Katie’s POV

The last few months had been hard. I felt as if I had no one in the world. Granted I knew I did have friends. Note the ‘did’. After losing the only person I had in my family, I met some people who seemed like my friends. I’d never really made friends, and as soon as I did make friends they disappeared off of the face of the Earth.

That meant I had nothing to keep me in Denver. I had no friends. I had no family. I had been living with neighbours for a while waiting to track down my Father. Now I had.

Although it was late I knew I had to find him tonight. I hadn’t seen him in a long while and I didn’t know where I could find him, but from what I found out he lives in Mystic Falls, just I don’t know where.

I didn’t have a phone number for him, so I had no way in contacting him. I walked through Mystic Falls having no idea which direction to look.

As I wandered I looked for any sign of large amounts of people, as then hopefully my Father would be there, or at least one of them may know where he could be.

The only sign of human life in this town was the bright glowing light from inside of a wooded area. This was pretty much the start of every single horror movie, but I’m sure nothing could get worse in my life.

I wouldn’t have been in this situation if the journey didn’t take so long. The plane was delayed and then I hit traffic, meaning the journey took nearly double the time.

Never had I thought that I’d be faced with a horror movie situation, but I sucked it up and began to walk through the forest. I did my best to be quiet, not having any idea what I was going to come face to face with. Being quiet wasn’t too easy seen as I was carrying my rucksack and a suitcase. I wasn’t very strong and carrying pretty much all I owned wasn’t easy.

As I grew closer to the group of people I was shocked with what I saw.

There was a tomb, which made me guess that I was close to the graveyard (another horror movie cliché) which didn’t make me feel any less concerned.

In front of the tomb stood my Father with a group of people who I couldn’t see staring at him, even at a distance I could see the sad expression on his face and the tear stains on his cheeks.

I moved closer to the group, presuming they weren’t threatening, although my Father was in tears. When I was just behind all of the people I dropped my bags not really caring about my possessions.

“Dad… What’s going on?” I said quietly but with enough volume for my Father and the other people to hear me.

Everyone turned to look at me with the same sad expressions.

“Katie what are you doing here?” He questioned.

“What’s going on Dad? Why are you stood in a forest outside of a tomb with a bunch of teenagers in tears? This doesn’t look great, so I’d like an explanation. It was like you were wiped off of the face of the Earth, this was just a lucky punt at finding you,” I frowned trying to keep a brave face.

“Nothing’s going on Katie. Does your Mother know you’ve travelled across the country? Go home Katie, I’m sure your Mother is worried,” He said trying to change the topic.

A lump appeared in my throat as I knew I couldn’t avoid telling him. It was clear that they weren’t in love anymore, seen as they split up a long time ago, but they loved one another at one point and I’m sure all of those emotions couldn’t be erased.

“She won’t be worried Dad. She died three months ago in a bank robbery. I’ve been living with my neighbours for the last few months until I could track you down,” I sighed, not really wanting to tell him.

“She… She… She died? I’m so sorry Katie,” He practically whispered.

“Now what’s going on?” I questioned trying not to cry.

My teeth were gritting together as I held in the tears and tried not to let him change the subject before I knew what was going on.

He didn’t say anything, and instead just looked down and let his tears fall. I understood the pain he was feeling in learning his ex-wife was dead, but I still needed answers to what was going on. Realising nothing was going to come from him; I just turned to the large group of people.

“Can someone just tell me what’s going on?” I questioned with anger laced in my tone.

A man with dark hair and light blue eyes step forward with an emotionless expression on his face that matched his tone of voice spoke, “He’s dying kid.”

“What do you mean he’s dying?” I questioned the man, before turning around to my Father, “What does he mean that you’re dying?”

“He is transitioning into a vampire, and is choosing not to complete the transition,” the man stated.

The lump built up again in my throat. My teeth were pressed forcefully against one another as I couldn’t help the tears falling down my cheeks.

“How? Last I knew you were killing vampires, so why are you becoming one?” I sobbed, choking on my words.

“I didn’t plan on it Katie. I would never want to be a vampire, hence why I can’t complete the transition. I’m sorry sweetheart,” he said softly opening his arms up for me to hug him.

