long time, no see

I guess I'm not really sure how long I stayed with Landon. All I know, is that I was scared to leave him. What if he was eaten by a merman? Or what if he was charred by the dragon? What if-

"Annie?"

I turned to look at Landon, who rose an expectant brow. "I'm really not ready." I tell him.

He shook his head. "I know." I pursed my lips sadly as he pulled me into a tight hug. "But you know that you have to go. You have to help Hope."

Tears brim my eyes as I look up at him. My hands rest on his neck as I make him look down at me. "I promise, Landon, that I will find a way to bring you home. To Hope, to MG, hell even to Lizzie." Landon and I laughed, both of us near tears. I reach my hands around my own neck, taking off the Mikaelson necklace. "I think you should be the one to give this to her, not me." I tell him.

"Promise me something." He began, locking his hands with mine. "When you get there, and Hope begins some crazy plan, promise me you won't let her hurt anyone. Promise me she won't let anyone die trying to save me. I'm not worth the risk of losing anyone."

I let out a sad, breathy laugh, tears pouring down my cheeks. "I love you,"

"I love you, too."

♚

I shot up from my mothers bed, letting out a loud breath. Josie sat in front of me with tear stained cheeks, jumping in surprise. I look at her with an alarmed stare "Sorry, I came to talk to your mom, but you were sleeping, and then I realized you were dead, and nobody told me, and I thought you were gone-"

"Nobody knew." I stated bluntly. Josie looked at me, furrowing her brow in evident confusion. "I was doing a spell, and I needed to be dead to do it."

"Oh."

Josie was rather quiet now, but her eyes were still red from, I guess, seeing me dead. I didn't know what to say. The wound from our breakup was slowly healing for me, but I don't think I was ready to be alone with her.  She looked over at me, like she wanted to tell me something. "So," I began.

"I'm talking to someone." She blurted. I lean back, slightly surprised. "I didn't plan it, really. But there's a girl at Mystic Falls High and-"

"It's cool, Josie." I tell her. She rose a brow, and I shook my head. "We broke up, I can't control what you do anymore."

Josie shook her head. "It's not that, Stasia, I just," She sighed, slouching her shoulders. "I just really wanted to see you." She confessed.

I gave her a sad smile, looking down in thought. She leaned over, hugging me tightly. It felt strange, the two of us hugging after I had been so mad at her for so long, after I just came back from Landon. It was different, but I wasn't sure how I felt about different.

After Josie left, and I got dressed, I stormed to find Hope.

"Landon's alive, and Annie is-"

Jed cuts my sister off. "Right behind you."

Lizzie and Hope snap their heads in my direction. "Annie!" Hope shouted, running to me. I wrapped my arms around my sister, the feeling of her warm embrace reminding me that I was home. "I'm a horrible sister. I didn't know you were dead, your mom said you visited Aunt Rebekah-"

"It's okay," I cut her off, "I didn't want you to worry." I explain to her. Hope looked at me with such joy, and optimism, that everything was going to be okay. "Lets get started."

Hope smiled at me, the two of us walking up to the table with the rest of Super Squad. "Okay, now that we have proof Landon's alive, and we have the ascendant at our disposal, we're going after him."

I look up, "Wait, the ascendant?"

"MG hid it from us." Wade whispered. My mouth opened in an O shape.

Eleanor and my mom came waltzing over. "Sorry, I was here teaching Eleanor not to stab people when she's angry." My mom said kindly, standing next to Dr. Saltzman.

"Sorry I'm late." I looked over to see MG walking over. Hope didn't even turn to glance at him. She pulled me closer to her, "Would have helped if someone told me there was gonna be a Super Squad meeting."

Everyone shared sheepish looks , and I looked down at the table. Hope spoke up. "Luckily for us, there's a planetary transit tonight, which we can use to power the ascendant."

"Hold on, you guys are going to the prison world?" MG asked. "Dr. Saltzman, that's way too risky. We need more time."

"Well, if you hadn't been lying to us this whole time, we might have had more time to prepare." Hope snipped.

