Surprises of Joy

                                    

                                          

The chirping of birds outside my window awakens me. As I open my eyes, I begin to see that it's daylight outside already. Not particularly late yet, according to the clock on my wall, it's just about 9am, but it's a bright day. The first day in a long time on which I didn't have to get up before the sun rose in order to go get water. If I want water in these times, all I have to do is turn on the tab. A thrill of joy flies through me. I will miss Tatia, Haakon and Ayana dearly, but it sure as hell has its perks to be back. As I get dressed for the day, appreciating the soft, nice, colourful fabrics of my comfortable clothes while I'm at it, I think about how I get to go downstairs and make pancakes for breakfast. Pancakes! The joy in my entire being almost skyrockets.
On my way downstairs, I notice once again the things that have changes around here. Most of them seem pretty familiar. And according to the dirty socks lying around, Jeremy has moved back here. He and I may have to have a talk about that later. Right now, I'm actually just happy at the thought of seeing him again. From what my ears tell me, he's already in the kitchen. Odd for him, he never used to get up earlier than 10:30am, but hey, I'm not complaining.
So, I enter the kitchen. But the person by the stove isn't Jeremy. I can't really recognize who it is, since they have their back turned to me. And the person sitting on the kitchen island is-

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
"Jenna?!"
I stumble back slightly, barely believing my eyes. My aunt, my beautiful, funny, long dead aunt is sitting on out kitchen island, alive and well.
She looks at me. "Good morning, Elena. Took you long enough to get out of bed. Want some coffee?"
"Jenna!" I let out a happy shriek and throw myself at her, wrapping her in a big hug. Somehow, I need to touch her to make sure she's actually real. She smells just like I remember her as she returns my hug, a little confused by my enthusiasm.
How can this be? Did Ayana accidentally send me back to my teenage years before the originals showed up?
"Woah there. Everything okay?" the person who's cooking breakfast turns around and looks at me with a slight smirk of amusement. It's Alaric.

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
"Ric! You're okay too." Joy bubbles through my entire being as I cross the short distance between me and him and hug him too.
It slowly begins to dawn to me. If I had been sent back to my teenage years, Ric wouldn't be here yet. That must mean, that after everything the Mikaelsons went through with me in their human times, they did things differently in my times. Klaus must have chosen someone else for his ritual leaving Jenna alone, knowing she was my aunt. And Ric... now, that I think about it, the possibilities are huge. Who else is still alive and well?
"Um, Elena?" Jenna pulls me out of my thoughts, addressing me with an utterly confused expression on her face, "Is something wrong?"
As the shock, excitement and joy ebbs away a little, I realize I must seem like a crazy person to both of them right now. They most probably have no idea about the terror I've seen before, and thank god for that. Quickly, I tell my brain to come up with an excuse.
"Sorry, guys, it's just... I had a nightmare." Yeah, that sounds okay, I think. "A nightmare in which both of you died. I know it was just a dream, but it kinda felt real in that moment and I only woke up, like, a couple of minutes ago. I know, stupid, but, after that nightmare, I'm just really glad to see you two okay."
"Ah. Yeah, I'm glad about that too." Alaric replies with a fond smile.
My aunt huffs a little. "Speak for yourself. We're still alive, yeah, but I'm not gonna refer to myself as 'okay' until I can finally have a morning without neausea again."
Ric chuckles good-naturedly and gives Jenna a quick kiss on the cheek before turning back to the stove to continue making the eggs and bacon for breakfast. Meanwhile, I subtlely look at Jenna's tummy. If what she implicates really means what I think it means, then there is even more cause for joy than I thought possible. And, sure enough, my aunt's belly shows a slight bump, not a big one, indicating that she isn't far along yet, but it's there. Feeling another wave of overwhelming joy, I hug her again, tenderly this time. 
"I'm sure you'll be feeling alright again in no time. And you're going to be the world's best Mom!" I assure her with a smile.
Jenna raises her eyebrows as she hugs me back with one arm. "Wow. That nightmare really did a number on you, huh? Honestly, I don't know whether to say 'I'm sorry that's awful' or just hope you'll have one of those again sometime. Because this... cheeful, loving Elena here is really not too bad."
"Ha." I laugh a little, "Maybe I can try being cheerful and loving sometimes without having nightmares first."
"There's an idea." Ric chuckles.
Breakfast is incredibly nice. It's not pancakes, like I first wanted, but Ric's bacon and eggs are pretty darn good too. Jeremy joins us after a while, sleepy and unbothered like the college guy he is. It's nice to see it. The Jeremy I knew before I left this time was having a hard time in college because of his constant struggle with grief. Now, it seems like he has barely lost anyone, at least not recently. He's fine.
After breakfast, I excuse myself and head out. My goal is the Bennett house, because for obvious reasons, I need to talk to Bonnie. All throughout my way through town, I am in the best possible mood. I just hope the Mikaelsons live in town somewhere in these times too, so I can see my Elijah again as soon as possible.
When I pass through the town centre, a police car drives by me. 
"Hey, Elena!" someone calls from within said police car. It's Matt. 
I broadly grin at him with happiness. "Matt! It's so good to see you! You're looking great in your uniform."
"Thanks, Elena. This actually is a new one, thank you for noticing. It's good to see you too. And I'm sorry, but I kind of have a round to get back to right now. But let's catch up later, okay?" Matt replies. I nod in agreement and wave after him as the police car drives down the street away from me. Another one of my lost loved ones that's alive now. This day is getting better and better.
Humming to myself and slightly skipping on the pavement, I reach Bonnie's house. The Bennett residence looks just like it always did, no immortal or evil changes visible anywhere. I walk up to the door, up the two steps of stairs to the porch before the front. But before I can ring the doorbell, someone opens the door. It's Bonnie. Now, that I've lived with her ancestor, I can't help but look for signs of Ayana in her. There actually is a bit of a likeness, despite the huge time gap in the bloodline between them. She is as beautiful as ever.
And she greets me with a half-weary, half-loving smile.
"Hey Elena. I've been told you'd come."






Hi guys, 🙂
Surprise, surprise, things are different. How do you like the twist? And the new chapter in general? 🙂