Without hesitation I ran into his arms hugging him as close as I could. I knew as soon as I was out of his arms his shirt would be soaked in my tears. I didn’t want to let him go as I just wanted to have him with me for as long as I could, because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to both of my parents so close to one another.

“Can’t you complete the transition? I can’t lose you, Daddy,” I cried into his chest as pain panged in my heart.

“I can’t Katie. I’m so sorry. You’ll be okay honey, I can promise you that,” he said kissing my hair.

I couldn’t help my sobs, and I didn’t care that I had so many strangers watching me.

“Damon, can you take care of her please? Get her away from this, and come back so I can speak to you please,” My Father stated.

The dark haired man came towards me as my Father released me from the hug to force me towards Damon. He didn’t really hug me but more just held me. I tried to fight my way out of his arms. Rather than trying to get me to walk which wouldn’t have got him far, he picked me up with one hand under my knees and the other behind my back. I hit his chest crying to be let down.

“Baby Gilbert, come with me, I think I’ll need your sentimental side,” Damon stated carrying me away from my Father and everyone else.

We reached a care after a minute or so of them walking with me being carried.

When we reached the car Damon unlocked it putting me into the back of the car.

“Stay with her please, Gilbert, I need to go talk with Ric, and then I’ll be back,” Damon sighed.

I looked at the man who had been left with me. Even though I was in an extremely sad mood I smiled softly at him.

“Jeremy?” I questioned still crying.

“Hey Katie,” He smiled softly gesturing for me to scoot along the backseat of the car. I did so and he slid in next to me.

Without even hesitating he wrapped an arm around me pulling me into a hug so my head was rested on his chest.

“It hurts so badly,” I cried talking about the pain in my heart.

“I know Katie. My parents died about a year ago. I know your pain and it will ease with time,” He said softly stroking my hair whilst I cried into his shirt.

“I tried to block out the pain of my Mum. I just distracted myself with spending time with you in Denver, but it hurts so much and I can’t block it out anymore,” I cried as he held me tighter.

“Just cry. It’ll help let the pain out and you’ll just sleep and for a couple of moments you’ll lose the pain. It’ll come back as quickly as it went but each day the moments without the pain will be longer until the pain is hardly even there. You’ll never forget them or the pain of their loss, but you’ll be happier,” He sighed.

~*~ Damon’s POV ~*~

I made my way back to Alaric who now only had Meredith and Elena stood with him as the others had left. The two girls stepped away from him as they saw me.

“Damon, I know it’s not too reasonable to ask you this, but you are the only friend I have, and you are the only person I can trust with my little girl. My last dying wish is for you to take care of Katie and to keep her safe,” Alaric smiled softly, still crying.

“Ric, really you trust me with your daughter?” I questioned.

“I’m a dying man Damon. You may be the world’s largest arsehole but I know you can keep Katie safe. Please Damon, I can’t leave her on her own,” He sighed.

I sighed as well. I wasn’t the best person to take care of a child. Granted Katie was a teenager but I wasn’t really the person to trust with someone else’s life as it’s surprising that I hadn’t killed myself yet. 

Just I knew I couldn’t say no to his request as his daughter was the only family he had and I wasn’t that heartless to leave her on her own.

“Okay Ric, I’ll do my best to take care of her,” I stated running a hand through my hair.

“Thank you Damon, now just go and take care of her,” he smiled softly turning his back to me going back into the tomb.

I couldn’t let myself cry as I had to be story for Jeremy and Elena, and especially Katie. Grabbing the two bags that Katie had left in the forest earlier Elena and I made our way back to my car. I threw her bags into the boot

Elena had already got into the passenger side of the car as Jeremy was holding a crying Katie in the back of the car. I drove the two Gilbert’s to their house before I drove Katie back to the boarding house.

Now that she wasn’t curled up to Jeremy, she was curled up in a ball in tears. When I pulled up outside the boarding house I got out of the car only for Katie to still be in tears in the back of the car. I walked around the car opening the door for her. She let out another sob before she got out of the car.

I grabbed both of her bags from the boot of the car before letting Katie into the boarding house. Neither of us started a conversation other than me telling her that the room I led her to was her bedroom and that my room was down the hall if she needed me.

With that I left Katie and her stuff in one of the spare bedroom’s to let herself grieve.