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Day One

Night - Woods

Over the fog-covered forest floor, a young man's voice was spoken. "For over a century, I have lived in secret. Hiding in the shadows, alone in the world. Until now. I am a vampire. And this is my story."

-

Unknown Road

(Song) Sort Of - Silversun Pickups

A couple drove down the road, the man in the driver's seat, his girl next to him. The man had brunette hair, brown eyes and tan skin. The woman had blonde hair, hazel eyes and fair skin.

"An hour's drive to hear that crap," the man told her. "You know, it wasn't even a band. A guy with a guitar. An hour each way."

"He wasn't that bad," the woman told him.

"He sounded like James Blunt," the man told her.

"What's wrong with that?" the woman asked.

"We already have a James Blunt," the man answered. "One's all we need."

The woman chuckled. "So why did you come?"

The man looked at her. "Because I love you."

The woman tilted her head. "Nicely done." She looked outside. There was fog covering the pavement of the road. "What's with all the fog?"

(End of Song)

"It'll clear in a second," the man told her.

"Watch out!" the woman screamed.

The warning was too late. The car drove over a man, making the man to act quickly and look at the woman.

"Are you okay?" the man asked.

"We just hit someone!" the woman told him. "Oh my God!"

"Call for help," the man told her, opening the car door, getting out, closing the door behind him, walking toward the man they had hit.

The woman pulled her phone, trying to make a call. "Come on, come on!"

The man knelt next to the one they had hit. "Please be alive! Oh, my God."

The man they had hit leaned forward, fangs in his mouth, biting the man's neck.

The woman opened her car door, getting out, closing it behind her, looking around. "There's no signal! Darren!" Darren and the man they had hit were no where in sight. "Darren?"

The woman shone her flashlight toward the car.

Darren's body fell onto the car with a deafening crash, the windshield breaking.

The woman screamed, turning around, running away down the road. Something unseen pulled her into the sky, the woman never seen alive again.

-

Worlds Colliding (The Vampire Diaries)

-

Day Two

Morning - Salvatore Boarding House - The Roof

Stefan Salvatore stood on the roof, his hair dirty blonde, almost brown, his eyes green, his skin fair.

Stefan: (voice over) "I shouldn't have come home. I know the risk. But I had no choice. I have to know her."

Stefan jumped off the roof, landing safely on the ground below.

Nicola Salvatore, with medium brunette hair, brown eyes and fair skin was watching him through the other side of the window from inside.

-

Inside - Parlor

Nicola turned to look at her twin brother and father.

The twin brother, Levi Salvatore, had black hair and pale skin.

The father, Zach Salvatore, had brunette hair and scruff on his chin.

"What is he doing here?" Zach asked warily. "These girls that look like two others from when they were humans? There has to be something else."

"Dad, come on," Nicola told him. "It's not like Stefan's the worst out of the four of them."

"You're right, he's not," Zach agreed. "But whenever Stefan comes to 'visit', Damon's usually not that far behind. So is Nathan. And we've never even met Kaylin."

Levi pressed his lips together, looking away. "Right, yeah."

Nicola glanced at Levi for that response, sighing, looking at Zach. "I know, Dad. But there's not much we can do about any of them. And Stefan and Nathan helped you take care of me and Levi after Mom died."

"That's true," Levi agreed. "Giving Nikki bracelets and teaching me football and everything. And Dad, just relax. At least if Nathan does show up, it'll be because he's a good brother like Stefan. Damon can fuck off, but we know Kaylin's not likely to make an appearance."

Nicola gestured to Levi in agreement. "All of us are worried about Damon, Dad. Because we know that as soon as he comes back, all hell will break loose. But give Stefan and Nathan a break, please."

Zach sighed. "All right, fine."

Zach walked out of the room, leaving.

Nicola hesitated, looking to the side. "Does that mean we still have to go to school?" Zach didn't answer. "Dad?"

"Dad, come on, making us go to school after all this is cruel and unusual punishment," Levi told him. "I mean, we have more important things to worry about than education at the moment, like freaking out about the fact that Mystic Falls just might implode because Stefan is back, Damon and Nathan are definitely coming back, and who knows about Kaylin."

"Going a little overboard there, Levi," Nicola told him sarcastically.

Levi shrugged.

Zach still didn't answer.

Nicola and Levi sighed, both knowing that was a yes, grabbing their bags from the floor, pulling their bags over their shoulder, walking toward the door.

-

Gilbert House - Elena's Room

Elena Gilbert, a girl with long, straight brunette hair, brown eyes and olive skin, was sitting on the window seat, writing in her diary on her lap.

Elena: (voice over) "Dear diary, today will be different. It has to be."

-

Alex's Room

Alex Gilbert was laying on her bed, on her stomach, staring in nowhere particular. She looked nearly identical to Elena. Her hair was natural curls. She also had a diary that she was writing in.

Alex: (voice over) "I will smile, and it will be believable. My smile will say, 'I'm fine, thank you. Yes, I feel much better'."

-

Elena's Room

Elena was still writing in her diary.

Elena: (voice over) "I will no longer be the sad little girl who lost her parents and older sister. I will start fresh, be someone new."

-

Hallway

Alex and Elena left their rooms, standing in the hallway, exchanging a look, nodding to each other.

