13th March 1996

"Stop it!" Mia shrieked, throwing a pillow at the man. "You know I hate being tickled."

"Must've slipped my mind," he gave her an innocent smile. "Come here."

"No!" she sped into the bedroom, holding her breath to avoid being caught. It became quiet, suspiciously quiet. She thought she had gotten away until she felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around her waist and she was flung onto the bed. 

He climbed on top of her, their faces millimetres apart "You thought you could get away, I'll always find you."

"You underestimate darling, I can be very good at hiding if I need to be," she sassed, tapping his nose between every word. 

"I'd like to see you try," his eyes gleamed with mischief , he leaned down and kissed her. Her heart fluttered, they'd been together for 2 years but every time they kissed felt as if it had never happened before. "I love you Lia."

"I love you too, Seb" 

"I got you a present," he pulled her up by her arms and left the room.

"Why? Its not a special occasion," she called out then paused to think "Is it? Well..... It's not my birthday and I know its not your birthday because I already forgot that in January and you wouldn't be giving me a present if it was your birthday. Maybe you would, honestly I never really know with you, every time I think I've got you figured out you surprise me. It's one of the things I lo-"  she fell silent as she turned and saw the man knelt down in front of her.

"2 years ago, February 24th 1994, it's a day I'll always remember. I was singing in café , no one was paying attention, they all spoke over me. And that's when a beautiful stranger threatened to slit all their throats if they didn't shut up." they both shared a laugh as Mia welled up with tears. "Everyday with you has been paradise Lia. You're absolutely crazy but I love it, I love you and I never want us to be apart. I don't really know what else to say,"

"Get to the point," Mia interjected.

"Amelia Sofia Petrova," he started.

"Oh, we're using full names now," she mused.

"Let me finish," he chuckled and took a deep breath "Will you marry me?"

She knew Lexi would disapprove but how was she supposed to say no? She didn't want to.  "Sebastian Matthias Rickard, it would be my honour." He stood up and she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed their lips together. His hand ran down her sides, he lifted her up and hooked her legs around his waist. 

"Do you like the ring?" he asked "It was my mother's."

"She had very good taste," Mia pecked his cheek "I love it, it's perfect."

