05. The World Has Turned And Left Me Here

"Morning" Aria greeted Alaric, while carrying Asher.

"Morning" Alaric greeted, sitting in the living room and playing with Mia and Alec, who were laying on their playing mat.

"Don't you have to give a lecture today?" Aria asked, placing Asher down next to his siblings.

"In an hour" Alaric replied, smiling at Mia, who looked like she was babbling to her two brothers.

"So why aren't you using this hour to flirt with your new doctor friend?" Aria teased.

"Don't start" Alaric warned.

"What?" Aria asked confused, "I thought there was something happening there".

"Nothing is happening there till I get control of my bloodlust" Alaric replied.

Aria looked at Alaric, "You seem fine to me" she said.

"Aria, the last time I was with her, I nearly lost control" Alaric said.

"Nearly, is the key word" Aria said, "You and Jo could have an epic love story, give her a chance, Ric".

"Speaking of epic love stories, have you changed your mind about me compelling you to forget about Damon yet?" Alaric asked, changing the subject.

Aria sigh, "When I read the letter, I wanted to find you immediately and tell you to make me remember, but Nik is right, there's a reason past me asked for six months, so I am going to wait these six months out, then I'll get you to help me remember whatever me and Damon had" she replied.

"Fair enough" Alaric said.

"And till I wait for the six months to be over, I'm going to take my own advice and just focus on myself and my kids, just be happy before remembering my dead soulmate" Aria said, "Speaking of being happy and having fun, you going to the party?".

"How do you know about the party?" Alaric asked.

"Rebekah" Aria replied, "Since Caroline is pregnant, she can't be her party buddy, so now that role is mine".

Alaric chuckled, "Sounds about right" he said, "And about the party, I'm waiting on the mixer for 30-something vampires just back from the dead, less of a crowd".

"Ric, I hate to say this, but your slowly becoming Professor Shane" Aria teased, "And trust me, you don't want to become that person".

"I am not becoming him, I am just perfectly content staying at home, if you want I'll even babysit the triplets for you" Alaric offered.

"First of all, Nik and Caroline are babysitting them, second of all, you're not content, you're scared of losing control" Aria retorted, "Come on Ric, how many people can say that they died and came back alive, life has given you a second chance, something not everyone gets, take this chance and go be happy".

"I am happy-ish" Alaric defended.

"Saying ish in that sentence, just let me know that you're not happy" Aria said, giving Alaric a pointed look, "The party starts at eight, I better see you there, oh and wear a good shirt, you have a girl to impress".

***

Kai, Kol and Damon walked in the woods, all three more then ready to go home.

"Stop whistling, you're pissing me off" Kol snapped at Damon.

"I am happy, Kol, let me be happy" Damon said, "I finally get to meet my kids tonight".

"Assuming Kai doesn't go after them" Kol said, looking at Kai, who simply ignored him.

"Also, after me and my kids have a much needed reunion, you get to have the pleasure of babysitting them, while me and my girl have a hot date together" Damon said, "I'm thinking dinner and a movie, you know what? Screw dinner and the movie, skip straight to the good part, try for baby number four".

"Just so you know, I still love her, so I don't need to hear that" Kol snapped.

"Oh come on, we both know we are past being awkward about that" Damon said.

"Still, doesn't mean I want to know when you two are having sex" Kol said.

"You guys have a weird relationship" Kai commented, "I've never seen two people, who are in the love with the same girl, talk so casually".

"That's cause you haven't had a human interaction in the past twenty or so years" Kol reminded.

"That might also be the case" Kai agreed, stopping at a clearing in the woods, "The eclipse will happen directly overhead, in perfect alignment with the Gemini constellation, you two dig into the tunnels below us, we'll do the spell there, also did any of you get the Bennett blood?".

"First of all, why?" Damon asked, "Second of all, here is a vial of Bonnie's blood".

"So, we really are leaving her here?" Kai asked, taking the vial.

"Yes" Both Kol and Damon replied.

"Geez, okay" Kai mumbled.

"Now tell us why are we digging?" Kol asked.

"Have you two never portal-jumped through an eclipse before?" Kai asked.

"Clearly not" Kol replied.

