Just because I was exiled from Mystic Falls did not mean that I couldn't have some very much well needed fun to blow off some steam.

I was in LA, in a fancy club with bars, drunk, dancing on one of the bars with a few others, drinking from the bottle in my hand.

The song that was playing was 'Lean On' by Major Lazer, DJ Snake and MO.

My phone rang. I was still dancing on the bar as I took it out, seeing that it was Stefan calling, sighing, hesitantly answering, still dancing. "Yes, brother?"

"Where are you?"

"Across the country by now."

"Are you in a club?"

"Yes, Dad. And don't try to talk me into coming back to Mystic Falls until Elena, Caroline an Enzo are free from possession of those spoiled brats."

"Well, I'm actually talking to Lily about that now. She wants to know that you're far away or she won't let them go."

"Yeah, well, tell her I'm in LA."

"And even if she lets them go, she doesn't want you coming back."

"I know that, Stefan." I took a drink, continuing to dance. "Is there another reason why you're calling me?"

"Actually, yeah. I just found out that Lily sent members of her family to check up on us over the years. She sent a Heretic named Oscar to Damon when he was away at war in 1863. She sent a Heretic named Valerie to me. She told me the name of the man she sent to you, but he wasn't a Heretic, let alone a vampire when he met you."

"What do you mean?"

"Does the name Julian Duval mean anything to you?" I stopped dancing in shock at hearing that name, no longer in a party mood. "Kaylin?"

"I never want to hear the name Julian Duval again. Do you understand me?"

"Why? What happened between you and Julian? Come on, Kaylin. You can tell me."

I sighed, hesitating.

      *******  

Flashback - 1863

Mystic Falls County Fair

The county fair was underway.

The fairgrounds were full of people.

I was sitting on a bench, overlooking the fair.

A well-dressed blonde man was running a kissing booth where women could pay two pennies, which would be donated to the Confederate Army, to kiss him. He looked over the crowd. "For the soldiers." The crowd cheered. "Have your tickets ready, ladies. The men n the battlefield need us." I stood, walking closer. The man smiled. "Hello, darling. What is your name?"

"Kaylin Salvatore," I answered sweetly.

"Hello, Kaylin Salvatore," the man told me. "My name is Julian Duval." I handed him a ticket and a pouch of pennies. Julian chuckled in surprise. "And why would you like to donate so much if the cost is two pennies?"

"My brother is out there this minute, risking his life to fight this war," I answered.

Julian smiled, looking over the crowd. "Do you hear this, ladies and gentlemen? Seems this family is full of heroes." The crowd applauded. Julian looked at me. "Are you ready?" I nodded. Julian took me in his arms, dipping me down, kissing me for a long, long moment, pulling away, pulling me up. I chuckled in surprise. "How was that, love?"

I smiled, giggling.

      *******  

Now

I was sitting at the bar, on the phone with Stefan. "Why did she send Julian to me?"

"The same reason she sent Oscar to me and sent Valerie to me. To check on us. According to Lily, she wanted to make sure that we were okay before traveled to Europe with Julian. Kaylin... Julian was her boyfriend. He was human when he met you. Lily agreed to turn him if he checked on you."

I sighed, holding my head. "Well, that explains why she doesn't really want me around there other than the fact that I killed Malcolm."

"What? Why? What are you talking about?"

      *******  

Julian and I were sitting on a bench.

I tossed a piece of popcorn at him.

Julian tried to catch it in his mouth, but it missed, landing on the ground next to him.

I smiled. "You have to hold still. It will be delicious. I promise."

I tossed a piece of popcorn at him.

Julian just barely missed.

We laughed.

Julian smiled, laughing. "Aren't we lady-like?"

"I can be, when I want to be, but I'd also like to have some fun," I told him. "I have a brother who's away at war, a father who judges my other brother for not joining him, and a mother who was strong and kind. She died when I was nine."

Julian was careful to keep his expression clear. "I'm so sorry."

"Oh, it was a long time ago," I told him.

Julian nodded, sliding a little closer. "There's no shame in missing her. A woman on the outside with the heart of a girl? There are worse things." I smiled a small smile, looking down. "Would you like to go on a walk with me?"

      *******  

Now

I was still sitting at the bar, still on the phone. "Julian spent days with me. I never brought him home to Dad or even mentioned him to you because he was the type of man that you weren't supposed to fall for."