"You're perfect."

~~~~

"Don't you agree Mia," Bonnie spoke up, pulling Mia back from her daydreams.

"Sorry Bon, I wasn't listening," she fidgeted with her ring, twisting it around her finger. "Don't I agree with what?"

"That Katherine could be out there pretending to be Elena." 

"Oh yeah, it's creepy." she wrapped an arm around each girl's waist as they walked "Which is why I came up with an idea, we should have a secret phrase that Elena can say to us. That way we'll know if it's not her."

"What do you suggest?" Elena asked.

"Okay are you ready?" she stood in front of them and cleared her throat "Mia is the superior Petrova."

"Oh really?" Elena tilted her head to the side, "That's what you want me to say every time we meet."

"I like it," Bonnie beamed, earning her approving looks from Mia. "It's got a nice ring to it and it's 1000% true."

"Good girl," Mia picked the Bennett witch up and spun her around.

"Mia stop," Bonnie squealed "I'm gonna be sick." 

Mia placed her back on the ground and kissed her forehead "This is why you're my favourite witch." She placed her hands on the sides of Elena's face, "Don't worry Elena, you're still my favourite doppelganger...... until I actually meet Katherine."

"Thanks, I guess." Elena giggled.

"Okay, we need to focus" Bonnie passed the two girls bags filled with stuffed animals. "We have to make Caroline proud or she will kill us. I don't know how she does all of this."

"Well because she's not human, obviously." Elena joked.

"That girl is something else entirely," Mia remarked. Her phone began to ring, "Speak of the devil, I swear it's like she sensed Bonnie setting the animals up wrong." She moved to the side and answered her phone "Hi Care."

"Hey Mia," Caroline laid in bed, her focussed fixed on the smell of blood coming from all directions. She wished she could confide in Mia about her situation but believed that she wouldn't understand.

"I was going to come see you but I've been busy with carnival prep."

No, she can't come here. I don't want to hurt her. "It's fine, I was wondering if you could do me a favour."

"Sure babe, anything."

"Could you not come down to the hospital today, it's just that I don't feel like seeing anyone," before Mia could argue Caroline reassured her "Don't worry I'm fine, I'm just really tired and I don't have the energy." Mia's silence was worrying so Caroline tried to listen closer and then something changed. She could hear everything, from footsteps of the students to Bonnie asking where the Bart and Homer dolls go. Hey, this is kinda cool.

"Okay" Mia sighed "Whatever you're comfortable with, I love you."

"I love you too. Also tell Bonnie the Simpsons dolls go in the ring toss booth." she hung up.

Mia furrowed her brows when she saw how far Bonnie was. How could she hear that?  Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Bonnie struggling, the sack was too heavy which meant she had to drag it along the floor.

"Careful, Baby Bennett," Mia giggled, she effortlessly lifted the sack and placed it on the counter.

"Thanks Mia," Bonnie knelt on the floor, her arms aching with exhaustion "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Well it's a good thing Alaric was there on Founder's Day or you would've found out" Mia blurted out before she could even process what she was saying. "I'm sorry," she muttered "That was mean."

"No, it wasn't," Bonnie stood up straight "You're right, I just realised that I haven't even apologised to you." she looked down, shaking her head in shame, "I was angry, at Damon, at vampires in general. What I did was stupid and you could've died that night. All I could think about was how much I wanted to hurt Damon, I didn't even stop to think about you. It was selfish and I regret it, especially when you've been nothing but nice to me." She pulled the Petrova girl into a hug, "I'm so sorry Mia."

"I forgive you baby," she pulled away and looked at Bonnie warningly "Just don't do it again or I'll smite you."

~~~~

Mia was walking alone in the hallway until she spotted Damon and Stefan having a discussion. "Hello, Salvawhores" she spoke dramatically and paused when she saw Mason Lockwood arm wrestling with a student, her eyes glued to his muscles, "Why so moody?" she added after noticing the worry on the brothers' faces.

"Stefan just lost an arm wrestle to Uncle Lockwood, over there." Damon stated looking disappointingly at his brother. "What is up with that family? They're not vampires, what the hell are they?"

"Ooh, ah maybe they're ummm ninja turtles!" Stefan joked.

"You're not funny," Damon scolded.

"They could be werewolves," Mia spoke up.

"No comedic timing at all," Damon said until he saw that Mia was being serious, "You're kidding right? Werewolves don't exist."

"Yes, they fucking do," Mia retorted "It was a werewolf that killed Jesse, their bite is lethal to vampires."

"Whatever" Damon stalked off, making his way towards Carter, the carnival repairman. "What? What are you up to?" Stefan asked him.

"This is reality," Damon pointed "And there's no such thing as werewolves or combat turtles."

"I said ninja turtles, actually." Stefan corrected. 

"You don't believe in werewolves?" Mia questioned Stefan.

"It's not that I don't believe in them, I just haven't met any. They're meant to be practically extinct." he responded.

"Wow," she huffed in frustration "you really are the worst vampires ever."

"Where are you going?" Stefan called out to her as she walked away.