Alaric spoke up, "Everyone, relax. MG's right. It's not ideal." He paused in thought. "When's the next celestial event?"

Hope shook her head. "Not for another month. If you think I'm waiting that long, think again." I sighed, not knowing how long I've been gone.

"Where do you think Landon is, exactly?" Jed asked. Everyone looked at me expectantly.

I shrugged, "I don't know how time works, but when I left him, we were still in Mystic Falls." I began, "But once we are physically in the prison world, then we can do a locator spell." I offered.

Wade huffed, "In a world with hungry monsters trying to tear us limb from limb, I probably look like a hot dog to them."

"I agree with all of you, for a change." Alaric said, "Which is why this incredibly dangerous mission has to be conducted on a purely voluntary basis." He looked at the Vampire by Hope. "MG, I think we know where you stand."

"Enough talk. Who's with me?"

Nobody said a word for a moment, refusing to make eye contact with each other. "You know I'm not." MG began. "So please, at least let me try to explain why." I looked up at him, seeing a miserable look on his face. "I get that you're pissed. And I apologize for breaking your trust." He looked at each of us. "But you also know me, and you know there's nothing I wouldn't do for you or anyone at this school, even Jed. So why do you think I've been lying this whole time?" Lizzie looked down in thought. "Lizzie and I astral projected into this world. I've seen its horrors with my own eyes. If we open a door to it, we could be marching right into one of Malivore's traps. Or worse, giving him exactly what he wants. A way into our world."

Hope speaks up. "What Malivore wants is Landon. Always has, always will." She stated.

"Which is why we need a better plan. Otherwise, we will be trading a life of someone here for him." MG explained. Wade and Jed made unsure eye contact,"Why do you think we all fought so hard to lock Malivore away in the first place, Hope?" I looked at my sister in thought, "We can't screw that up. And if Landon were here, I'm sure that he'd agree with me." I looked down, knowing MG was right.

"Well, he's not. And if you were trapped, he'd risk his life to save you. That goes for any of you." Hope argued.

MG shook his head. "I'm not saying we shouldn't go after Landon. We just have to be smart about it. And what you're talking about right now, it's not smart. It's desperate." He said slowly, "I know I'm not the leader of the Super Squad, but I did lead the fight that saved this school from Triad. And it's my plan that put Malivore where he's at right now. I'm no coward. So who's with me?"

I looked down in thought. Landon made me promise him nobody would get hurt, but I needed to help Hope save Landon as fast as possible. There had to be a way to do both. Nobody said a word to MG, causing him to nod. "Then I guess you were right, Dr. Saltzman. I don't need to be here." I watched sadly as MG walked away. He was right, and I knew that. But I needed to help Hope.

It's always Hope.

"Malivore's not the only threat we need to worry about." Alaric began, "Let's not forget, The Necromancer is trapped inside the prison world as well, and he is notorious for holding a grudge."

My mom spoke up, "We wish we had more time, but these planets aren't gonna wait for us, so if we're gonna do this, we need to get prepared immediately." She stated, looking at the people I called my friends. "Which means you all need to make the decision that's right for you."

Kaleb vamp sped over, "Sorry I'm late. I miss anything important?"

"No, you're just in time. Are you coming with us to the prison world to save Landon or not?"

Kaleb looked at my sister with confusion. "Where's MG?" He asked.

Alaric spoke up, "He's not joining us, here or there." He explained.

I turned to Kaleb, who looked down in thought, "So, if I go, I'm just doing him dirty like he did us."  He began, "And if I stay, I'm still screwing him over. And Landon."

"Sounds like a no. Moving on." Hope rolled her eyes. I mumbles a sorry to Kaleb, becoming quickly annoyed with my sister. "Wade?"

"Well, as a general rule, I tend to avoid situations that will probably lead to my untimely demise, but Gaby and I really need a DM for our next campaign, and, and Landon's the only one that's any good at it. So, yeah, I'm Team Hope." Wade stuttered. "Let's go get our boy."

Jed spoke up, "The pack's a lot smaller these days, but I'll rally all the wolves I've got left. As long as the witches stop spelling scarlet letters onto my shirts." Jed moved his shirt to reveal a red A.