"And considering your taste in men, of course you did."

I rolled my eyes at the mention of Klaus and Enzo. "Yes, I fell for him. I was a sweet, little girl that was sad that Damon was away at war, and abused and used by our father. He made me think that he could provide a comfort that nobody else could. I was naive."

      *******  

Flashback - 1863

Night had fallen.

Julian was leading me into the woods, toward an abandoned cart with a lit lantern on it. 

I sat down, smiling nervously.

Julian stepped closer, kissing me softly. 

I pulled away, nervous and mildly embarrassed. 

Julian looked at me in confusion. "Is something wrong?"

"No, no," I answered. "It's just... I've loved the past few days with you, Julian, but I've never..."

Julian realized, smiling. "It's all right. I'll lead the way." He gestured to the front of my dress. "Do you mind if I..."

I nodded, standing. Julian started to unbutton the bodice of my dress. We started to kiss with less hesitation. I took off my jacket, turning away. Julian unlaced my corset. He kissed along my neck. I held tightly to the cart to support myself.

      *******  

Julian and I kissed, smiling after the tryst in the cart. We were redressed.

I led him further into the woods. "Come with me. I want to show you something."

I took his hand, leading him into the old cemetery, toward a grave.

Julian looked around in amusement. "This is romantic."

"This is my mother's grave," I told him. Julian froze. I knelt in front of Lily's grave. "I come here every day to replace the flowers. She's been dead for six years, but I'm still trying to make up for my failure."

"What do you mean by that?" Julian asked.

I sighed. "She had consumption. One day, her coughing would not stop. My father sent me to go buy some flowers to make her an herbal tonic. I ran to town as fast as I could, but by the time I got home with the flowers, she had been taken to the sanatorium."

Julian realized. "You never got to say goodbye."

I shook my head. "She died in the TB ward shortly after." Julian walked closer, kneeling beside me. "I always wonder what would have happened if I had just been able to run a little faster. The tonic would have helped her. She could have lived."

Julian looked at the flowers. "Were these the kinds of flowers you were sent for?"

"Yes," I answered. "Cream..."

"Cream violets," Julian finished. "That tonic would not have saved her."

I was stunned. "That's... that's very kind of you, but you cannot be certain."

"But I am," Julian told me. "I worked in a sanatorium, caring for patients who were just like your mother. Cream violets have no medicinal properties. It's an old wives' tale." He pulled a lock of hair away from my face. "Your father sent you on a fool's errand. You were only nine. He... probably wanted you out of the house to make it easier on himself." 

Julian caressed my cheek.

I was overwhelmed by the revelation.

      *******  

Now 

I was still sitting at the bar, still on the phone with Stefan.

"Well, if that's all there is to the story, it doesn't sound too bad."

"That's not all there is."

"Well, then what else, Kaylin?"

I looked down, shaking my head. "A story for another time, brother. I don't feel like rehashing that part of the story just yet."

"Why won't you tell me, Kaylin?"

"Because I haven't told anyone. Ever."

"Well, I sure would like to know, because Lily is looking for Julian as we speak, and she won't stop until she brings him back to Mystic Falls."

I closed my eyes, looking down. "Sorry, Stef, but if he's coming to Mystic Falls, even if you somehow convince Lily to let me come back, I won't come until he's gone."

"What? What are you talking about? What did he do to you, Kaylin?"

I took a very deep breath.

      *******  

Flashback - 1863 

It was after dark. 

I was sitting at a bench in the old cemetery in front of Lily's grave, writing in a journal.

May 02, 1863

I now know the reason for my odd behavior. The... inconsistencies to me and my body. I went to the doctor today. He was able to tell me that I have life inside of me. I have yet to tell Stefan or my father. I know that Father would be livid, having a baby out of wedlock. He would beat me until the baby was no more. Or worse. He would let me have it, and then rip it from my arms to give it up to adoption. I don't think that I would be able to live through this. Would it be the best choice to run away, before I start to show? I need an answer.

Julian stepped out of the shadows.

I looked up at him in surprise. "Julian. You came back."

Julian stepped closer. "That, I did."

I stood, walking closer. "You didn't tell me you would come."

Julian smirked. "I wanted to surprise you."

I smiled, looking down at the journal in my hands, letting it fade in nervousness. "I was hoping I would see you again."

"Well, here I am, darling," Julian told me, taking one of my hands to kiss.