"Okay, look, the light of the eclipse will shine down and activate the ascendant" Kai explained, "I siphon Kol and spout a little witchy woo and then, poof, anyone standing in the circle of light holding the ascendant goes home, so chop-chop, let's get digging".

"And what are you going to do while me and Kol do the digging?" Damon asked.

"I'm going into the town" Kai replied.

"Why?" Kol asked confused.

"I need to gather some important supplies" Kai replied.

After Kai walked away, Kol and Damon exchanged a look, and grabbing a shovel each, both the vampires started digging.

***

Aria and Rebekah were at the corn maze, cheering as they lit the bonfire, the two girls turned around when someone tapped their shoulders.

Aria and Rebekah turned around and were shocked seeing their best friend standing there, "Care?" Aria said shocked.

"Hey" Caroline greeted, hugging her two best friends.

"What are you doing here?" Rebekah asked confused.

"Wait, where are the triplets?" Aria asked worried.

"I'm here to party with you two, without getting drunk, obviously" Caroline replied, "And the triplets are with mom".

"I can't believe Nik let you come here" Rebekah said.

"Well he didn't want to deal with a grumpy pregnant lady, so he had to let me come" Caroline said.

Aria laughed, "The big bad hybrid is scared of pregnant ladies, who would have thought".

"No one" Rebekah said, chuckling.

"Alright, enough talking, Aria, you and I might be mothers, but that doesn't change the fact we are college girls, we deserve some fun" Caroline said, "So, let's party the night away!".

"Or till you can no longer stand up because of your swollen feet" Aria teased.

"Yeap" Caroline said.

"Hey, what's Alaric's doctor friend doing here?" Rebekah asked confused.

Aria turned around to see Jo, "That will be my doing" she replied, "I'm setting Alaric and Jo up, without either of them knowing".

"You are diabolical" Rebekah laughed.

"I'm a matchmaker" Aria corrected.

"Enough talking" Caroline interrupted, "It's time to explore the maze".

"Gladly" Rebekah said, as the three girls walked into the corn maze together.

***

"What are the odds that we are digging our own graves?" Kol asked, as both him and dug into the tunnels.

"Shut up" Damon snapped, annoyed with all the digging he was doing, using all his strength, Damon smashed the shovel on to the floor and finally both him and Kol realised they had reached the tunnels, when the dirt went right through and made a hole in the ground.

"Well, looks like I got back just in time" Kai said, walking over to the two vampires, who were glaring at him.

"Convenient that you come just as we're finished digging" Kol snapped.

Damon speeded over to Kai and snatched his back pack from him and started going through it, "Zima, grunge, every Alex Rodriguez rookie card known to man, and a pager, really?".

"Five-five-five-hi-Kai, no way I'm giving those digits up" Kai said.

"These were the important supplies you had to get?" Damon asked pissed.

"Look, the future sounds great, all right? I'm super excited about the internet" Kai replied, "But 1994 has been my home for most of my life, I'd hate to get homesick".

"Alright, can we just go down already" Kol said, "I'm going to lose my mind if I stay here any longer".

"Gladly" Kai said, grabbing his bag back from Damon.

***

"I've seen that scarecrow before that" Rebekah said, pointing at a scarecrow.

"Beks, I hate to spoil your excitement, but you've said that about the past four scarecrows we've passed" Aria said.

"Oh my god" Caroline groaned, "We're freaking lost".

"No, we are not" Rebekah said, shaking her head in denial.

"Beks, yes we are" Aria said, agreeing with Caroline.

"No, we are not" Rebekah repeated, she grabbed Caroline's hand, "Come on, it's this way".

Rebekah dragged an annoyed Caroline, Aria laughed and went to follow when suddenly she bumped into someone, causing that person's drink to spill on top of him.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry" Aria apologised.

"It's all good, it's my fault anyways, I wasn't looking where I was going".

"Neither was I, I'm really sorry for ruining your shirt" Aria admitted, a bit embarrassed, "I think I might have some tissues for you", Aria looked through her purse and pulled out a packet of tissues, which only had one tissue let, "By some, I meant one".

The guy infront of Aria laughed but nonetheless took the tissue from Aria, "Hey, one tissue is better then none" he teased, wiping the drink from his shirt.

