Quick AN: I went over some of the chapters and attempted to add a little more to it so this is an update. If there's anything you guys see that needs to be fixed, let me know! I'd love to hear how you like it or don't like it. Anything you want to see more of or less of, just hit that review button!

Prologue

Don't let me go – The Fray

"She doesn't remember anything?" Miranda Gilbert asked the sheriff concerned. Standing on her white porch in front of the doorway, she looked at the little girl with long light brown hair covering her little heart shaped face and teary green eyes. The child chewed her thumbnail nervously while she hid behind the nice lady that found her wandering scared down the road. Miranda's heart broke at the sight. "Are you sure?"

"She doesn't even remember her name Miranda. We aren't sure what happened to her, but there was blood everywhere," Sheriff Forbes explained, her tone resonated her own despair for the little girl next to her. "We found her mother's body in her house fifteen miles away. I don't want to see her in the system… Miranda… I know it's a lot to ask, but Elena is her age, maybe it would help her?" she almost pleaded, desperate to get the girl into a good home.

Miranda nodded in agreement. The girl almost looked like her daughter too. "Hey there," she started in a soothing voice, "would you like to come in for some ice cream?" the little girl heard ice cream and she became a little less nervous. Hesitantly she looked up to the nice lady again, almost as if asking if this was safe. Sheriff Forbes gave her an assuring smile, letting her know it was okay to go in. That gave the little girl enough confidence to patter forward across the barrier of the door into her new home. Miranda couldn't help but smile at her. "We'll keep you safe, I promise."

"Thank you Miranda. I would take her myself but with everything going on at home," the Sheriff apologized.

"Nonsense Liz, you know we've always wanted a big family. There's enough room for us and plenty of care to go around for her to feel safe and loved," Miranda waved her off. "I'll gladly take her. We'll get the paper work together as soon as possible. She doesn't deserve any less."

"I'll go with Liz to the girl's house and pick up some of her things Miranda, stay with her and get her settled," Grayson offered to his wife. He stood behind her, a hand on her should to signal he supported her decision fully. "Let's go see what we're dealing with," he nodded to the door.

"My name's Elena, what's yours?" a quiet voice asked tentatively from the kitchen. The little brunette peaked around the kitchen island, curious to what had been going on at the front door. Elena liked making new friends, so she hoped to start this new one off right.

"I-I'm… not sure," the little girl responded, trying her hardest to remember. At this revelation Elena, in all of her childhood innocence, rushes forward and gives her new found friend a hug.

"That's okay, that just means we have to find you a super cool name then huh?" she grinned happily to comfort her knew friend. The dumbfounded look in her green eyes didn't dissuade her.

"Do you remember that Elena?" I whispered from the side of my sister's hospital bed, machines beeping the only comfort I had. "The first time we met, and you already knew what to say to make me feel better. I can't lose you too Elena. Please-"I broke out a sob, the endless tears running down my face. "Please don't leave me Elena. I can't do this without you," I kept pleading to her, wanting her to wake up. "Who- who's going to help Caroline decorate for all of the founder's events? Who's gonna help me practice singing in front of people? Who-" I couldn't help the crack in my voice as I kept pleading for my sister to come back to me. I squeezed her hand in desperation before continuing. "Who's bed am I gonna crawl into when I get a bad nightmare? I can't do this without you Elena. And Jer, please don't do this to him too," I tried more. I felt her hand start to move beneath mine, barely squeezing back. "E-Elena?!"

My sister began to stir in that moment, and her eyes began to flitter in confusion. "Kyra?" her voice croaked from being asleep for what seemed like a lifetime. "Kyra," she tried again.

My tears of sadness transformed into tears of relief. "Lana, I'm so glad you're okay." I couldn't say anything more, I could only cry in relief, sobbing the whole ordeal out into the universe. Aunt Jenna and Jeremy rushed into the room while I held onto Elena's hand like it held me to the Earth.

"Aunt Jenna?" Elena found her voice again. "Jeremy? Ky, what's going on? Where's mom and dad?" Elena asked with a renewed energy in her voice.

"Elena, they're… they're gone sweetie," Jenna whispered, tears cascading down her face. "You guys were in an accident a few days ago. The car… it went over the bridge. You're the only one that made it," Jenna tried to hold it together.

I grabbed her hand back into mine, holding it tightly, hoping to hold her eyes in mine for a moment. "We can get through this Lana. Together," I squeeze her hand in mine before trying to reassure her more. She wiped a tear away before nodding to me. As long as we were together, we could get through anything.