Monica laid back on the wooden boards of the docks, wearing a crop top and short shorts, with the plan of soaking up the sunshine while it was a beautiful and sunny day. The Montgomery felt at peace, laying in the sun and listening to the wind blowing the reeds by the lake. It wasn't often she felt like this, and the blonde knew it was only a matter of time until her mind would become flooded with annoying and intrusive thoughts, making it a struggle for her to relax. So she knew to make the most of this.

The past few days had been interesting to say the least... Ever since the day before Lizzie's party, Monica had been seeing Lizzie on and off. The Saltzman had been asking about the chances of them being an item, but Monica didn't want any strings attached. So that made them friends with benefits, currently. Monica was enjoying it, but she didn't realise how much it was hurting Lizzie.

The blonde had been curious about Ruby and Landon, and couldn't help but wonder when the pinkette was going to return to the Salvatore school. It felt unusual without her presence, without her trying to pester her about caring for others.

Not to mention the craziest thing that had happened over the past few days; the Necromancer was causing students dead loved one's to come back to life, to try and get the knife... which messing with their emotions like crazy. Rafael's girlfriend Cassie was a good example, she had suddenly appeared at the school a couple of days ago.

Monica opened one eye, upon hearing footsteps walking towards her. "Lizzie.." She sighed, sitting up. "I told you I wanted some time to myself." She complained, before turning around. What she saw made her face fall, and caused her eyes to instantly fill with tears.

"Monica." The figure spoke, as she stood tall, with blonde flowing hair, and bright blue eyes. "M... Mum!" The vampire rushed to her feet, and zoomed over to the older Montgomery, engulfing her in a hug.

❤︎

"So Monica's mother has appeared at the school?" He asked, as Hope nodded. "Which means the Necromancer has sent his next victim.." He sighed, before scratching his head. "Monica is going to feel like she is losing her all over again." Hope raised an eyebrow, "But... Monica claims she doesn't care for anyone."

"Yeah.. well that was after her mother was brutally taken away from her when she died in a deliberately set fire." Alaric spoke as Hope's face fell and she looked both guilty and empathetic, "Oh wow I had no idea.. that's really sad."

"Monica's mother meant everything to her, so we're going to be dealing with a very emotional Montgomery once her mother is dragged back to her grave." Alaric sighed, already feeling sorry for his student, even if she was a total pain in the ass. Hope looks a little unsure as she asked, "Will the twins need to siphon her to nothing?"

Alaric nodded, "It's likely... though Cassie managed to find peace on her own... perhaps Rue Montgomery may do the same. For now we need to do everything protect the urn and let Monica have closure with her mother." The headmaster insisted as Hope gave a nod.

❤︎

"I never thought I'd see you again." Monica admitted, as she and her mother were slumped into the bench near the lake. "I didn't either... I don't understand why I'm alive again, but I'm guessing it's temporary." Rue admitted, squeeing her daughter's hand sadly. Monica frowned, feeling her heart sink at those words, "No. I need you, Mum." The blonde pleaded.

"You're my family, my biggest supporter— my rock! Now.. I'm.. so alone." Monica admitted, her eyes filling with tears again. Rue let got of Monica's hand and instead placed an arm around her daughter, "But you don't have to be.." She insisted, as she had watched over her daughter as a ghost, and knew that she was pushing everyone away.

"I can't let anyone in... I can't let myself get hurt again. Whether it's them going out of their way to hurt me, or me losing them." Monica replied, not wanting to budge on this. "But that's the thing about life sweetheart, many people will hurt you, and you will lose people along the way... but you will have many more that will love you, cherish you, and look out for you, and they will be with you forever. But you won't experience that if you keep pushing everyone away."

Rue's words stung the girl, but it was what Monica needed to hear. She nodded, as a tear fell down her cheek. "I miss you so much." The Montgomery insisted. Rue hugged the girl, "I miss you too honey." She spoke, as Monica tried to control her tears, not wanting to spend another second of this precious time with her mother, feeling sorry for herself.

"There's something you need to know." The older Montgomery said, her eyes flashing importance. Monica's breath hitched for a moment, before she looked at her mother intently, "What is it?" She demanded.

"You have a brother, in Arizona. His name is Jordan, and he comes from a lineage of strong witches, the Luna coven." Rue began to explain as Monica looked confused, which pretty much told her mother to continue. "Jordan is your half brother, and barely younger than you. Your father cheated on me with one of his ex girlfriends, and Jordan was the result of it. He is a good kid, and I think you should reach out and find him."

It took Monica a moment to process all of this.. she has a brother?!

"Why hasn't he reached out to me?" Monica then asked, wondering if her poor excuse of a father had ran her name into the ground. "Jordan doesn't know that you exist. Your Dad told Jordan that he had a brother named Maxwell.. and that he died." Rue sighed frustratedly. Monica furrowed her eyebrows in frustration, "Of course he did. He would rather tell people— my own family, that I'm dead instead of telling them that I am transgender. He is such a fucking cunt." The girl hissed angrily.

Realising her language, she quickly cleared her throat. "Sorry it's just... I hate him. So much." Monica admitted as Rue nodded knowingly. "I don't know how long I could be here for... and I don't want our last conversation to be about my shitty ex husband." She confessed as Monica nodded with an awkward laugh, "Yeah I understand."

"How are you liking the Salvatore school?" Rue then asked, curiously. Monica shrugged, "It's nice... I am pretty much the queen bee around here." She then smirked as Rue laughed in response before saying, "That's my girl."

"Are you interested in anybody?" Rue curiously asked. "Like romantically?" Monica blurted as Rue nodded eagerly. The blonde scrunched up her face before saying, "Gross, no." to which Rue just laughed in response.

"I mean... I did sleep with Ric's daughter, Lizzie." Monica blurted out as Rue looked surprised, "Oh really? Do you like her?" Rue asked being a typical mother to pry on her daughter's love life. Monica just shrugged, "I don't know. She is beautiful— and sometimes I like her, but most of the time I can just tolerate her." Rue knew this is Monica's way of saying she has a liking for the Saltzman girl, without properly saying it.

"There's also this new girl, Ruby. She is pretty... pretty annoying more than anything but she is gorgeous too." The blonde admitted. "She left the school for a while, and I actually hope she comes back in one piece. She pesters me and we argue— it keeps life entertaining." Monica justified her reasons for wanting the pinkette back.

"It sounds like you have potential friends all around you Mon, maybe try to let them in." Rue smiled weakly before she placed her hand on Monica's. The blonde smiled back weakly at her Mum, "Okay." She decided.

"I have another question for you, Monica." Rue spoke, though her voice sounded different.. her tone sounded... forceful. This wasn't like Rue at all. "..And what is that, Mum?" Monica asked, facing her mother, her expression showing that she was a little concerned by the complete demeanour change. "I need you to take me to the knife."

Monica frowned now, realising that this was why the Necromancer was bringing back students loved ones— for that stupid knife.

"I don't know where it is." The blonde admitted truthfully. Rue quickly got to her feet, keeping eye contact with her daughter. "Well, I'll just have to go look for it myself then, won't I?" She decided as the vampire got to her feet now, and stood close to her mother. "No, I won't let you." Monica assured her.

"Well that's just too bad sweetheart... I'm going to have to make sure you don't get in my way. This could have been much easier." Rue spoke coldly, as her voice sent a chill down Monica's spine. "What do you—"

The blonde didn't get her sentence out, as she was suddenly injected with vervain, causing her to pass out.