"I'm not sticking around to see the result of whatever dumb shit Damon is about to do. I'll be with Jeremy if you need me." She enjoyed living with the Salvatores but on some occasions she didn't have the energy to deal with their antics.

~~~~

After being informed by Damon, about Caroline becoming a vampire, Stefan searched for Mia. He found her by a stall, throwing popcorn at Jeremy whilst he attempted to catch it in his mouth. Before anyone could see, Stefan grabbed Mia and used his vampire speed to get to the classroom.

"Jesus, Stef. There's easier ways to get me to come with you," Mia exclaimed "Jeremy's probably so confused, I just disappeared" she laughed until she saw the low-spirited look on Elena and Damon's faces. "Woah, who died?"

"Caroline," Damon deadpanned. "Your little friend's a vampire now."

"Wait what?" Mia's eyes widened "How did this happen?"

"Well Miss Mia" he started, "you gave her blood and Katherine obviously killed her. A plus B equals....." 

"But why?" Elena asked.

"Because Katherine is a manipulative, nasty, little slut" Damon scowled.

"And she said game on," Stefan frowned "I mean, what does that even mean?"

"It means she's playing dirty. She wants us to know." Damon explained.

"Then we'll just have to play dirtier," Mia announced "Caroline's probably so scared, she'll have no idea what's going on."

"Oh, I think she does. All my compulsion from the past started wearing off the minute she was in transition." Damon told her.

Stefan got up "We have to find her." he ordered.

"Yep," Damon leaned back on the desk, "And kill her."

"You're not gonna kill Caroline," Elena scolded.

"She knows who we are." Damon brushed her off indifferently "She's officially a liability and we've got to get rid of her."

"You've already taken Lexi away from me," Mia snapped, "I'm not going to let you do the same to Caroline."

"Need I remind you of a tragic little story of a girl named Vicki Donovan?" Damon spoke in a condescending tone, "Caroline, of all people, will not make it as a vampire. Her mother is a vampire hunter. Guys come one, we all know how this story's gonna end, just flip to the last chapter and...."

"It's not an option," Mia interjected "Vicki Donovan was a drug addict, controlling her blood lust was never going to be easy." She hoped none of them would point out that she wasn't even in town when the Vicki incident occurred. "This is Caroline we're talking about. Sweet, controlling, perfectionist Caroline."

"You're silence is deafening Stefan," Damon raised an eyebrow, trying to sway his brother.

Mia turned to the younger Salvatore brother, "Stefan please," she begged "I'll work with her, I'll help her control her urges. She can do it, I know she can."

Stefan looked at Mia, her eyes filled with desperation as she waited for a response. "We're not gonna kill her." he spoke, earning him a scornful look from Damon.

"Okay," Damon held his hands up, "We're not going to kill her." Mia noticed the look on his face and could tell he was lying. She took off in a sprint and so did Damon. As they ran down the hallway Mia pushed him, causing him to slam into the lockers. Both of them eager to find Caroline first.

Minutes had passed and Mia failed to find her friend until the distinct scent of blood caught her attention and she could hear the faint pleads of Caroline. She saw Damon about to plunge the stake into Caroline's back so she rushed to them and shoved him, causing him to land on his back.

"You're really starting to get on my nerves Pierce." he groaned, standing up.

"Fuck you!" she snarked "You said you weren't gonna kill her."

"Mia," Stefan called "You have to get her inside, she's frightened of Elena but she'll listen to you."

"Okay," she made her way to Caroline and held her hand "Care, come with me. I'm gonna help you."

"She will die," Damon stated "It's only a matter of time."

"Yeah, maybe so but it's not gonna happen tonight." Stefan responded.

"Oh, yeah, it is" Damon murmured. He picked up the stake and darted towards them until Elena threw herself between him and Caroline.

"Damon, she's my friend" she pleaded "You can't kill her."

He hesitated, his eyes fixed on Elena who refused to move, until finally he dropped his arm. "Whatever happens it's on you." he pointed at Mia with the stake "It's on both of you."

"Caroline?" Bonnie's voice spoke from behind them, she gasped at the sight of blood on her friend's face. "No, you're not, you can't be." she grabbed her arm and stepped back in shock once she'd seen what the Forbes girl was. Her eyes darted to Carter who lay there motionless, "Oh god!". She didn't hate vampires, what she hated was that they killed innocent people. As far as she knew Mia drank from blood bags so that didn't bother her. What bothered her was that her best friend, the girl she had grown up with, had killed somebody. A good person who'd done nothing wrong.

"Bonnie," Caroline sniffled, she was pulled away by Mia and taken to the bathroom.  "She hates me! Bonnie hates me!"

"No, she doesn't hate you." Mia dampened the tissues and began to wipe the blood away from her friend's face. "She's just in shock, we all are."

"And what about Matt?" Caroline cried. "What am I supposed to do about Matt?"

"We can worry about that later, let's just get you cleaned up first." Mia reassured her, she went to a stall to get more tissues.

"I'm a murderer," Caroline scowled "I'm a monster, you shouldn't be here," she looked into the mirror at the dark veins appearing under her eyes and wailed "God, why does this keep happening to my face!"

Mia placed her hands on the sides of Caroline's face "Hey, Look at me, look at my face," her eyes darkened, the veins showing through. "See, we're the same Care, I'm just like you. Listen to me, every time you feel the blood rushing you can't give in to it. No matter how good it's going to feel, watch me okay." Mia took deep breaths and felt her fangs detracting, Caroline did the same and the veins were no longer visible, her face returned to normal. "Good, that's really good." She stroked her thumb against the blonde's cheek in an attempt to comfort her.

"Why did Katherine do this to me?" Caroline questioned, looking away.

"Because she's a bitch," Mia hooked a finger under Caroline's chin and titled her face to make the Forbes girl look at her,  "I'm going to help you, okay? I promise you, I will not let anything happen to you." She wrapped her arms around Caroline's body, caressing her hair as Caroline sobbed into her shoulder. "It's okay," Mia whispered "It's okay baby, you're going to be okay."