Alex/Elena: (voice over) "It's the only way I'll make it through."

-

Kitchen

(Song) Here We Go - Mat Kearney

Jenna Sommers, a woman with auburn hair in a messy bun, green eyes and fair skin, her style simple, was looking into the fridge. "Toast. I can make toast."

Ashley Gilbert, a girl with black wavy hair, was pouring coffee into a mug. "It's all about the coffee, Aunt Jenna."

The youngest sibling, a sister, Liv Gilbert, had brunette hair, brown eyes, tanned skin.

Liv walked toward Ashley and took her sister's mug.

Ashley frowned. "Hey!"

"Liv!" Jenna told her.

Liv took a sip, raising an eyebrow at Ashley. While teasing, her expression was numb.

Ashley groaned quietly, grabbing another mug.

Jeremy Gilbert walked into the kitchen. "Is there coffee?"

Elena walked in with her bag, looking at Ashley. "Hey, Ashley, can you pour me some?"

Ashley nodded.

Alex walked inside

Liv rolled her eyes. "Can't get it yourself?"

Elena gave her a look. "Liv--"

"Elena, don't start with the whole 'Be nice to Alex, Ashley and Jeremy' thing," Liv told her. "It's getting boring."

Jenna walked past Alex to the kitchen table. "Your first day of school and I'm totally unprepared."

Jeremy took the coffee mug away from Liv, making it his own.

Liv gave him a what the hell? look and gesture. "Dude."

Elena sent Jeremy a Be nice look.

Ashley smirked at Liv, speaking in a sing-song voice. "Payback is a bitch, isn't it?"

Jeremy and Ashley shared a smirk.

Liv rolled her eyes.

"Lunch money?" Jenna asked.

"I'm good," Elena and Alex said together.

"Me too," Ashley told her.

Jeremy and Liv walked up to Jenna, taking the dollar bills from either of her hands.

"Anything else?" Jenna asked frantically. "A number 2 pencil? What am I missing?"

Ashley turned her head toward Jenna. "Aunt J, don't you have a big presentation today?"

"I'm meeting with my thesis advisor at..." Jenna trailed off, looking down at her watch. "Now. Crap."

Jenna took her hair out of the bun it was in.

"Then go," Elena told her. "We'll be fine."

Jenna gave Elena a relieved smile, walking out.

Elena turned to Jeremy and Liv. "You guys okay?"

Liv gazed off with a haunted look in her eyes, though she tried to cover it with an eye roll.

Jeremy scoffed as he gave Elena a look. "Don't start."

Jeremy walked away, taking a sip of the coffee.

Liv followed him, taking the coffee back. "That's mine, thank you."

Jeremy smirked, both of them walked out of the room.

Elena sighed sadly.

Ashley looked at both her two older sisters. "It's gonna be okay."

Despite that, Ashley had a haunted look herself. She seemed weighed down by burdens of the past, not just losing their parents and older sister, but of secrets that seemed to go far beyond that.

Alex smiled softly at Ashley, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Elena looked at Ashley in concern. "You okay?"

Ashley managed a small smile, nodding, as convincing as she could. "Yeah."

Elena gave Ashley a sad smile, looking at Alex. "Are you okay?"

Alex smiled tightly. "I'll get there."

Elena smiled softly.

Alex wrapped her arm around Ashley.

On the TV behind them, it showed a Missing Persons Report for Darren and Brooke, the couple from the beginning.

Alex looked from Ashley to Elena. "Come on. We have to go meet Bonnie before we're late and we don't have a ride."

Ashley looked down in guilt that she tried to hide, swallowing. The mention of Bonnie and needing a ride seemed to bring back memories of her haunting secret that she was not yet ready to face.

Oblivious to Ashley's distress, Elena laughed, grabbing her leather jacket.

Alex looked at Ashley in concern. "You good?"

Ashley nodded, licking her lips as the two pulled away from their embrace. "Yeah. Let's just go."

The trio of sisters walked toward the door, outside.

-

Outside - Bonnie's Car

Elena was sitting at the passenger seat.

Alex and Ashley were sitting in the back.

Alex looked at the Bennett girl in the driver's seat. "Hey, Bonnie, can we swing by Kacie's and pick her up?"

Bonnie frowned. "Why would she need a ride? She has Tyler and Eli."

"Exactly," Ashley told them in a duh voice. Elena giggled, as Ashley continued. "You know Tyler and Eli will ditch her. Come on."

Alex smirked, nodding in agreement.

-

Lockwood Mansion - Kacie's Room

A girl with brunette hair, brown eyes and a naturally tan skin looked into the mirror, pulling her cheek-length bangs to the side, out of her face. Her name was Kacie Lockwood.

"Kacie!" a boy (Tyler Lockwood) called from downstairs. "Leaving now!"

"Kacie, you better hurry before Tyler starts the damn car!" another boy (Eli Lockwood) called.

Kacie ran out the door of her bedroom, grabbing her bag, pulling the door open in a hurry, walking out of the room.

-

Foyer

Kacie held onto the stairwell railing, jogging down the hall and down the fancy, half spiral staircase of her house, through the foyer, to the front door, opening it, walking out.

