Mystic Falls, Virginia is at first sight a picturesque town. A place one dreams to have that white picket fence life and raise their children alongside their soulmate. A place everybody knows each other and is like one enormous family. But you have you ever heard the phrase you should never judge a book by its cover? It implies to Mystic Falls. Aside from the town's foundation in 1860, it has a long history of witches, vampires and werewolves, and in result has become an uncanny village with dark secrets.

Diane Boudreaux has only ever been to Mystic Falls once in her long life. Back in 1964, she befriended a Bennett witch by the name of Sheila. From what she heard through the grapevine, the woman was dead now, having risked her life to preform a spell alongside her granddaughter a couple years ago. Diane wasn't fond of the town all that much when she was first passing through. The woman found it too small and quiet for her taste, though had no choice but to return now.

Two days ago it had been her birthday, and while she psychically remains the age of twenty-seven, Diane Boudreaux had celebrated her one-hundred-and-nineteenth birthday. She would normally celebrate such a day with her goddaughter over a slice of cake and a good movie, but Andrea never came home, nor did she call. Diane knew Andrea was a grown woman and could take of herself, but the woman couldn't set aside the fact that her goddaughter has been messing around with her friend Tyler Lockwood and that he was from Mystic Falls. She figured if anywhere, maybe his hometown would be a good place to start.

She drove with the top down and wind rushing through her chestnut locks. Children were playing in the park, cars lined up along the street, and a clothing store with a sale had a crowded sidewalk of people waiting for the doors to open so they could burst through. Diane gave a casual wave and flashed the residents a small smile as she drove by. When she arrived at the Mystic Grill, she parked her Chevy and pocketed her keys. Tossing her sunglasses onto her seat, the woman smoothed out her jacket and entered the crowded restaurant.

People were eating their early dinners and drinking at the bar, hustling pool and shooting darts. It was loud, so loud you couldn't hear the music over the chatter. There were a few people smoking on her far right; she waved the puffs of nicotine away from her face as she weaved her way around them. As she approached the bar, Diane could feel many eyes on hers, no doubt for her unfamiliar face. She took a seat at the bar and glanced around, tapping her manicured fingers against the counter. In seconds, the handsome bartender was flashing her a welcoming smile and asking what he could get for her.

"Nothing for me," Diane responded with a sweet smile. "In fact I seem to be a little lost. I was wondering if you could tell me where I can find Tyler Lockwood?"

"I got it from here," said someone else. They slid onto the barstool beside her and flashed the bartender a smile. "Thanks, Brian."

Diane turned her head toward him. Classically handsome with an aura that read brooding, mysterious and intense, the man's pale complexion, angular jawline and bronze hair was all too familiar to her eye. Her warm, chocolate gaze connected with his forest greet one and she smiled warmly. "Stefan Salvatore, what a treat."

His eyebrows furrowed. "You know who I am?"

She gasped dramatically, putting a hand over her heart. "I'm hurt you don't remember me, Stefan. Though, I suppose it makes sense. Last time we saw each other, your humanity was off. What a wild time that had been."

They met in Chicago back in 1920. And what a time it had been. She used to dance until her legs were numb with her arms wrapped around the man she loved and drink as much bourbon as she could get her hands on. While dancing with Niklaus, one of the wooden bullets that rang through the gunfire from Mikael's surprise attack pierced her heart and it killed her. She died in his arms, his face the last thing she can remember from that night. And when she woke up a few hours later in the local morgue, he was gone. They were all gone, and she was alone. Diane has seen none of them since.

His forest green eyes studied every feature of her face before a gleam of familiarity flashed in his eyes. "Diane Boudreaux," Stefan breathed out, voice full of confusion. "But you're supposed to be dead. I saw your body in Klaus' arms that night. They shot you with a wooden bullet."

"I did die," she said. "But you see . . . I'm a special kind of witch, Stefan."

"Special how?"

"My family must have an heir to inherit our power, and as I have yet to conceive a child, my ancestors restored my life."

He raised an eyebrow. "Your family pressures you to have children?"

Diane gave him a tight smile. "Unfortunately so. With each generation, our power only grows stronger. And since I'm the last of my name, I have no choice in the matter."

"Well, that doesn't seem like you have a lot of pressure on your shoulders," Stefan commented. "So, what are you doing here? Why are you looking for Tyler?"

"I'm not looking for Tyler, per se," Diane replied. "I'm here looking for my goddaughter, Andrea Labonair. Perhaps you've heard of her?"

Stefan nodded. "Yeah, I've seen her around with Tyler. Andrea's the one who helped him break his sire link to Klaus. Haven't seen her in a few days, though. Why? Is something wrong?"

"I hope not. She hasn't answered my phone calls in a while and she missed my birthday, which is unlike her," Diane explained. "I know that she's an adult and that I'm just being a worried mother, but you can't really blame me. This is, after all, Mystic Falls."

A snort came from the younger Salvatore. "No, I can't, and you have every reason to be worried. Especially with Klaus around."

Diane felt her eyes bug out and her heart nearly stop. Especially with Klaus around. Did that mean Klaus was here? In Mystic Falls? She felt her stomach churn ─ in a good way or a bad way she did not yet know ─ at the possibility of seeing the man she had loved again.