~~~~

Caroline gave Matt a final kiss goodbye before he went out the window, back the same way he came in. When they hugged she had the powerful urge to sink her teeth into his neck and drink every last drop of blood from his body but she'd managed to control it, barely. Being around a human was dangerous especially when she was still coming to terms with her vampirism. When she came home she went straight to her room without even saying goodnight to her mom, the thought of ever hurting Liz was too much to bear.

"Can I come in now?" Mia's voice muffled from behind the door, "You guys done making out?"

"He's gone Mia," Caroline giggled "You can come in." There was something about Mia that drew Caroline in from the moment they met, Caroline instantly felt like she could trust her. She'd obviously found it suspicious when Mia suddenly moved into the Salvatores' house without even mentioning that she knew the brothers but now it all made sense. On the way home Mia had explained a lot to Caroline, the reason why she came to Mystic Falls, how she was related to Katherine and also her theory about the Lockwoods being werewolves. 

"That's good," Mia flopped down on the bed, "Your mom was about to get another photo album out. I loved the baby ones but I don't think I have the energy to sit through the story of your first period."

"I can tell you about it," Caroline smirked, she laid back onto the bed and her smile was replaced with a sigh of sadness.

"Hey, I have something fun for us to do tomorrow," Mia said in a sing song voice whilst she playfully poked Caroline's stomach. "I'm gonna teach you how to compel people."

"Is that the mind control thingy." Caroline quizzed.

"Yeah, it is."

"Oh, I already did that," she smiled brightly, "I fed on the hospital lady, then I made her forget it happened and that if anyone asks what the bite mark is she has to say that her husband likes to get kinky."

Mia's eyes widened and she burst out laughing, "Are you serious?" She lay an arm over Caroline's abdomen and shifted closer to her. "That's amazing Care, you fed on your first person without killing them and successfully compelled. See, I knew you could do this."

Caroline turned on her side, facing Mia, "Matt told me he's in love with me." 

That boy has really shitty timing. "Well that's a good thing, right?" 

Caroline shrugged "Yeah, I guess. But it's so hard to be around him now. I don't want to hurt him." She sighed and shook her head as if the thoughts would fly out and her mind would become clear. "Have you ever been in love?"

"Once," Mia murmured quietly, "His name was Sebastian."

