The Vampire Diaries

L.J just shook his head, "Don't like Jason, this is his fault." he grumbled.

---

Dakota gave him a soft smile in return.

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((Want to skip a few more months new? We can say that it's like Vanessa's birthday or something and that's when her and Leon get back together?))

"Yiu can't be trying that hard Isabelle."

Isabella backed up a bit then, "I am," she whispered, voice shaking a little bit. "I really am."

Falin just let out a deep sigh and walked over to her daughter, crouching down in front of her and pulling her into a hug, "Okay, Izzy, okay."

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(( Sure, you post first? ))

"This is for Vanessa, from me and Rik, it's to put on the pile for when you give her them all later." Dakota said quietly around three or so months later, as she walked to Astrid, who's house was being used as the place for Vanessa's party, handing her a gift wrapped present. "Rik asked me to give it in just in case he and Hope don't get back from her college in time. He's been away for a few weeks helping her out with something..." she added quietly with a small frown, clearly having missed him.

Vanessa herself looked miserable, aside from when she talked to her children it was evident she just wasn't enjoying herself at all.

Damon sighed. "Isabelle in sorry." He moved to kneal in front of her.

"No your not," Isabella grumbled with a shake of her head, resting her head on her mothers shoulder gently.

Falin let out a small sigh and rubbed Isabella's back soothingly, moving her gaze onto Damon as she did so and suggesting quietly, "Why don't you go make her a hot chocolate? Might cheer her up."

---

Astrid just gave a small nod in response to that, walking to the table and placing the present down on it with the others as she replied, "I'm sure he'll be back soon." A few moments later she walked over to Vanessa and just pulled her up into a hug, "At least try to smile, Ness, I know it's depressing that you're getting old but you can't beat me so.."

Dakota gave her a small smile in return, moving to sit down, looking a little nervous since she was on her own.

"This has nothing to do with me being old." Vanessa sighed as she rested her head on her sisters shoulder. "And you know it, so does the rest of the bloody family..." she mumbled as she looked around.

"I know, I was just trying to cheer you up." Astrid whispered with a deep sigh before whispering, "Maybe you should give him another chance, hm? Deep down you obviously want to, you've been miserable this past year and a bit."

"Don't want to," Vanessa denied as she shook her head, "Just waiting for Monday so I can post off the divorce papers and be done with it. Besides, I'm okay with being casual with Nate for now."

Damon got up and left, he knew something was wrong with him but he didn't know what just yet.

"I don't think it's you stressing about the divorce, I still think you love him. You're giving all of the signs," Astrid whispered quietly with a deep frown

---

"Where're you off?" Falin called after him with a frown

"He's mad at me," Isabella assumed almost instantly.

"No, no I don't think that's it sweetheart,"

Vanessa just shook her head and stood up, "You and mum and the kids and everyone just need to get off my case!" she practically hissed. "If I wanted to be with him, if I still loved him I'd still be with him!" she added angrily. She then looked at her youngest who were waiting near the door eagerly, and to the clock and wrinkled her nose with a sigh when she realised that Leon would be there any moment soon to pick the kids up and take them to his house for the night. "Let them know I'll be upstairs if they want to say goodbye, don't want to see him." she grumbling to her sister before heading upstairs and laying on the bed in the spare room.

Astrid watched her go with a deep frown.

After about five more minutes, Leon opened the door with a small wrapped up gift in his hand for Vanessa.

"Mum went upstairs," Karina said quietly when she saw her father, having noticed her mother go upstairs and the present in his hands.

"To make her hot chocolate."

"Good," She whispered.

---

"Okay, I'll be back down in a few minutes okay? Then we can go if you like." Leon replied before heading up the stairs to find Vanessa quietly.

Vanessa was still curled up on the bed in the spare room, hiding her face in her arms as she'd been crying.

Leon knocked gently on the door before entering. Closing the door behind himself and sitting down on the edge of the bed, "Happy birthday, butterfly,"

Damon came back after a few minutes and he put the drink on the table before he left them to it.

"It's not a very happy birthday," Vanessa mumbled against the covers, trying to suppress a sob.

"Drink up, hm? I'll be back in a second." Falin told her daughter quietly before getting to her feet and jogging after Damon, "Hey you, what's up?"

---

"Anything I can do to help?" Leon asked quietly before whispering, "I got you a present…"

"To be honest I have no idea."

"To be honest I have no idea."

"But there is something?" Falin asked quietly, just for the confirmation, sliding her arm around him gently.

Vanessa looked up at that, eyes landing on the present. "I think you're supposed to hand them into Astrid, they're all making out like they've forgotten to get me gifts and they're going to bring them out later to 'surprise' me." she mumbled.