CHAPTER EIGHT

May 2, 2008

"What's it say?" Tyler asks as he, Jeremy, Carter, and Matt stand together in Jeremy's bedroom in the Lockwood mansion.

Jeremy clears his throat as he looks at his sister's handwriting. "If you're reading this, then things didn't go my way. And I'm so sorry that I'm not there with you guys now, but now I need to ask that you all do something for me.

"Dean and I discussed last year what we wanted for the twins, should things turn out with both of us gone. He talked to Bobby, and he's agreed to look after the twins for us. We love you guys, but we don't want our babies growing up surrounded by everything that happens in Mystic Falls.

"There's a vampire in New Orleans, his name is Marcel. If Liv won't, he should know someone who can make Vicki a daylight ring. He told me once that his door would always be open to me and the twins if I ever needed it. When they're older, I want them to meet him. I want him to tell them about the times he met Dean and I.

"Vic, spend as much time there as you need, let him help you if he's able. But I do still want the twins to end up with Bobby when you're ready to leave. I know him, he may not be thrilled with the idea of you living there at first, but he'll do what's best for them. And I want the twins to know you too.

"You were my best friend growing up, you were the one person I told everything to. I know you watched over me while you were on the other side. Tell the twins what you saw, what their parents were like together. I want them to know us as well as possible. Bobby can tell them about when Dean was a kid, and Sam can too.

"Bobby's agreed that anyone can come by the house to see the twins and be a part of their lives over the years. Just let him know before you show up — he is still a hunter, and this is going to be an adjustment for everyone.

"I wish I could write an individual thank you to all of you, and tell you all how much you mean to me, but there isn't enough time. Know that I love you all, you made my life unique and amazing. I'll miss you guys more than you know.

"And Elena, Jeremy — I am so sorry.

— Nyx."

"I'll call Vicki." Matt says as he turns away from them with tears in his eyes.

The next night, Vicki, Lexi, and the twins make it to New Orleans, and they're not quite expecting who they come across first.

"You should be careful wandering these streets. Werewolves have taken over the quarter." Says a familiar voice, and the girls both turn around to face him.

"You're Elijah." Vicki says, and his eyebrows furrow as he looks between the women. "One of the originals."

"Forgive me, I don't believe I know you." He says, and she shakes her head.

"You wouldn't. I was already dead when you showed up in Mystic Falls. I watched everything from the Other Side — I saw your brother kill my best friend." She tells him. "Though I guess I can't really judge too much. Your mother almost got me to kill her once too."

"You've met my mother?" He's surprised.

"She came to me while I was on the Other Side. She told me that she could bring me back. I was just desperate enough to listen."

"Why don't we take this conversation somewhere a bit more private, and safe?"

The two girls look at each other, not sure that they should trust him. Sure, he's supposed to be the honorable brother, but he's already broken that trust in the past.

"Please. I meant what I said before, it's not safe out here. And the sun will be up soon." He says, glancing at their hands. "You can set the children down to sleep properly. I promise they'll be safe."

"Okay." Lexi nods, and he takes them to a large compound.

Elijah then leads the way to a bedroom, and there's a king-sized bed inside. The girls lay the twins down and then set up pillows to block the edges. They stir before settling and going back to sleep.

"What's going on in here?" Klaus asks as he walks into the doorway of the room.

"I found them wandering the streets with two toddlers on their hips." Elijah tells his brother. "I couldn't leave them to the werewolves. It wouldn't have been right."

"What brings you to New Orleans?" He asks as he looks between the two girls.

"We're looking for a man named Marcel. We had a mutual friend — Nycole Gilbert." Vicki tells them.

"Ah, yes. I remember her well. I liked her, she was very...outspoken." A smile crosses Elijah's lips as the girls return their attention to him. "How is she?"

Vicki and Lexi exchange a quick glance before turning back to the two brothers. "You don't know?" Lexi asks.

"Know what?"

"Nyx is dead." She tells them, and the boys look at each other. "Your brother killed her — Kol. The veil between our side and the Other Side was down in Mystic Falls, and he wanted revenge for Jeremy killing him."

"She had just turned her emotions back on when he showed up. He tried to kill her friend, I saved him, and then he tore Nyx's heart from her chest." Vicki says. "Now, the Other Side is gone and her along with it. She said that Marcel would help us, that he told her that he'd always be around for her kids." She tells them, and they look at the two sleeping toddlers in the bed behind them.

"These are Nycole's children?" Elijah asks, and she nods. "Where's their father?"

"Dean's dead too." Lexi says. "His brother died last year, and he made a deal with a demon to bring him back. He sold his soul, and he only got one year. His deal was up the same night that the Other Side collapsed."

"Yesterday." Vicki looks down before turning to look at the twins.

"Dean and Nyx came to New Orleans a few times, she became friends with Marcel. He promised that his door would always be open to her — and to them — should they ever need it." The blonde explains. "She was hoping that he'd help us get daylight rings so that we can raise them. And when they're older, she wants them to know him. I guess there's a few stories that he can tell them about their parents. It's important to her. It's one of the last things she asked of us. And we're alive because of her, we owe her at least this much."

"Of course." Elijah nods. "We know Marcel. I'll take you to him tomorrow night. You two should get some sleep in the meantime. I can take you each to a room."

"I...think we'd rather stay with the twins."

Vicki nods as she looks at them. "I let Nyx down in a lot of ways. I'm not screwing this up, and I'm not leaving their side." She says.

"I understand." He nods. "We'll give you both some privacy then." He says, and the brothers leave the room.

May 4, 2008

"Elijah." Marcel looks at the original, confused by his presence at his place.

"I found a couple of girls looking for you in the Quarter." Elijah turns to reveal Vicki and Lexi, and still, Marcel's confused.

"My name is Lexi, and this is Vicki." She tells him. "I believe you've already met these two — Alex and Everly."

"Nyx and Dean's kids." Marcel nods. "Where are they? Are they here too?"

"No." Vicki shakes her head. "Lexi and I are gonna take the twins to South Dakota and raise them there with a friend of Dean's."

"Where are Nyx and Dean?" He asks, and the girls look at each other.

"Can we come in?" Lexi asks. "We'll explain everything, but the twins get antsy being held​ for too long if they aren't tired."

"Of course."

They go inside, and Vicki sets the twins up on the floor with their toys. Lexi's explaining everything in further detail to Marcel and Elijah as Vicki keeps the toddlers entertained. The twins are still playing with the brunette when a witch friend of Marcel's shows up, a teenage girl named Davina.

Davina makes the two girls each a daylight ring and then leaves soon after. Elijah doesn't stay much longer. Marcel agrees to do exactly as Nyx asked, and the three of them play with the twins for a while.