"I think that can be arranged." Alaric hummed, "Elizabeth?"

"It's risky for sure, and if I need to make a decision right here, right now," Lizzie looked at Hope slowly, "I'm with MG."

"What? No. You're the only Gemini witch we have." Hope said, "If you don't activate the ascendant, then this whole thing falls apart."

Lizzie shrugged, "Maybe it should. You know, maybe he's right." She told my sister. "I'm sorry, Hope. We'll find another way." I nodded slowly, knowing Lizzie and MG were both right. We could save Landon, but doing it now wouldn't be smart, Hope was being too risky.

I spoke up, "I promised Landon that I wouldn't let anyone get hurt." Hope looked at me with wide eyes. "I promised him we'd do this smart And Hope, what we're trying to do, isn't smart. He can wait another month, I know he can. He's willing to wait forever if it means everyone finds a safe way to find him." I told her. She didn't care, though, as she stormed off without another word.

♚

My mom and I looked at a bunch of her old books. "Well, so far there's no luck in finding another way in getting Landon back here." She explained.

"The spell we used wouldn't work for him?" I asked, leaning my head in my hands.

"Only temporarily. And even then, we wouldn't be able to protect his body there." She explained to me. I nodded, shrinking in my seat.

Eleanor came swaying into the room, wearing a long vintage dress. Despite being a thousand years old, she seemed to enjoy her old-styled clothes. She strolled over with a happy look on her face, "So, any luck finding that cute mortal boy?"

Mom rolled her eyes at her sister, "No, actually." Eleanor hummed, a pout on her face.

"Shame, I was rather excited," She said calmly. "Anastasia, what do you think the mortals would think if I was their teacher?" She asked with a giggle. I rose an amused brow as Mom whacked her with a rolled up map.

The door to my moms classroom swung open, Lizzie and Dr. Saltzman walking in. "We have a problem." Dr. Saltzman said.

"Hope found a way around everyone saying no."

I frowned, "What do you mean?" I asked in confusion. Lizzie made eye contact with me, her eyes laced with concern. I could feel my stomach sink as she began to speak.

"She's going to use Josie."

♚

I leaned against the wall as Lizzie walks over to my room. "MG?" I asked softly.

"He'll be fine." Lizzie mumbled, "Your mom and Eleanor are going to stay with him until he wakes up." I nodded slowly. "You don't have to do this. Hopes your sister,"

I cut her off. "Which is exactly why I'm doing this." I say. Lizzie looked at me for a long moment. "Landon made me promise Hope wouldn't hurt anyone. By doing this, Hopes not hurting just anyone, she's hurting Josie. And if I'm going to help Hope, we're not doing this with Josie. She'll die."

Lizzie looked down for a moment, "You still love her, don't you? Josie?" She asked me with a soft stare. I looked down, shrugging my shoulders.

"I'll always love Josie, but it's time I move on." I confess, looking away. "But it's because I love her, that I need to save her."

Lizzie smiled softly, holding up the ascendant, "Then let's go save my sister."

♚

Hope looked at Josie, "Well, your dad had it spelled. But for a fully operational siphon witch who can break down its barrier, that shouldn't be a problem." Josie nodded slowly, holding up the coin that held her magic inside it.

Lizzie and I stood side by side as Lizzie used the magic she siphoned from MG to bring the coin to her hand. "Well, it sure as hell is for this one, sister." Lizzie snapped. "I told you to leave her out of this."

"Well, I think we're all clear as to why we're here, so why don't we just skip the verbal sparring and get to the actual fight?" Hope said, she looked at me, expecting me to defend her, but I refused. "I'm not gonna ask again, Lizzie."

I looked at the Saltzman, "Give me the coin." I stated bluntly. Lizzie smiled, placing it in my palm, "Invisique." I hummed before throwing the coin into the brush.

Hope looked at me. "How could you?" She snapped.

"I'm not letting you do this to Josie." I say coldly.

Hope shook her head, "You just ruined my only chance-"

"Relax." Lizzie mumbled, "We'll find it later, after we get your boyfriend back."

