GILBERT HOUSEHOLD

It was 2am as Jenna and Elena looked to Alaric with eyes wide and mouth aghast. Ric sighed heavily, rubbing his hand roughly up and down his face, "I know it's late, but I figured you'd want to know as soon as."

Aella rubbed Elena's back, "Are you okay, E?"

As soon as Aella woke from her post-vision-pass-out, Stefan told her what she'd said to them and then what Ric had called about. It didn't take them very long for them to pick Ric up from the Grill and head over to the Gilbert house. Luckily for them, no one in the house was asleep following the events of the previous night. Elena and Jenna were making hot chocolates for the four of them when the group arrived.

Jeremy had chosen to stay upstairs with Anna, he knew he'd be updated in the morning.

Elena shrugged, "I'm not sure."

Damon looked to Alaric, "Did you ask her about Uncle John? Are they working together?"

Alaric shook his head, "No."

"No, they're not?" Damon confirmed, confused.

Alaric shook his head again, "No, I didn't ask."

Aella's eyes rolled back, Damon had been asking Alaric question after question since they'd picked him up at the Grill, and every answer was the same.

Damon seemed to realize the same as he shrugged his shoulders, "Did words completely escape you?"

That seemed to be the nail in the coffin for Alaric. He slammed his hand on the table, looking towards the vampire, "No, I was a little too distracted by my dead vampire wife to ask any questions."

"And she wants to see Elena?" Jenna questioned Alaric, who, for the first time that night, answered with an affirmative answer.

"Alaric is supposed to arrange a meeting," Stefan explained to Jenna, seeing Alaric was in no mood. "We don't know what she actually wants."

Damon moved over to Elena and crouched in front of her, "You don't have to see her if you don't want to."

"Yeah, E," Aella nodded in agreement. "Damon and I can show up and really give her what for."

Elena shook her head, and stoically replied, "I don't really have a choice."

Alaric widened his eyes at Damon and Aella, "She's threatened to go on a killing spree."

Damon stood up and shook his shoulder, "Oh! I take it that's not okay with you guys."

Aella hit the vampire on his arm, "She knows that's our one weakness. Well, for most-" her eyes narrowed on Damon "-of us."

"I want to do it," Elena nodded, and Aella finally saw some emotion in her eyes; determination. Elena looked to everyone in the room, landing on Damon last, "I want to meet her. If I don't... I know I'll regret it."

Jenna squeezed Elena's hand, she sat on Elena's other side, "We'll do whatever you need us to do."

Aella nodded at the guardian's words and knew Elena appreciated them when she squeezed both of their hands tightly.

They spent the rest of the hour discussing what would be done to keep Elena safe and noted some ideas as to what Isobel could possibly want. It wasn't lost on anyone that John Gilbert wasn't around either. At 3am the group decided they all needed sleep to be ready, not only to meet Isobel, but for school.

Damon and Ric left while Stefan pulled Aella up to her room, and they both fell onto her bed, fully clothed and fell asleep.

MYSTIC FALLS HIGH SCHOOL

"So these are the specs for the History department. For the Founders' Day float, we'll be recreating the battle of Willow Creek."

Aella let out a wide yawn as Ric explained to their group about their float, she smirked when he nominated Tyler for the head of production.

"So, how's Elena?"

Aella looked to her cousin as she took a large sip of her coffee. "She's okay," the witch shrugged. "Shocked more than anything."

Caroline shook her head sadly, "Do you need anything from us-" she indicated between her and Bonnie "-before they meet?"

"We're good," Aella admitted with a small shrug. "Showdown is after school. Ric and Damon will be outside listening in as backup and Stefan, and I will be with her."

"Stay close to her," Bonnie asked of her cousin, who nodded without thought.

Someone shouted Caroline's name, and the blonde took a deep breath, "We're needed for the Miss Mystic Falls float, text if you need us?"

Aella nodded and watched Caroline pull Bonnie with her. Caroline had volunteered Bonnie, without the girl's knowledge, following the disagreement between the two cousins the previous day. Caroline had told Aella it was to keep the peace between the two girls. Still, Aella knew from the devious glint in her best friend's eyes that she would make the other Bennett girl work extra hard for her comments to Aella.

Aella continued observing her group as they began to put a plan together. Stefan was already volunteered by Tyler as 'Fact Checker', which by the smile of Stefan's face, Aella knew he loved. Stefan was a geek at heart, and something so basic as float building based on the Battle of Willow Creek made him one happy vampire.

"Hey."

Aella looked up at Elena's greeting, watching as the brunette sat next to her and handed her a muffin. Aella looked at the muffin close, and when she didn't spot fruit or any chocolate, she looked at her Elena with a brow raised, "What's this?"