-

Outside

Kacie walked out onto the front porch, looking around.

Her brothers, Tyler and Eli, were in the car.

Tyler started to drive away while smirking evilly at Kacie. "And, we out."

"Dude, wait," Eli told him.

"Nope," Tyler replied.

Kacie groaned, flipping Tyler off.

Tyler drove away with Eli in the car.

Kacie sighed, sitting down on the porch steps. "I hate you."

Bonnie's car pulled in front of her, the two windows closer to her rolled down to reveal Alex, Ashley, Elena and Bonnie.

"Hey, you," Alex told her.

"Need a ride?" Bonnie asked.

Kacie smirked, walking closer. "You guys are the best."

The girls laughed.

-

Bonnie's Car

Kacie got in.

Ashley slid over to sit between Kacie and Alex.

"Thanks," Kacie told them.

"Thank Ash and Alex," Bonnie told her. "They knew your brothers would ditch you."

Kacie looked at Alex and Ashley.

Alex shrugged one shoulder. "No problem."

Kacie smirked.

Bonnie drove them away.

-

On The Road - Bonnie's Car

Bonnie was driving. Elena was in the passenger seat. Kacie, Ashley and Alex were in the backseat.

"Bonnie, how are you?" Elena asked in concern. "We've been meaning to check in, after Roni... got out of juvie."

Ashley closed her eyes.

Bonnie sniffled. "You know what? I'm glad Roni's out. The accident wasn't her fault. I just... wish to God that it never happened."

"Of course," Alex agreed sadly. "How are Lindsey and Courtney? Your Grams? After what happened with Daniel?"

"Not much better," Bonnie answered. "I mean, Courtney and Grams are telling me that Lindsey and I are psychic."

Ashley looked down in hidden guilt, swallowing.

Kacie and Alex exchanged a look, smirking.

"Our ancestors were from Salem," Bonnie explained. "Witches and all that. I know, crazy. But they're going on and on about it. And I'm like, 'put Grams in a home already'."

Despite the uplifted tone of Bonnie's voice, there was a devastated edge to the words. "I mean, Lindsey's already in the mental hospital after what happened to Daniel. And by the looks of it, I don't know if it's the grief or denial or what, but I think Courtney's going to go down a similar path. Losing Daniel made them snap. And I don't know if I'm gonna get them or Grams back."

Elena reached out and squeezed Bonnie's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Bon. We're here for you, always."

Bonnie nodded, blinking back tears. "Thanks. I just... I don't know how to handle all of this. It's like my whole family is falling apart."

Ashley swallowed, breath shaky, despite her best attempts to control her reaction, tears in her eyes.

"Maybe..." Kacie started hesitantly, leaning forward between the front seats. "Maybe there's something to what your Grams and Courtney are saying? I mean, stranger things have happened, right?"

Alex elbowed Kacie, giving her a warning look. "Now's not the time."

Ashley shifted uncomfortably in her seat, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, a nervous habit she'd developed recently.

"I don't know what to believe anymore," Bonnie admitted, her voice barely. "But I don't know, maybe Kacie's right. I mean, I started thinking, I predicted Obama, and I predicted Heath Ledger, and I still think Florida will break off and turn into little resort islands."

Alex took notice of Ashley zoning out despite her best attempts to hide it. "Ashley." Ashley jumped, turning to look at her sister beside her. Alex looked at her in concern. "Back in the car? Are you okay?"

Ashley blinked rapidly, trying to regain her composure. "Y-yeah, I'm fine. Just... thinking."

Elena turned in her seat to face the back, her brow furrowed with worry as she looked at her little sister. "Are you sure? You've been awfully quiet."

Ashley forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Really, I'm okay. Just tired, I guess."

Bonnie glanced at Ashley in the rearview mirror, her own troubles momentarily forgotten. "If something's bothering you, Ash, you can tell us. We're all friends here. And Alex and Elena are your sisters, so..."

Ashley's eyes darted nervously between her friends, her breath quickening. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again, as if reconsidering. "I'm fine."

Despite Kacie's reputation as a rebel bitch, she truly did care about her friends. "Are you sure? You know you can talk to us about anything, right?"

Ashley nodded again, more emphatically this time. "Really, I'm okay. Just worried about Bonnie and Lindsey and everything, you know? And it's bringing up things about Gabby and our parents."

Elena and Alex deflated a little, though they looked at Ashley like they knew it was more than that.

Bonnie felt horrible. "I'm sorry, guys. I didn't think."

"It's okay, Bon," Alex assured in a whisper. "We're all going through it."

The car fell into an uncomfortable silence, the weight of unspoken grief hanging heavy in the air.

Bonnie focused on the road ahead, her knuckles white on the steering wheel. Elena turned back to face the front, stealing concerned glances at Bonnie, Alex and Ashley in the rearview mirror.

After a few moments, Kacie broke the tension. "Hey, remember that time we all snuck out to go to that concert in Richmond? And Gabby covered for us?"

A small smile tugged at Elena's lips. "Yeah, she told our parents we were having a study sleepover at your place."

"God, we were so stupid," Alex chuckled softly. "We thought we'd make it back before anyone noticed."

Ashley's eyes brightened a little at the memory. "But then Gabby's car broke down on the way back..."