"What happened?"

~~~~

23rd April 1996

"I want to see you,"  Mia spoke quietly to avoid Jesse and Lexi hearing her. "You promised I could."

"I'm sorry Lia but I can't today," Sebastian spoke from the phone. He'd just returned from Paris after spending a week there volunteering at an orphanage. He often visited Paris, much to Mia's dismay, she hated not being around him. 

"Well, try." Mia sassed, "We've already been apart for a week due to your irritating devotion to those orphans. I'm an orphan too, Why don't I get the same attention? I'm your fiancée for God's sake."

"If you stopped talking for a second I would be able to tell you why I can't come," he said "I'm at the Chapel in Simpson Wood Park, finalising the wedding setup before I have to leave."

"You're going back to Paris again?!" Mia huffed, "You just came back!"

"I know sweetheart but I have to," he defended "those children need me."

"I need you," Mia whined "We've been engaged for over month and we've hardly seen each other. I planned so many things for us to do when you got back and now you're leaving again. It's not fair."

"Listen, I'll be back in two weeks."  Sebastian told her "Then we'll get married and be together forever. I also had a question for you."

"What?" Mia asked completely uninterested, she was getting frustrated with being second place to the school."

"After we get married, why don't we move to Paris?" 

"What?! I can't leave Lexi and Jesse." Mia argued.

"Think about Lia, it would be so much easier. I wouldn't have to travel back and forth from Georgia and we'd be together. I'm not asking you to make a decision now, okay? Just think about it."

"Okay," Mia sighed "I'll think about it."

"I love you," he cooed, she stayed silent wanting him to feel guilty, "I love you Lia." he repeated.

"I love you too, bye." Mia hung up the call. She threw her phone across the room, faced down into her pillow and screamed frustratingly. "There's no way I'm letting him go again without saying goodbye." she thought. She put her jacket on and made her way downstairs, her footsteps almost mute. She turned the handle of the front door and almost stepped out until a voice spoke up from behind her.

"Where are you going?" She turned around to find Lexi stood there with her arms folded across her chest.

"I'm going to see Sebastian." Mia gave her an innocent smile.

"Mia," Lexi sighed disappointingly. She'd never approved of Sebastian, there was something shifty about him that she couldn't quite put her finger on. The last thing she wanted was for Mia to get hurt. 

"What? I don't see anything wrong with it. I'm simply going to see my fiancé, who I haven't seen in a week." 

"Yeah because he keeps leaving you," Lexi snapped, the news of their engagement worried her and Sebastian's constant trips to France seemed awfully suspicious. "I'm telling you Mia, there's something weird about that guy."

"I'm not a kid anymore Lex!" Mia retorted "You can't keep babying me."

Jesse walked in holding a bowl of popcorn, looking clueless as to what was going on "Where you going Millie? I thought we were doing movie night. I made popcorn."

"She's going to go see HIM" Lexi sneered.

"My fiancé!" Mia shot back.

Jesse rubbed his temple, tired of hearing about this topic. Lexi and Mia rarely argued, the only time they ever would is if it concerned Sebastian. "So?" he looked at Lexi "Let her go."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Mia beamed and kissed him on the cheek before leaving the house.

"What the hell are you doing?" Lexi asked. "That bastard is nothing but trouble, he's just gonna hurt her."

"What was I supposed to do?" Jesse frowned "You know as well as I do, that if we stopped her from going she would've gone anyways. I know you're protective over her, I am too but we can't control her. We have to let her make her own mistakes."

"Even if that means she ends up heartbroken?!" Lexi rebuked " Those regular trips he takes are shifty, you know that."

"I know Lex but Mia doesn't. All we can do is be there for her if she gets hurt. And not say I told you so." he added, pointing at her.

"As if I would do that." she scoffed.

"Good," he sat on the couch and patted the seat next to him "We're watching Clueless."

Mia walked up the pathway towards the chapel. Surely she had a right to decide what the decorations on her wedding would be, it was unfair of Sebastian to organise that without her. The door was left ajar and Mia could hear voices, she stood outside and listened in.

It was Sebastian's voice, "I have loved you from the moment I met you, I hate being apart from you and when I'm away you're all I think about."  Mia covered her mouth trying to hide a laugh at Sebastian practising his vows.