Elena took a bite of hers, letting out a surprised 'mmm' at the taste, "It's a cheese muffin."

Aella glanced down at the muffin in disgust before raising her eyes to Elena, "Cheese in a muffin? Is this a savory muffin?"

Elena nodded as she took another bite of hers, "The culinary club was handing them out, I'd thought you'd like it. It's good."

Aella's finger poked Elena's cheek, causing her friend to let out a shocked 'ow!' Which quickly turned to glare, "What was that for?"

"Elena," Aella began in a very matter-of-fact tone, "Life is already full of disappointments. Why then did you hand me a savory muffin? Savory muffins do not have juicy fruit, or even better, yummy chocolate pieces." Aella held up the muffin in her hand, glaring at it, "Why would anyone choose this?!"

"It tastes like garlic bread!" Elena exclaimed. "You love garlic bread."

"That is not the point," Aella pointed to her best friend. "No chocolate or fruit, me no eaty."

Elena took the offending muffin from her fingers, "I'll eat it then."

Aella waved her to do so, "Go ahead." She watched Elena eat the muffin with no problem, "I've never been so disappointed in you, Elena."

Elena only grinned from around the muffin.

"Girls, are you working today?" Ric called to them across the room.

Aella jumped up and saluted at the teacher, "Anything to get me away from Miss Savoury Muffin there." Slowly walking over to where Tyler and Stefan were talking, she smiled brightly at them when they noticed her, "Your little ray of sarcastic sunshine has arrived!"

"I'm nominating you as group foreman," Tyler announced as his way of saying hello.

Aella gave him a lopsided grin, "Because I'm an awesome worker?"

"Because you scare everyone," Tyler corrected her with a smirk.

Stefan snorted at the smile that appeared on Aella's face. To most that would be a negative thing to hear, but to Aella, that was as positive as you could get. She jumped on the spot, excitedly, "Do I get a special hat?"

Tyler's brow furrowed, "No."

"What about a badge?" Aella offered instead.

Tyler looked to Stefan, confused, "I don't have a badge."

Aella pouted, "But how will everyone know I'm the boss?"

Stefan chuckled, "Trust me, Glinda. They'll know."

Aella shrugged that off, but her eyes brightened when she saw Matt looking around the float. She nudged Tyler, "Ask him to join our float."

"Um..." Tyler stumbled, but Aella pushed him forward. Stefan looked to her with a brow raised, and she raised her hands, "What? How are they going to make up if they keep avoiding each other."

The couple walked to the two just as Tyler asked Matt to join them. Unsurprisingly, Matt was quick to snort, "No-"

"-no place he'd rather be," Aella smacked Matt around the head. "Right, Matty?"

The look she gave Matt and him gulping with fear, was enough for Tyler to realize he'd chosen the right person to keep everyone focused on their float. Matt hesitantly nodded, and Aella clapped happily.

MYSTIC GRILL

Damon handed Alaric's cell to Elena, "It's all connected; just keep it in your pocket, and we'll hear everything."

Elena nodded with a deep breath and did as instructed, Damon watching her close as she did. He pulled her away from the group for a moment, looking down at her, "You don't have to do this."

Elena smiled softly up at him and nodded, "Yes, I do, Damon."

"You stay close to Aella," Damon pointed at her. "You make sure you know where she and Stefan are at all times."

Elena nodded. The two just looked to each other for a moment, until Aella stepped forward and gently took Elena's arm, "It's time, Elena."

Elena took another deep breath before taking Aella's hand and walking in with her and Stefan.

Aella squeezed her hand tight as they reached the table. Earlier in the day Damon had chosen where Elena would be sitting, not too far away from the door, but not too close to the bar where others could hear. Also, the pool tables, where Stefan and Aella would be keeping watch, was in Elena's direct sight.

Elena took a seat and hesitantly let go of Aella's hand. Her best friend smiled down at her, "You know the code word if you've had enough?"

"Gold," Elena repeated out loud. There wasn't a significant meaning to the word. It was short and easily recognizable to not be a part of a normal conversation.

Aella hesitated to leave, and Elena smiled shakily at the protectiveness of her friend, "I'm good, Aella, go."

Aella glanced back to Stefan, whose brow was raised at her hesitation. Her nose flared at Elena's discomfort, and without any thought, Aella sat down heavily next to her. "No. I'm staying. I'm not leaving you on your own with her."

Elena's eyes teared up at her words, "But she said-"

"-I don't care what she wants, Elena," Aella interrupted her. "I'm not leaving you on your own with a murdering psychopath."

Elena took hold of Aella's hand on the table, "Then stay for the greeting, but I need to do this. I need to face her and show her I'm not afraid. Okay?"

Aella's lips pursed with annoyance, and she nodded, "Okay."