"And we had to call Jeremy to come rescue us," Elena finished with a bittersweet smile. "He was so mad, but he still came through for us."

"Gabby was always looking out for us," Alex said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "Even when we were being idiots."

Bonnie nodded, her own eyes misty. "She was the best. I remember how she stood up to those mean girls who were bullying me in middle school. Didn't take any of their crap."

"Remember how she taught us all to French braid?" Kacie added, reaching out to touch Alex's hair gently. "Said every girl should know how to do her own hair."

Ashley smiled. "And how she insisted on hosting our first 'grown-up' New Year's party when we were 15? With sparkling cider instead of champagne. Eliza, Caroline, Roni. They were all there with us all the time. We were inseparable."

Bonnie smiled sadly. "Yeah. Just like Lindsey, Liv, Tory and Dawn, with Luke and Ryan, too."

Kacie gave a soft chuckle at the mention of the younger group of friends. "Yeah, I remember Liv, Dawn and Tory stealing alcohol from Jeremy, me, Eli, Tyler and Roni so they could have their own parties with Lindsey, Luke and Ryan."

"Absolutely," Ashley agreed, chuckling at the memory of how her twin used to react with their little sister. "Jeremy would always get so annoyed with Liv whenever she stole alcohol from him."

Alex and Elena smiled in agreement at the memory.

Bonnie chuckled, all of them needing this.

Kacie did too, as she was going through her own kind of grief. "Well, Lindsey might be your cousin, Bonnie, but Dawn is mine. And I refuse to believe that she's just gone. Aunt Susan, either."

Ashley swallowed, looking down.

"Dawn's still out there, Kacie," Alex assured her best friend. "And your aunt. And eventually, they're gonna find them."

"How long is eventually?" Kacie asked. "Because it's been almost a year since they disappeared."

The mood in the car shifted again, the brief moment of levity fading as Kacie's words hung in the air.

"I don't know," Elena said softly, reaching back to squeeze Kacie's knee. "But we can't give up hope. Dawn's strong, like you, and so is her mom. Wherever they are, I'm sure they're fighting to come back to us. If anyone can make it through whatever happened, it's them."

Bonnie nodded, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Elena's right. We have to believe they're out there. And the police are still actively investigating. They haven't given up either."

Kacie sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I know, I know. It's just... it's been so long. And with everything else that's happened... not just with us, but with Tory and her family, and..."

"We understand," Alex said, reaching out to squeeze Kacie's hand. "It's a lot to deal with. But we're all here for you, just like we're here for Bonnie and for each other." She reached up to touch Bonnie's shoulder gently. "And Lindsey... she'll get better. She has to."

Ashley shifted uncomfortably in her seat again, her earlier guilt seeming to resurface. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it again, looking conflicted. She couldn't bring herself to say it. Not yet.

"Ash?" Elena prompted gently.

Before Ashley could formulate a response, all of the girls were triggered by what happened next.

(End of Song)

An ominous crow smashed into the windshield with a sickening thud, startling them and causing Bonnie to jerk the steering wheel in a panic. The car careened wildly across the pavement, screeching around a sharp corner until Bonnie finally managed to slam on the brakes, bringing them to a jarring stop.

Elena's heart pounded as she gripped the dashboard for dear life, her breath catching in her throat.

Kacie's knuckles turned white as she clutched onto the door handle, fear and adrenaline coursing through her veins.

Alex braced herself against Elena's seat, one hand reaching out protectively towards Ashley who was gripping her arm tightly. Ashley's other hand desperately clung to Bonnie's seat, her eyes wide with terror.

Bonnie was shaking uncontrollably, her entire body trembling as she struggled to catch her breath, her fingers numb from clutching the steering wheel so tightly.

Every traumatic memory flooded back to the Gilbert sisters - losing their parents and older sister in a car accident, while Alex and Elena had been in the car. Ashley having been in a similar car accident that wasn't related to her family with another in the car.

Bonnie relived the loss of Daniel who was essentially her uncle through Lindsey and Courtney. While Bonnie hadn't been there that night, she had had many nightmares about what it was like to see Daniel's car accident and the way he died.

The girls' bodies shook uncontrollably as they struggled to catch their breath amidst the chaos.

For a moment, no one spoke. The only sound was their collective heavy breathing and the faint hiss of steam rising from the car's hood.

"Is... is everyone okay?" Elena finally managed to ask, her voice shaky.

There were mumbled affirmatives from the backseat as Alex, Ashley, and Kacie slowly unclenched their grips on whatever they had been holding onto for dear life.

Bonnie remained frozen, her hands still locked on the steering wheel, her eyes wide and unfocused.

"Bonnie?" Elena gently touched her friend's arm. "Bon, are you alright?"

Bonnie flinched at the contact, then blinked rapidly as if coming out of a trance. "I... I think so. I saw it. The crow. It had these eyes, they were so... human. Like it knew what it was doing."

Ashley shuddered, her face pale. "That's impossible. It was just a bird, right?"

"Right," Elena said firmly, trying to inject some calm and confidence into her voice. "Just a bird. Probably got disoriented by our headlights or something."

Bonnie nodded slowly, but her eyes were still wide with shock. "Yeah... yeah, you're right. Just a bird."