"You're the love of my life, I don't think I'll ever be able to love anyone as much as I love you. I can't wait for our eternity together to begin.......

......Colette."

Mia stood there in shock, wishing that she had misheard him. She peered through the crack of the door and saw Sebastian stood there, in a suit holding hands with another woman. She had jet black hair and was wearing a beautiful white dress.

"Sebastian," the woman spoke, Mia noticed her strong French accent and suddenly it all clicked. The reason Sebastian went to Paris so often was to be with her. He wanted Mia to move to Paris as well so they could be closer to her. "I love you so very much. My life has changed since you've arrived and I never want us to part."

Tears streamed down Mia's face as she watched, she wanted to barge in and kill the both of them but she couldn't. She turned around and made her way back down the pathway with her head held high. She couldn't stop the tears from falling, she was a fool. Lexi had warned her many times but Mia constantly dismissed any accusations. She couldn't hear any bad words against the man she loved. And there he was marrying another woman, he had a complete disregard for how she felt. He clearly didn't care about how much this would hurt Mia so why should she show him that she cared?

She walked through the front door, her eyes blood shot red and her face stained with tears. She stood there, not knowing what to do.

"Mia?" Lexi spoke warningly until she saw her face and she ran to her, "Oh my god, what happened?" Mia stayed silent and looked straight, not bothering to pay any attention to her friend. This was a type of loss she'd never experienced before, it was not the loss of life, it was one of love.

"What happened to her?" Jesse approached them, his placed his hands on Mia's arms, his eyes scanned her for any injuries.

"I don't know, she won't say anything." Lexi responded, she guided Mia to couch and sat her down. "Mia, what's wrong?"

"Sebastian." Mia squeaked, her throat was raw from the constant wailing she did on the journey back.

"What did he do?" Jesse asked, when Mia didn't answer he got frustrated, "Fine, I'll go ask him then, shall I?" he made his way to the door only to be stopped by Mia speaking up.

"No, don't," she rasped "Please, don't do anything."

Jesse cupped his hands around her face forcing her to make eye contact, "Tell me what he did!"

"I went to the chapel..." she paused as she held back tears. "And he was stood there marrying someone else."

 "That bastard!" Jesse's eyes blazed with fury "I'm gonna fucking kill him." He walked towards the door ignoring Mia's protests.

"No wait!" Mia shrieked trying to stop him but Lexi held her back, "Jesse please don't kill him! You can't, please Je-" her pleads were interrupted by the sound of the front door slamming as Jesse left, storming down the driveway.

Mia sunk to the floor sobbing as Lexi held her against her chest. "None of this is your fault Mia," she whispered, rubbing her back. "You deserve so much better than that lowlife."

"Jesse's going to kill him," Mia hated Sebastian for what he'd done but that didn't mean she wanted him dead. If he decided that he wanted to marry someone else than there was nothing she could do about that. She didn't want her best friend to become a killer for her.

"No he's not," Lexi reassured her, "He'll probably just beat the crap out of him."

"It hurts," Mia cried.

"I know," Lexi mumbled against her hair "It's okay baby, you're going to be okay."

                                        Rege Jean Page as Sebastian

                                     Jonathan Groff as Jesse

HELLOOOOO MY DARLINGSSSS. I hope you enjoyed that chapter.

It was quite short at first so I thought why not show you guys a glimpse of Mia's past. I really hope you liked the flashbacks, it was just some more background information on Mia.

Soooo We finally got Vampire Caroline YAYYYY.

I also changed that Stefan has no idea what werewolves are because obviously Lexi told him about Jesse being killed by a werewolf. And i refuse to believe the Salvatores knew nothing about werewolves like wtf..... they really are the worst vampires ever.

I loved writing more on Jesse and Lexi and showing their relationship with Mia. They both deserve better.

I would love to answer any questions you guys have. Feel free and i will do my best to answer them.

Also thank you for all the support on the book, it means the world to me.

WE'RE ALMOST AT 1K READSSSS

Love youuuuuu

Published: 25th January 2022