I looked down. "There is something that you need to know, but instead of telling you... You should see for yourself."

I handed him my journal.

Julian took it in confusion, looking at me.

I nodded.

Julian began to read. "'He was able to tell me that I have life inside of me. I have yet to tell Stefan or my father. I know that Father would be livid, having a baby out of wedlock. He would beat me until the baby was no more.'" He took a moment to take this in, looking as if he was listening for something. "I don't think you will need your father to do this, Kaylin." 

I looked at him in confusion.

Julian backhand punched me in the face, making me fall to the ground, kicking me in the stomach.

I groaned, screaming in pain, looking at him in betrayed confusion. "What are you doing?"

"Perhaps I would care about this children of ours if I was still human," Julian told me. "But I'm not. Therefore, I don't." He kicked me in the side, making me roll away. "I'm a vampire, Kaylin. I have my reasons for leaving with your mother to board a ship to England, and you're not sure what to do with this news of yours. I'm solving both of our problems, darling." He punched me in the stomach, making me groan a scream of pain. "You're welcome." He continued to beat me until I was bleeding and weak, until the baby was gone. He knelt next to me. I slid away from him in fear. Julian grabbed my arm to stop me, smirking. "Shh, shh, shh. I just want to make the pain go away." He looked into my eyes, compelling me into a daze. "You won't remember any of this. You won't remember meeting me. Being with me. Conceiving. Or the beating. You won't remember anything."

Julian disappeared.

I crawled desperate toward Lily's headstone, lying on her grave as my child died inside of me, not remembering I came to be this way.

      *******    

Now

I was now walking through a park after dark, still on the phone with Stefan after having told him the story, trying not to be emotional, but it was hard not to do so. "Julian solved this dilemma by beating me senseless, till I was nearly dead, and the other heartbeat inside me stopped."

"I remember. I was the one who found you on Lily's grave. I took you to the infirmary. Dad met us there. He told me that it was an animal attack."

I scoffed at the words, shaking my head. "Why would he have told us the truth back then? That was before Katherine and the tomb vampires came to Mystic Falls. Julian compelled me to forget everything, but when I turned into a vampire myself, the compulsion faded, and I remembered everything. And I couldn't tell you or Damon, and I didn't know how to deal with it, so I ran. It wasn't just because I was mad at you or Damon."

"No. It was because you were going through your own personal hell. Why didn't you tell us?"

"I couldn't tell you until I realized what the hell happened for myself. But even then, I couldn't ever bring myself to talk about it. You're the first person I've ever told, Stefan. And I don't want to talk about it anymore. Now I know why Lily wanted me gone before Julian came. She knows about the affair he had with her daughter, and she doesn't want me to jeopardize their relationship. I wonder if she knows exactly what he did to me. I probably won't get an answer." I hung up without another word, overwhelmed, emotional from telling all of this to Stefan after so long.  I heard something around me, looking around in confusion. I heard a vampire rushing behind me, turning around. A vampire rushed toward me from behind.  I turned around in time to catch both of his hands, turning around, throwing him aside, making him fall. "Whoever the hell you think you are, I'm so not in the mood for this."

I sensed another vampire coming from behind me, turning around, catching her wrist as she tried to stab me with a syringe full of vervain.

The woman there was dark-skinned, little hair on her head. "My apologies." 

I twisted her wrist hard enough to break it, punching her in the face, pushing her away. More vampires were coming out of the shadows to fight. I kicked one of them in the face, making him fall. I stepped over him to jump up to punch another in the face hard enough to make him fall, landing on the ground, turning to the others. Another one tried to punch me. I caught his arm, twisting it behind his back, breaking it, kicking him to the ground. Another grabbed me from behind, trying to restrain me as two others walked closer. I kicked them both back, back flipping out of the other one's grasp, grabbing him, throwing him into three other vampires, making them all fall. Another one tried to punch me. I ducked, kicking his feet out from under him.

Two vampires grabbed my arms, stronger than the others, meaning they were a lot older than them and me. I tried to break free, but they tightened their hold so much that they were threatening to break the bones.

The female vampire that had had the vervain walked closer. "Not bad for a vampire of a century and a half. Should we put your other uses to the test?"

"Which would be what?" I asked. "Who the hell are you people?"

The vampire smiled. "My name is Aya. We are the Strix. And your use is to get to Klaus Mikaelson."

Aya snapped my neck, making me fall unconscious.