"Should we... should we check on it?" Ashley asked hesitantly, peering out the back window.

Alex shook her head. "No way. That thing hit us hard. It's probably... well, you know."

Ashley looked shaken to the core as if this conversation was very hauntingly familiar, and she couldn't bring herself to relive it all over again, mentally dissociating.

Kacie unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned forward. "Bonnie, maybe I should finish the drive to school? You seem pretty shaken up."

Bonnie nodded gratefully, her hands still trembling as she released her death grip on the steering wheel. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Thanks, Kacie."

Bonnie and Kacie switched places.

Bonnie got into the backseat with Alex and Ashley, and Ashley had trouble meeting Bonnie's gaze, though with the scare that the girls just went through, none of them noticed.

As Kacie reached the driver's seat, she paused as she looked across the street to the edge of the woods that lined the road.

There, perched on a low-hanging branch, was a crow. It appeared to be the same one that hit the windshield, but it was perfectly unharmed. Its beady eyes seemed to bore into Kacie's soul, sending a chill down her spine.

Kacie blinked hard, shaking her head slightly as if to clear her vision. When she looked again, the crow was gone.

"Kacie, everything okay?" Elena asked, noticing her friend's hesitation.

Kacie swallowed hard, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just... thought I saw something. It's nothing."

Kacie started the car, carefully pulling back onto the road. As they drove, an uneasy silence settled over the group. Each girl was lost in her own thoughts, replaying the near-accident and grappling with the memories it had stirred up.

Ashley fidgeted in her seat, the weight of her unspoken secret pressing down on her. She opened her mouth several times, as if on the verge of confessing something, but each time she lost her nerve. Her hair cascaded around her face, keeping her reactions hidden.

Alex kept glancing at Bonnie, worried about her state of mind, as well as Lindsey's.

Bonnie sat with her arms wrapped tightly around herself, staring out the window with a distant look in her eyes.

They made the rest of the drive to school in utter silence, knowing they all needed time to recover from the jarring, triggering experience.

-

Mystic Falls High School - Outside

Nicola and Levi walked up to the school.

"Could you show that you're a little more opposed to them coming back and possibly ruining everything and everyone in this town?" Nicola asked.

"Well, I mean, of course I think it could end up very bad and I don't want anyone to get hurt especially by vampire ancestors," Levi told her. "But, I mean..."

"You seriously have a 'but' after all that?" Nicola asked skeptically.

Levi shrugged. "You're the one that's always bitching nothing ever happens in this town. If Kaylin, Stefan, Damon and Nathan are all actually here, prepare for all of that to change."

Nicola gave Levi a look, shaking her head. "Yeah, that's not the change I was looking for. A lot of people could die, Levi. Because of how Damon is, and you know that Stefan and Nathan can't stop him. And I have no idea about Kaylin, but..."

"We'll figure it out, Nikki," Levi told her. "Just relax for now, like we both said. This is the whole reason why Mom and Dad taught us to fight, right? We have our whole underground gym just to ourselves right under the boarding house to make sure that we were prepared for anything like this happening."

"Yeah, well, we might be prepared, but the rest of Mystic Falls isn't," Nicola replied.

Levi shrugged. "Good point. But we'll find out how to deal with it. In the meantime, you go back to being your little recluse antisocial self while I go back to being the social butterfly I was meant to be." He waved to some of the football guys nearby, including Eli and Tyler. "Hey!"

The football crew's eyes ping-ponged between Levi and Nicola, while Nicola's death glare sent a clear 'back off' signal to the few who were ogling her. Tyler and Eli, on the other hand, remained uninvolved.

The would-be Romeos, however, found Nicola's stare more chilling than an ice bath, choosing to beat a hasty retreat in silent terror.

Tyler couldn't help but smirk, thoroughly entertained by Nicola's one-woman show of intimidation, as he strolled off to regroup with the football squad.

Eli flashed a grin. "Just a heads up, Levi, if you want to keep your cool status, you might want to prevent your twin sister from scaring away your football buddies just for admiring her. It's bad for your image, but hey, kudos to Nicola for the show."

"Big thanks, Eli," Levi responded with heavy sarcasm, feigning ignorance of Eli's mocking tone.

Eli's smirk lingered as he departed with the football crew.

Levi turned to Nicola. "You realize you're to blame, right?"

Nicola gave a mock-serious nod. "Totally."

"It's your hermit lifestyle, shunning all things social and, what's the word, fun," Levi pointed out. "Most people don't even know who the hell you are."

"That's the highlight of my day," Nicola shot back.

Levi rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, it's sure as hell not mine. You're pulling me into the abyss of antisocial abyss."

"Carrying that badge with honor," Nicola quipped.

"Guilty by association," Levi grumbled. "You've red-lettered me into solitude."

Nicola smirked. "Aw. Get over it."

Levi shook his head in exasperation. "You know, one of these days you're going to have to actually talk to people outside our family."

"I talk to people," Nicola protested. "I talk to you, don't I?"

Levi snorted. "I'm your twin brother. I don't count."

Nicola tilted her head. "Fine. I talk to Dad and Stefan and Nathan."

Levi rolled his eyes. "Again, family. Doesn't count."