Aria laughed, "I'm Aria" she introduced.

"Noah".

"Well Noah, I've lost my friends, so I'm going to try to find them and find my way out of this creepy maze" Aria said, looking around but finding neither Rebekah or Caroline.

"Want me to help?" Noah asked.

"Oh, it's alright" Aria replied, "I don't want to bother you".

"Really it's no bother, I'd love to help a beautiful girl like you" Noah said.

"Beautiful?" Aria asked, a slight blush on her cheeks, "Do you flirt with all the girls you've just met?".

"Only the beautiful ones" Noah replied.

Aria chuckled, "I don't know what to say to that, I'm not used to guys flirting with me on our first meet".

"Well, I'm glad to be your first" Noah teased.

"Am I going to deal with this flirting the whole while trying to get out of here?" Aria asked.

"More then likely" Noah replied, he forwarded his hand infront of Aria, "Shall we m'lady?".

"He's a flirt and a charmer" Aria teased, putting her hand into Noah's.

"Exactly your type?" Noah asked, as he and Aria started walking.

"My type is more the mysterious ones" Aria replied.

"Oh, you have no idea how mysterious I can be" Noah said.

"That so" Aria asked, a smile on her face.

"That so" Noah repeated.

Aria laughed, after finding about Damon and their pervious love, this is the first time Aria had talked to a guy that wasn't Alaric, Jeremy or Enzo, and though a small part of her was guilty, the other part of her was very intrigued by Noah.

***

"That was a horrible joke" Aria laughed.

"The laugh on your face says otherwise" Noah said, "Plus I don't see you coming up with a better one".

"I actually do have a better one" Aria said.

"Go on then" Noah encouraged, handing Aria her drink.

"Okay, so have you ever tried to eat a clock?" Aria asked.

Noah laughed, "What?".

"Answer the question Noah" Aria said.

"No, I have never tried to eat a clock" Noah said.

"Good, cause it's very time consuming" Aria said, a cheeky smile on her face.

"That was even worse then mine" Noah laughed.

"The laugh on your face says otherwise" Aria repeated Noah's words.

"Using my words against me, clever" Noah said.

"Thank you" Aria said, as her and Noah clinked their cups together.

As Aria was drinking her drink, Noah looked behind her to see a red truck speeding through the corn maze, and right towards Aria, so Noah quickly grabbed Aria, and dived to the floor, the truck barely missing them.

"Oh my god" Aria whispered shocked.

"Are you okay?" Noah asked, as they stood up.

"Yeah, are you?" Aria asked.

"I'm okay" Noah assured, "But who the hell was that maniac?".

"That will be Tyler Lockwood" Aria said, recognising Tyler's truck, that had now smashed into a tree, "Come on, we should see if anyone else is hurt".

Noah nodded and with that both of them rushed to help anyone who needed their help.

***

"Oh my god" Aria whispered, as both her and Noah rushed over to a girl who was severely bleeding from her stomach, immediately Aria wanted to give the girl her blood, but she didn't want Noah to find out what she was, so instead she put her hands on the girls stomach, trying to stop the bleeding while at the same time trying not to attack her.

"That's not going to help" Noah said, kneeling beside Aria.

"I know Noah, I know" Aria whispered, she realised she couldn't save the girl like this, she needed her blood, but just as Aria was about to bite into her wrist, Noah did.

"Don't be scared" Noah told Aria, confusing her, he then bit into his wrist, and fed his blood to the injured girl, once her wound was healed, he started compelling her, "You dove out of the trucks way, you were very lucky not to get injured, now grab your friends and get the hell out of here".

Once the girl went away, Noah turned to a very shocked Aria, "You're a vampire" she whispered, standing up, Noah following shortly.

"Aria--".

"I need to go find Jo and Alaric" Aria interrupted, stepping away from Noah.

"You need to listen to me" Noah pleaded.

"Don't try to compel me" Aria warned, "It won't work".

"What?" Noah asked confused.

"You're not the only vampire here, Noah" Aria replied.

Noah looked at Aria in shock, "What do you mean by that?".