"I take it you didn't know that he was here," Stefan said.

She shook her head. "I didn't, no. Why would Andrea be there? She knows how dangerous vampires, let alone the Old Ones, are. I mean no offense, but vampires never take too kindly to werewolves."

"No offense taken," replied Stefan, his hands up in surrender. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"You could point me toward the Lockwood home. I would like to have a word with this Tyler and find out if he knows where I can find my goddaughter."

"Good luck with that," Stefan chuckled. "Tyler's been in a bit of a mood lately. What with Klaus and the usual Hybrid hormone."

"Hybrid hormones?" Diane questioned. What on earth did that mean?

Stefan stared at her in disbelief. "You really haven't seen Klaus since 1920, have you, Diane?" When she remained silent, he continued. "I'm not really sure how else to explain it, so here it goes . . . Klaus broke his curse. He did a while ago, and now he's able to create hybrids using doppelgänger blood. Tyler was his first success, and since then Tyler's been rebelling against Klaus. Thanks to Andrea, he was able to break the sire bond, but Klaus and Tyler still clash heads. Probably always will. I mean, you know Klaus. He isn't one to just abandon a grudge so easily."

"No, he isn't, unfortunately," Diane sighed. "Hopefully, he won't be too upset with me."

"Hold on," Stefan's eyes grew in size. "He doesn't know you're alive?"

"I never exactly told him about my family's insistence of my childbearing, no," Diane replied.

Stefan ran a hand through his hair. He knew how much Diane and Klaus meant to each other back then and sighed as he stood from the barstool and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Good luck with the reunion, you'll need it knowing Klaus. And Tyler's house is just off the main road. Take two lefts after you see signs for Maple and you'll notice the house right away. It's the largest one on the street."

Diane gave him a small smile. "Thank you, Stefan, I really appreciate your help."

"No problem. And if you can't find Andrea, you know where to find me," Stefan said before he turned on his heel and left her alone at the bar.

　
✧ ✦ ✧
　

Ten minutes after leaving the Mystic Grill, Diane followed Stefan's explicit directions to the Lockwood home. Take two lefts after you see signs for Maple and you'll notice the house right away. It's the largest one on the street. And it was the largest house on the street. Massive and white and almost like a miniature White House, the home looked more of a museum than it appeared a home. She stepped out of her car and walked up the porch steps to the front door. Diane knocked thrice before someone answered the door.

The face on the other side of the door was young, like a baby. Just a boy, not yet a man, and perhaps he never would be if this was the Tyler Lockwood her goddaughter has spoken so much about over the phone, for that only meant the teenage boy was frozen in time, never to grow old. He had dark hair and brown eyes to match, bushy eyebrows, and olive skin.

"Tyler Lockwood?" She asked, just to be sure, even though she was certain it was him.

His eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "Yeah," he said. "Can I help you?"

"I hope so," Diane replied. "My name is Diane Boudreaux. I'm looking for my goddaughter. Rumor has it she's been spending some quality time here in Mystic Falls with her friend . . . with you."

"Me?" Tyler Lockwood blinked his wide eyes in confusion and opened the door wider. "Who's your goddaughter?"

"Andrea Labonair. The name ring a bell? Of course it does," Diane tilted her head to the side as she watched the boy stare at her in both confusion and surprise. "And don't even try to lie. My goddaughter has mentioned your name before when we've spoken over the phone. She knows you, and you know her. So, where is she?"

"I have no idea."

Diane narrowed her eyes at him. "Tyler, you seem like a sweet kid. But sweet kids tend to keep secrets. Are you the type of kid that might keep a secret to protect a friend?"

"Why are so worried? Did something happen to Andrea?" Tyler's voice was full of concern.

"I can't be too sure," Diane replied. "She hasn't been answering my calls, and we never saw each other on my birthday, which is very unusual of Andrea. She has never once missed my birthday. So, as you can see, I'm quite concerned. Now, do I need to ask again?"

"I'm being honest," Tyler insisted. "I haven't seen her in a couple days. All she told me was she had some kind of business to take care of, and that was it. Nothing more, nothing less. I swear."

The woman sighed. "And she didn't mention where she was going?"

Tyler shook his head. "No, she didn't. Look, I'm sorry, but I really don't have time for this right now. I do hope you find Andrea, though, she's a good friend. Helped me out a lot over the past few months."

"Yes, my Andrea has quite the bleeding heart," Diane acknowledged. She dug into her purse and pulled out a card. It was a simple, white business card with her name and number on it and nothing else. "Do me a favor and give me a call if you've heard for her, yeah? I'd really appreciate it."

"Yeah, sure, no problem." Tyler grabbed the business card and slid it into his front pocket.

"Thank you for your time," Diane replied.

.･:✦ ────────────── ✦:･.
　

a/n: I'm so excited to be writing
for Klane again! I really missed
them. And I cannot WAIT for
you guys to see what changes
I've made to this story, it's
going to be ten times better than
before. So buckle in, my dears,
because you're in for a long,
chaotic, ride.