When they saw some students were looking behind them, Nicola and Levi turned around to see what they were looking at.

Stefan was walking toward the school, sunglasses over his eyes.

"Speaking of," Nicola remarked.

Some students watched Stefan as he passed by.

Stefan walked up to the school, seeing Nicola and Levi on the way, nodding to them. "Nicola. Levi."

"Hey, Stefan," Nicola told him. "Didn't expect you to be going to school."

Stefan shrugged. "Figured I'd give it another shot. Especially with you two going here."

"And the girl that you like," Levi replied. "Yeah, we know about that. But we'll take a little of the credit for you going here for us."

Stefan gave Nicola and Levi a soft smile. Nicola raised her eyebrows slightly, awkwardly. Levi smiled. The three of them walked inside.

-

Inside

As Stefan, Nicola, and Levi entered the school, they were met with curious stares and hushed whispers from other students. Stefan seemed unfazed, his expression neutral behind his sunglasses, but Nicola shifted uncomfortably under the attention.

"Great," Nicola muttered. "As if we needed more reasons for people to stare at us."

Levi nudged her playfully. "Come on, Nikki. Embrace the spotlight for once."

Stefan glanced at them, a hint of concern in his voice. "I'm sorry if my presence is causing you two any trouble. I can keep my distance if--"

"No," Nicola interrupted, surprising herself with the firmness in her voice. "You're family. We stick together."

Levi nodded in agreement. "Besides, it's kind of cool having a vampire uncle. Makes us seem more interesting than we already are."

"Remember, we're cousins, okay?" Stefan asked. "For the cover story."

"Of course," Nicola replied. "We know how to keep a secret."

Stefan nodded in appreciation as his eyes scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar face. "Thank you."

Nicola noticed his wandering gaze and nudged him gently, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "Looking for someone in particular?"

Stefan shook his head, attempting to appear nonchalant. "Just trying to get my bearings. It's been a while since I've been in high school."

Levi chuckled. "Yeah, like a century or so, right?"

Stefan shot Levi a warning look, but Levi just grinned unabashedly.

As they walked down the hallway, Nicola caught sight of Alex, Ashley, Elena, Bonnie and Kacie entering the school.

Nicola raised her eyebrows, adjusting the bag on her shoulder. "There's Elena, her sisters and her friends."

Stefan's eyes locked onto the girls' group, his expression softening almost imperceptibly.

Elena glanced up, catching his gaze. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the bustling hallway seeming to fade away around them.

Bonnie noticed Elena's distraction and followed her gaze to Stefan. She leaned in close to Elena, whispering. "Who's that?"

Elena shook her head slightly, breaking out of her trance. "I don't know."

Kacie smirked, eyeing Stefan appreciatively. "Whoever he is, he's hot."

Alex rolled her eyes at Kacie's comment, but she too couldn't help but notice the attractive new student.

Ashley, however, seemed distracted and uneasy, her eyes darting around nervously.

Stefan took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders, looking at Nicola and Levi. "I should go introduce myself."

Nicola raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"It's why I'm here," Stefan replied, his voice low. "I need to know her."

Levi frowned. "Maybe not do it right out of the gate. All of them are going through hell with many losses over the last year or so. You would know one of them, having saved Alex and Elena from their tragedy."

Stefan sighed heavily, nodding a bit in agreement. "You're right. I can be patient."

"You've been around for 161 years," Nicola pointed out. "I'd be concerned if you couldn't be."

Stefan's lips twisted into a slight smirk, a bit amused.

Levi chuckled. "Come on. We'll take you to the office."

Stefan nodded. "Thank you."

Alex, Ashley, Kacie, Elena and Bonnie watched them go curiously.

"Seriously, it's high time we spice things up around here," Kacie quipped with a grin. "The male scenery is seriously lacking." She cocked her head, giving a playful shrug. "And the female options? Let's just say they're not my cup of tea."

"What, we don't count?" Alex chimed in, with a mock pout.

Kacie flashed a sly smile, tilting her head. "Oh, you're on my list, but you're all batting for the other team."

Elena laughed. "Can't argue with that logic."

Elena, Bonnie, Ashley and Alex all smiled slightly.

Elena and Alex couldn't help stealing another glance at the mysterious new student as he walked away with Nicola and Levi. There was something about him that seemed... familiar, though the Gilbert twin sisters couldn't quite place it.

"Come on," Bonnie said, tugging on Alex and Elena's arms. "You can ogle the new guy later."

Elena blushed slightly, her protest weak and unconvincing. "I wasn't ogling."

Despite her inner turmoil, Ashley managed to tease Alex and Elena, bumping into her older sisters' shoulders playfully. "Sure you weren't, sisses."

Alex pretended not to know what the word meant. "What's ogling?"

"That's more deflection than needed," Kacie remarked.

Alex smirked.

A girl with blonde hair and blue eyes (Caroline Forbes), and her younger sister with matching blonde and blue (Eliza Forbes), ran up to the girls, instantly embracing Alex, Elena, Ashley and Bonnie, much to the girls' surprise. "Guys!"

Kacie smirked slightly, looking down.

"Oh, my God," Eliza and Caroline told them together. "How are you?"

The Forbes sisters pulled away as they turned to Kacie.

