."

After I change her diaper and give her a bottle I decide that I'm going to Jackson and having some fun. I send a quick text to Care and Bon, of course Care is down for a girl's night on the town. Bon Bon on the other hand isn't up for leaving her baby just yet, understandable. Caroline comes inside my room and we start dressing up for a night on the town. It's only 9 at night and I'm used to a fast pace life, parties, clubs and events are my life once again, so I'm ready to have some fun with my best girlfriend.

"Holy shit are those fucking new Jimmy Choos?" Caroline squeaks looking down at my purple stilettos. She's missing out on her old life, but says that she's good with being a party planner here in the South with Matt. "Yeah and there is a matching teal pair just for you in the shoe box on the bed." I tell her putting my earrings in. She jumps up and down and runs to the bed like a kid. "You look so damn sexy Elena, I mean you always have but now you have a celeb glow to you again."

Turning to her shaking my head I sit next to her on the bed and sigh, " I mean yeah I earn a lot of money doing what I do best and I can now spend it on expensive things, but I'm still me. There are no pills being handed to me to stay awake, no men trying to group me and I'm having fun. I won't lie, I miss the hell out of yall Care, sometimes I want to come back, but then I remember that I'm doing good." Caroline smiles and throws her arm around my shoulder. "I know, we miss you too and I am so so happy that you're having a better experience this time, but still you look fucking hot." We laugh and walk outside to bid everyone good night. When we appear everyone's eyes bug out of their head, my brother has never seen me like this. He hasn't even seen my old pictures, saying that something's are just meant to be unseen.

"So we're going to head over to Jackson and hit up some clubs." Caroline tells Matt who is probably sporting a boner right now. Horn dog. She is in her teal stilettos, a short black halter dress topped with a mini leather jacket. Her hair is straight and her makeup is done Smokey. This is the Caroline Forbes I was used to. "Just come home alone with Elena." he jokes making everyone laugh. "Don't worry we will come back together no extra guests."

I laugh, "Speak for yourself, these shoes are new and they want to be shown a good time." I wink at her and Damon looks mortified yeah fucker that's for all the times I've heard you and Bonnie fucking! "As your older brother I demand that you don't speak like that. "I roll my eyes at his nonsense, "Well as your little sister I'm telling you that I'm young and wanting to have a good time with Caroline and to not by any means wait up." I wink making the color drain from his face, oh yes little sister has you by the balls bro. "Hell she might get Care home, but that doesn't mean she'll be coming home." Bonnie tells him making me nod. "See Bon knows how to have a good time." I see Stefan out of the corner of my eye and he looks pissed, I don't know why he would though, we are not together and he is with that damn gutter slut.

And yes, he did check me out. Wearing my purple Jimmy Choos, I chose a strapless black dress that is short, tight and lacey. I have my cream colored mini leather jacket in my hand next to a purple and cream clutch that holds my everything for tonight. I styled my hair sexy with bouncy curls that makes me look like my mom and did a purple and cream Smokey eye color for my makeup. "Well let's get to it, I need a strong drink and some dance music." I say to Caroline before linking arms with her, we say bye to everyone and cross the backyard for the fence. Just as we're walking out of the back gate Tessa yells, "Use protection."

I smirk and turn towards her, "Don't worry I won't be sitting next to you in the free clinic anytime soon sweetie, STD's aren't my thing. Yall have a pleasant night!" And then we're gone and all I can do is join Caroline in her laughter.