Josie stepped toward. "Lizzie, no. You don't have to do this for me." Josie turned to me with wide eyes. She grabbed my hands, turning me to her. "Annie, please, you don't have to-"

"Yes, I do." I told her, "Because you're my blind spot, Jo."

Lizzie spoke up, "And mine." Josie looked at her twin, who rolled her eyes. "Just like Landon clearly is Hope's for reasons that I will never fully understand." She mumbled.

"Because she loves him." Josie spoke up, "I love you."

Lizzie smiled softly, her eyes glossing over. "You freaking better." Hope looked at Lizzie and I as well walked over. "You want to do this spell so bad? Let's do the damn spell." She said, holding out the ascendant.

It's not long until we do begin preparing the spell. Josie pours Bennett blood into the ascendant. "That should do it." She said.

"Okay. Now step outside the circle." Hope said to Josie.

Lizzie looked at her twin. "And don't come back in. No matter what happens." Josie looked at me one more time, and I gave a simple smile.

The three of us held onto the ascendant, closing our eyes. "Sangiema Meam Et Nos Mundo Carcerema. Sangiema Meam Et Nos Mundo,"

"It's working." Josie said hopefully.

"Carcerema. Sangiema Meam Et Nos Mundo Carcerema."

Lizzie grunts in pain, "I don't remember this being so painful."

Around us, bright lights begin to swirl, the ascendant completely out of control. "Dark magic." Josie whispered. "The Necromancer was full of it when we trapped him, so the prison world must be radioactive with it." The three of us look at our hands, seeing black veins coming up our palms. "And now it's infecting you."

"What do we do?" I ask with wide eyes. The stinging sensation flowed through me, reminding me of the times I used black magic with Josie.

"Sever the connection. Let go."

Lizzie winces, "I can't!"

Hope looks at us, "Hold on. We can do this. We just have to push through."

"No, Annie, you could die!" Josie shouts at me. "Let go!"

I look at my sister, "No! We are not abandoning him again." She scolds. Lizzie and I let out painful shouts as black veins come up our bodies.

Josie looked at me, and I gave her a weak smile. "I love you," I mouth, screaming in pain again.

Josie purses her lips, storming into the circle. I feel her hand grab mine, and the other grabs her sister. She screams in pain as black magic fills her as well. "Josie!" Lizzie screams in worry

Josie looks at me for a moment. "I love you too." She says to me. I watch the black veins lead up her face like my own, tears rolling down my face. I did love her, so much.

Her hand encloses in mine, her brown eyes having a slight twinkle. "Stasia, I was so jealous three months ago. I still am."

"Jealous of what?" I ask, shaking my head in confusion.

"I was jealous of love." She says sharply. "I was so afraid of losing you to someone else, I developed this crazy idea in my head that if I tried to leave you and 'move on' it wouldn't hurt as bad." Her eyes are glossy as she bites her lip again. "But seeing you at the Mystic Falls Grill, with that girl, I wanted to rip her face off." The two of us laugh, knowing Josie definitely could've. "And, and I haven't been able to forget you. No matter how hard I try to fill in this void with Landon. I can't forget how in love I am with you." My eyes widen in surprise as she takes my other hand. "I love you, Anastasia King. And if you want me to shout it from the rooftops, write it in the stars with magic, or kill another demon," We laugh again, tears running down both our cheeks. "I will do it all. As long as you forgive me for being stupid, and selfish, and evil-"

I cut her off, my hands framing her face as I pull her in, locking our lips together.

Hope looked at Lizzie, "I'm so sorry." She said softly.

Suddenly, someone came barreling through, shoving an object through the ascendant. The magic causes the four of us to all fly backwards into different directions. I land in the grass, groaning in pain. I sit up, looking at Josie. I crawl over, leaning down to her. "Are you okay?" I ask, pushing her hair out of her face.

Josie sat up slowly, smiling at me. "I'm okay." She told me. We both looked at Lizzie, who slowly stood up. I helped Josie to her feet, letting her go to her twin.