"How are they?" Caroline asked. "Are they good?"

"Caroline, they're right here," Eliza chastised. "Just ask them yourselves."

"Thank you, Eliza," Alex told her. "And I'm fine."

Ashley swallowed, nodding. "Me too."

"Likewise," Elena agreed. "Thank you."

Bonnie nodded, taking a deep breath. "Same for me."

"Really?" Caroline and Eliza asked at the same time; Caroline sounded skeptical, Eliza sounded sympathetic and concerned for their friends.

"Yes," Elena replied. "Much better."

Alex, Ashley and Bonnie nodded, though none of them looked entirely convincing.

Kacie looked down; as much as Caroline annoyed her sometimes and was sometimes her frenemy, these girls were best friends, and none of them would have it any other way. There was just one of them missing, but what worried Kacie now was the nearing anniversary of her cousin Dawn and aunt Susan's disappearance.

Eliza knew this, turning to Kacie, pulling her into an embrace. "Oh, you poor things."

Kacie was startled but relaxed into the tight hold. "Okay, Eliza. Your death grips are both comforting and leaving me breathless."

Alex, Ashley, Elena and Bonnie nodded in agreement, though the girls smiled fondly at how much Eliza cared for her friends.

Eliza released Kacie with a sheepish smile. "Sorry. I just... I worry about you guys."

"We know," Elena said softly, reaching out to squeeze Eliza's hand. "And we appreciate it."

Caroline, not one to be left out, clapped her hands together. "Okay, enough of the doom and gloom. We have a new guy to discuss."

"New guy?" Eliza perked up, her eyes sparkling with interest.

Bonnie nodded towards where Stefan had disappeared with Nicola and Levi. "Tall, dark, and handsome over there. Just rolled into town, apparently."

"Ooh," Caroline cooed, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Fresh meat. Any intel?"

Alex shook her head. "Nothing yet. But he seems to know Nicola and Levi Salvatore."

"Shocking, given that Nicola Salvatore doesn't want to be known by anyone," Ashley managed to quip. "How the hell she's related to social butterfly Levi, I have no idea."

The other girls laughed in agreement, glad for the lightened subject change.

Caroline nodded eagerly. "And the guy is totally gorgeous. And he was totally checking you out, Elena."

Elena blushed. "He was not."

"Oh, he so was," Kacie chimed in with a smirk. "I saw it too."

"Well, I call dibs," Caroline declared. "Sorry."

"He's all yours, Caroline," Elena replied. "I don't think I'm ready for that yet."

Alex shrugged. "Never know unless you don't try."

Ashley chuckled a bit. "Very true."

Bonnie laughed. She looked down the hall.

Alex, Ashley, Elena, Kacie, Eliza and Caroline followed her gaze in confusion.

A girl with dark brown hair and eyes to match and fair skin walked into the school. Her name was Veronica "Roni" Donovan. The final girl from the girls' group, who had been torn from her friends in the aftermath of the accident that killed Daniel Davis. She had gotten out of juvie recently in the end of summer days, and it was her first day back in school along with everyone else.

Roni walked down the hallway, her head held high despite the whispers and stares that followed her. She looked different from the last time they'd seen her. She had been miss popular just like the rest of her friends, but now she was rough. Her eyes were harder, and there was a tension in her shoulders that hadn't been there before.

Alex, Ashley, Elena, Kacie, Eliza, Caroline and Bonnie were stunned; in the aftermath of Daniel's death and Roni's arrest, their families had all banned the girls from being near Roni, but that hadn't stopped them from trying to be there for their friend despite the trouble it brought with their families.

Bonnie's lip trembled as she looked at Roni. She never blamed her friend for Daniel's death, and she made that clear before, despite her devastation. It was hard to see Roni, but then again so relieving to see that she was okay.

Ashley looked so guilty as she looked down.

Alex, Elena, Eliza and Caroline's faces were lit up with concern and worry for their other friend, longing to be reunited.

Kacie was as well. She had never let her parents, Mayor Richard Lockwood and Carol Lockwood's, ban stop her from trying to be there for Roni, but she got into the most trouble for that than the other girls had. With Richard's abuse to Kacie and her brothers Tyler and Eli, every time Kacie got close to Roni after the accident, she paid for it... in beatings. That didn't stop her from wanting to mend her friendship now.

Alex was the first to break the stunned silence. "Roni!"

Roni's steps faltered for a moment as she turned to face the group. Her expression was guarded, but there was a flicker of relief in her eyes.

"Hey," Roni said, her voice rough, distant.

Roni knew of the trouble that her friends faced just to try to remain friends with her. Despite everything not being as it seemed, she still didn't feel worthy of it after Daniel's death, especially from Bonnie, given that she was family to him. Especially after hearing about what happened to Lindsey in the aftermath.

The girls exchanged glances, unsure of how to proceed. They knew that Roni didn't want anyone close right now, and they respected that, swallowing.

"We've missed you," Eliza assured her.

Roni swallowed, nodding; despite her sincerity, her words were short, clipped. "Yeah. Likewise."

The air was thick with tension, as none of them knew how to break it.

"We wanted to see you more, visit more," Elena admitted.

"But our families..." Caroline trailed off.