"I have to go, but don't worry, your secret is safe with me" Aria assured, and before Noah could stop her, Aria ran away from him to find Alaric and Jo.

***

Kai, Kol and Damon stood in the tunnels, all waiting for the eclipse that will take them home.

Kai poured Bonnie's blood over the ascendent, he then put his hand on Kol's shoulder and started siphoning, and at the same time he started chanting the spell, while both Kol and Damon very eagerly waited to finally go home.

Kai opened his eyes and looked at the two vampires, "It's time" he said.

"All right" Damon said, as the three stood right under the eclipse, "Let's get awkward".

Kol put his hand under Kai's and Damon put his hand under Kol's.

"This better work, Kai" Kol said.

"It will" Kai assured.

"Alright lets--aah!" Kai screamed as a pickaxe was lodged into his stomach, and both Damon and Kol were shoved into the wall, with the ascendant now on the floor.

"Bloody hell!" Kol yelled, seeing Bonnie emerge, "How did you get your magic back bitch?".

"With the other side collapsing, I stopped being the anchor, meaning I'm back to being a witch" Bonnie replied, "A witch whose going home tonight".

"That's not happening" Damon said, he went to charge at Bonnie, but she used her magic to shove Damon into a wall.

"Don't make me hurt you Damon, all I want is to go home" Bonnie warned.

"That's never going to happen!" Damon spat, glaring at Bonnie, while Kol looked at the ascendant which was slowly spinning around, letting the original know that Kai's spell was in motion.

***

"Hey, it's okay, you're going to be okay" Aria assured, as the girl infront of her struggled to breathe.

Aria looked around and after making sure no one was looking, she bit into her wrist and forced the girl to drink her blood.

"Come on" Aria whispered, she breathed a sigh of relief when the girl's wound started healing and she started breathing normally, "You got out of the truck's way before it could hit you and cause major damage, now get out of here and stay out of trouble" she compelled.

Aria watched as the girl she helped, slowly stood up and walk away, after making sure the girl had left, Aria turned around to leave, but to her shock, she saw Noah standing behind her.

"Now I know what you meant by the fact that I'm not the only vampire here" Noah said.

Aria sighed, "I have to go" she said, not wanting to have this conversation with him.

Before Aria could walk away, Noah grabbed Aria's wrist, stopping her.

"Aria, please wait" Noah pleaded, "Let me drop you home".

"No, I can go by myself" Aria said.

"I know you can, but I still would like to drop you, please" Noah said, "I promise I won't ask any questions, regarding anything".

"One question, and I'm out of the car" Aria warned.

"Deal" Noah said, he forwarded his hand towards Aria, "Shall we?".

Aria narrowed her eyes at Noah, "This better not be a trap".

"I assure you it's not" Noah said.

"Fine" Aria said, finally placing her hand in Noah's, "Let's go".

Noah smiled at Aria and started leading her towards his car.

***

Kol grabbed the ascendant and then looked towards Damon and Bonnie.

Damon looked at Kol and saw the ascendant in his hand, "Kol, get out of here!".

Kol hesitated for a moment, "Dammit" he whispered, Kol then speeded over to Bonnie, he slammed her to the wall, making her magic on Damon stop, he then threw the ascendant at Damon, who easily caught it.

Damon looked at the ascendant, then at Kol, "Hurry!" he yelled at Kol, as the ascendant started spinning.

Kol nodded, he quickly slammed Bonnie's head on to the wall, knocking her unconscious, and quickly rushed towards Damon, just as a white light shined and took the two vampires out of the prison world.

***

"Your car sucks" Aria said, as her and Noah walked the empty roads.

"No it doesn't" Noah said.

"Noah, we drove barely five minutes and it broke down" Aria said.

"Okay, so maybe tonight wasn't it's night, that doesn't mean it sucks" Noah said.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night" Aria teased.

Noah chuckled, "A vampire with humor, you are definitely a keeper".

"Careful Noah, I'm a mother of three" Aria informed.

"Great" Noah said, "So when do I get to meet them?".

Aria laughed, "Aren't you a bit too straight forward?".

Noah shrugged, "Life is too short Aria, we don't know what tomorrow holds, for all we know you and I could die tonight, and I don't want to die with a regret of not doing or saying something".