Hope turned around, seeing her boyfriend in the midst of the smoke. "Landon?"

"Long time, no see."

"Am I dead or is this another dream?"

Lizzie shook her head, "No, I'm pretty sure Landon made it back here somehow." She said, Josie hugging her arm.

"Because we totally see him, too." Josie followed.

I smiled softly as Landon smiled at me for a moment. Suddenly, Hope runs into Landon's arms, hugging him tightly. Landon and I made eye contact from his hug, and he sends me a grateful nod, which I return.

♚

The next morning, I walked down the hall with Eleanor. "And I was trying to convince Alaric to let me teach gym, but he said I'd cheat!"

"Would you?" I asked her.

My aunt hummed in thought. "Maybe." She winked, causing me to laugh. "So, you and that witch, are you two making up?"

I slouched my shoulders in thought, "I don't know." I whisper, "I think, right now, we're too different."

"Different is good, isn't it?" Eleanor asked me.

The corner of my lip quirked into an unsure smile. "She wants a normal life, you know? A life I can't give her as Anastasia Mikaelson." I explained with a pained look.

"And your sister? I'm assuming you're not happy with her, either?"

I scoff, "I think Hope and I are on a strictly no talking basis, even if I'm happy Landons back." I explained softly.

"Stasia!"

My hair swifts behind me as I turn slowly. Josie stands in the middle of the hallway, staring back at me. Everything she and I ever went through, flashing between us like a heard of memories. Every mistake she and I ever made, every moment she told me she loved me. Every tear I had shed since she left. All of it swishing between us like an uncontrollable energy.

I blink.

Josie takes a step forward, and so do I. In sync, we walk towards each other before meeting in the middle. Her eyes are soft, a comforting look on her face. I expect it to be like almost a year ago, when MG came in and stopped us, and we walk away from one another. But it doesn't happen. Nobody's interrupting us. I don't know if I should walk away. Maybe I should. She had someone at Mystic Falls High.

The thought of Josie moving on grazes my mind. She was moving on, and I shouldn't stop her from doing that. Josie looks up slowly as I turn on my heel. I mentally plead she stops me. That she will spin me around and kiss me like all the times before. I realize maybe this will be like when MG stopped us. I'll walk away, hoping she will stop be but she won't. I feel a sadness sink in my chest as I realize nothing would come of this.

But something does.

Josie grabs my arms, spinning me around quickly. I gasp as she looks into my eyes, the two of us staring at each other for a long moment. "Come to Mystic Falls High with me."

I shake my head, "Wait, what?"

"I didn't say we should get back together, because we probably shouldn't." Josie pointed out, I nodded, feeling the same. "But there's no reason we can't be friends, Stasia. And Mystic Falls is a great place for you. You have friends there, and it's away from-"

"Hope." I finish.

Josie shrugged, "I was gonna say monsters, but,"

I laugh, "I'll come." I say finally.

"Great! Elena and Damon literally called Dr. Saltzman and begged him to ask you to come visit. I guess they like you!" Josie beamed.

I burst out laughing, "They're great." I say, remembering my alias as Anna Salvatore. They were great, a normal family that treated me like their own. I missed them, too.

Josie smiled softly, "So, friends?" I look at Josie. We could be friends, I decided. She was my friend far before my girlfriend, and we could definitely get along.

"Friends." I hum, hugging her tightly.

authors note

tbh i didn't know how to end this but I MISSED ANNIE WITH ELENA AND DAMON OKAY I NEED IT.

obviously annie and josie are in a better place now, and we're gonna see them as friends. i'm not saying they'll never happen again, but i really want annie to be by herself & see if any other relationships form. but i also really missed annie and ethan, as well as annie and the others i incorporated in seasons 1 & 2, so its about time annie goes back and we see them again.

i hope you all enjoyed this chapter!! i know i did!!

i do have a question; i already asked on my actual account if josie and annie should get back together, but if they don't, what are some other love interests we would like to explore!? to be clear; annie is pan (voted by you guys about a year ago), and so she could literally get with ANYONE. thank you besties!! toodles!!

nat<3