Elena shakily smiled back and took a final deep breath, "Okay."

"Hello, Elena."

The teenagers tensed up at the unfamiliar voice as Isobel walked around the table to finally face her daughter. "You look just like her, that's eerie."

"You've met Katherine?" Elena questioned, a name that had nothing but a pain in her ass this past year.

Isobel took a seat opposite Elena and Aella, "She found me after I turned. Genetic curiosity, I suppose. She would be fascinated by you." Isobel turned to Aella who she'd been ignoring up until this point, she returned her gaze to Elena, "I said alone."

"You know we'd never allow that," Aella answered for Elena.

Isobel snarled at the teenager, "I can kill everyone here in a second, and it would be all your fault."

Aella turned her palm and rested it above the table. At once Isobel could feel a tightness wrap around her body, as if her body was entangled with unbreakable rope. "No, you won't," Aella smirked as she wiggled her fingers. "That's just the beginning of what I can do. One-touch to that perfect alabaster skin will be all it takes, and I'll know it all. I'll be able to see everything you're hiding in that head of yours..."

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From the car, listening to the phone Elena had in her pocket, Alaric looked to Damon, "Can she actually do that?"

"No," Damon snorted, but his smirk dropped as he thought it over. "I don't think so, anyway."

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Aella wiggled her fingers again, "Let's not risk us having a nice chat because you're a psychopath. I'm here for your daughter, but whatever you say is between the two of you." Aella looked to Elena, "I'll be over with Stefan, you know what to say if you feel uncomfortable."

Elena nodded, and Aella stood up, smirking down at the vampire, "I'd say it was nice to meet you, but Mama didn't raise no liar."

Isobel glared at the witch as she walked away. Still, the tightness surrounding her body didn't let up. She realized she'd underestimated the witch as she watched her join one of the Salvatore brothers on the other side of the room.

Stefan took hold of Aella's body as she leaned heavily into him. He brought his phone up to her eyes, and she read, 'I have you, concentrate on Isobel.'

When Aella had raised the idea to keep Isobel witching her magical grasp, she hadn't thought how her powers would hold up for so long under that much strain. She'd spoken about it with Stefan and asked him to keep it between them so the others could concentrate on Elena. Still, as she leaned into him and he saw her tanned skin grow paler with each minute she held the binding around Isobel, he wondered just how long Aella would last.

When Isobel nodded across at Aella and Stefan, Aella raised her hand, which thankfully only Stefan noticed shaking. Aella stared at the vampire, "You do anything, and i'll decapitate you without care... minds can be erased, dead bodies can't."

Isobel curled her lip at the witch until she nodded, and Aella dropped her magic. Isobel rose from her seat, she looked directly at Stefan, "You Salvatore boys really know how to choose them."

Stefan said nothing, and Isobel left as quickly as she arrived. Before Stefan could ask how Aella was, his girlfriend ran across the bar, wobbling precariously. Her arms scooped Elena into her arms as the teen let out a heart-wrenching sob and held Aella as tight as she could.
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A/N: Sooooo, as promised on my Instagram, Aella v Isobel Round 1 has occurred, and me thinks Aella definitely won that one. The scene where Elena meets Isobel needed to happen I originally had Aella standing with Stefan. But then I realised that was way to OU and Aella and my story is 100% AU, Aella wouldn't let her best friend face Isobel alone and so that changed. We also saw Aella's magic become stronger with her feelings, at the beginning of An Elemental Difference, Aella would not have been able to do that. Anyway, I hope you liked the mini shown down, I literally had cowboy music in my head when writing it lol.

Also, if you follow my Instagram, you will know that after this chapter there is only NINE more chapters of this story remaining. There WILL be a sequel, I promise, s2 is in the planning stages atm and while I am writing S2, I will be posting my new Game of Thrones fic which is also an AU fic... I'm really excited to post it because of all the hard work if put into it, just like An Elemental Difference. I have about 16 chapters already written, so while I post these on a weekly basis I can concentrate on writing S2... spoiler... Uncle Nate will be making an early appearance... I'm so excited for you all to meet him!
Now. Morbid moment... but a needed one. 2020 has not been the best year, a lot of people have unnecessarily lost their lives to COVID-19. But this week, COVID-19 became the reason a monster is no longer walking on this earth. Peter Sutcliffe became a victim himself this week and although I am not a religious person... I hope he rots in hell and the Devil's 'disciple' is shown the true meaning of evil. My heart goes out to all the victims of this despicable man, as well as the family and friends that still grieve. Rest in Peace you beautiful people and know that this monster can hurt no one else.

Please follow me on Instagram so you can all the latest updates on this story and future stories.
Keep safe. Be kind. And wear a mask.
Xoxo