Aria smiled, "That's a really nice motto to live with".

"Thank you" Noah said, "So I hope this isn't going to make you uncomfortable, but I'm assuming with the fact that you're walking with me in the middle of the night, without worrying what your boyfriend will think, means that the father of your kids is no longer in the picture?".

Aria sighed, "He's dead" she replied simply.

"Oh" Noah said, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive".

"Relax, you weren't insensitive, plus it's been a while, I'm okay now" Aria said.

"So, if were to kiss you right now, you wouldn't push me away?" Noah asked.

Aria laughed, "No" she replied, "I would slap you, we've just met, I don't kiss guys on the first meet".

"Respectable" Noah said, "So how many times do I have to meet you for me to kiss you?".

"I am not going to answer that" Aria chuckled.

"Why not?" Noah asked.

"Because I'm home" Aria replied.

Noah looked to the side and realised they were at a apartment complex.

"That went way too fast" Noah said.

Aria smiled, "I'll see you around Noah".

"Definitely" Noah assured.

After giving Noah one last glance, Aria entered the apartment complex, while a smiling Noah watched.

***

Caroline entered the Salvatore crypt, she took a deep breath and sat down on the bench.

"Hey" she whispered, "I know I'm late, but I was at a party with Rebekah and Aria, and somehow I managed to lose both of them, and then I was passing by and realised it's been a long time since I've been here", Caroline sighed, "I've got to admit, without you two idiots, everyone is struggling, Klaus won't sleep at nights, he will be on the phone with Elijah and Finn, trying to figure out how to bring you two back, Rebekah straight out refuses to say any of your names, Jeremy and April started living in the boarding house to stay close to all the memories, while I bought a house on the border of Mystic Falls, hoping to stay closer to the town that you both died for, and then there's Aria, who nearly killed herself with grief, but no matter what we all do, it doesn't change the fact, that we are all lost without you two".

Caroline chuckled and wiped her tears.

"God, if somebody would have told me I would be here crying over Damon Salvatore's death when we first met, I would've snapped their neck, yet here I am, sobbing my eyes out" Caroline sniffed.

"That's cause you love me".

Caroline looked up in shock, hearing the familiar voice, and to her shock, she saw both Damon and Kol standing infront of her.

"Hey, Care Bear" Damon greeted, a small smile on his face.

Caroline stood up and looked at the two vampires in shock, "Damon? Kol?".

"Yep" Damon replied, "In the flesh".

"Nik got you pregnant?!" Kol asked, his eyes falling on Caroline's stomach, "Wait, it is Nik's, right?".

"Am I dead?" Caroline asked, "Are we in the ghost world?".

"You're not dead, Caroline" Kol replied, "None of us are".

"It's hell of a long story, blondie, but we're back" Damon said.

"You're back" Caroline whispered, shocked.

"We're back" Kol repeated.

Caroline laughed and hugged Damon, she then hugged Kol, "I'm so happy" she cried.

"So are we" Kol said, breaking the hug, "But on a serious note, is that Nik's?".

Caroline slapped Kol's shoulder, "Don't call it that, and yes it is mine and Klaus's, who else is it going to be?".

Damon looked at Caroline, "Are they--are the triplets--?".

Caroline nodded, a small smile on her face, "They're here Damon, and they are the perfect mix of you and Aria, you're going to love them".

***

Presenting 6x05 of The Vampire Diaries . . .

Introducing Drew Van Acker as Noah Carter

Thoughts on Noah Carter? Not going to lie, while pre-writing my Jason DiLaurentis book, my massive crush on him came back, and I started thinking what if he was to take a interest in Aria and make Damon extremely jealous? 🤔Originally, I was going to use Liam, but I don't like him, plus that will be making Aria's story too similar to Elena's and I didn't want that, so for a few chapters enjoy Noah whose going to give Damon very tough competition!

Thoughts on Kai, Kol and Damon all ready to go home but Bonnie attacking them? Should Kol and Damon work together to bring Kai home, since technically they do owe him.

Thoughts on Damon and Kol finally coming home?

Thoughts on Caroline reuniting with Damon and Kol?