Kacie looked down, rubbing at her neck at the memory of how many beatings she had received from her family because of her denial to let them keep her from her friend.

Roni looked between them. "I know."

"You should know that we don't blame you, Roni," Bonnie whispered. "I don't."

Roni's lip trembled slightly. "Thanks for that, Bonnie. Not sure if I deserve that or not, though."

Ashley hung back slightly, guilt and pain etched across her features, knowing that she couldn't step forward without pushing Roni further away from the other girls, and she didn't want to do that to all of them.

Roni met Ashley's gaze, a tense standoff between the former friends secretly passing within seconds before Roni looked away, the staredown finished before the other girls could take notice.

Roni finished what she was saying about not being sure if she deserved not being blamed or not, a double meaning clear to Ashley only. "I'm not sure a lot of people do."

Roni's words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. Ashley's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of panic crossing her face before she quickly looked away.

"How are you doing?" Eliza asked gently, taking a tentative step towards Roni.

Roni shrugged, her posture stiff. "I'm managing. One day at a time, you know?"

"We're here for you," Alex said firmly. "Whatever you need."

"Thanks," Roni replied, her voice tight. "But I think it's better if I keep my distance. For everyone's sake."

Ashley shook her head desperately, attempting to try and get through to her former friend. "Roni, you don't have to--"

Roni's tentative reunion with her friends became cold, even more distant and rough the second that Ashley spoke up, cutting her off. "I do."

Seeing the anger flash briefly in Roni's eyes, Ashley backed down, lowering her eyes in shame.

Roni looked at the other girls, her voice softening for them. "Look, I appreciate you guys trying, but things can't go back to how they were. Too much has happened. I need to focus on getting through this year and moving on with my life." Looking over each one of the girls, she looked at Ashley significantly as she finished. "You should too."

The girls exchanged pained glances, but nodded reluctantly. They understood Roni's need for space, even if it hurt.

"We understand," Kacie said softly. "But just know we're here if you change your mind."

Roni gave a curt nod. "I know. Thanks." She hitched her backpack higher on her shoulder. "I should get to the office. See you around."

Roni turned and walked away, leaving her former friends watching her retreating back with a mixture of concern and sadness.

"Well, that was..." Caroline trailed off, unsure how to finish the sentence.

"Heartbreaking," Eliza supplied, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Bonnie wrapped an arm around Eliza's shoulders. "She'll come around. We just need to give her time."

Ashley remained silent, her face pale and drawn. Alex noticed her sister's distress and squeezed her hand reassuringly. Ashley gave her a weak smile in return.

Elena took Ashley by the other hand, attempting to break the somber moon. "Come on. We should get going before we're late."

As they started walking, Kacie fell into step beside Ashley. "You okay?"

Ashley nodded, but her eyes were distant. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just... a lot."

Kacie gave her a knowing look. "If you need to talk..."

"I know," Ashley cut her off with a tight smile. "Thanks."

The group made their way through the hallway, the encounter with Roni weighing heavily on their minds.

Kacie took a deep breath. "I should go. See you in first period."

Kacie turned to leave.

"Where you going?" Eliza asked.

Frustrated with her brothers for abandoning her at home while they went to school, Kacie turned to give the girls a shrug. "To slap some major sense into my brothers."

Kacie turned around, walking away, pushing her way through the oncoming crowd.

Alex chuckled. "Don't kill them!"

"No promises," Kacie replied, leaving through the crowd.

The girls exchanged a glance, smiling small smiles.

Elena shook her head. "No comment."

"I'm not gonna say anything," Bonnie agreed.

Ashley managed a small smirk. "Sure, sure."

Caroline smiled. "Come on. Let's make the most out of this year."

-

Outside

(Song) Consoler of the Lonely - The Raconteurs

It didn't take long for Roni to find herself in the Stoner Pit with Jeremy.

Jeremy handed Roni two pills. "Don't take more than two in a six-hour window."

Roni glanced around before taking the pills dry.

Tyler walked up to them. "Hey, Roni. I knew I'd find you here with the crackheads. Didn't use to be your scene until you got out of juvie."

"Yeah, well, a lot's changed, Tyler," Roni replied.

Tyler joined Roni's side, wrapping an arm around her waist before giving Jeremy a look. "Hey, Pete Wentz called. He wants his nail polish back."

"Pete Wentz, huh?" Jeremy asked mockingly. "How old school T.R.L. of you. Carson Daly fan?"

Tyler took a threatening step toward Jeremy.

Roni quickly pulled her boyfriend back. "Oh, Ty, be nice. That's Alex, Liv, Elena and Ashley's brother."

Tyler spoke without looking away from Jeremy. "I know who he is." He finally looked at Roni. "I'll still kick his ass."

Without a care, Tyler pulled Roni into a kiss, which Roni returned.

Jeremy watched in jealousy, walking away toward the door to go inside.

Kacie walked out of the door, pushing past Jeremy, walking toward Roni and Tyler. "Figures the two of you are still together even if you don't want to be friends with the rest of us anymore, Roni."

Roni and Tyler pulled away, looking at Kacie.

Roni bit her lip nervously in pain and distance, looking down, not able to form a response to Kacie's claim.

Tyler gave Kacie a cocky look. "Get lost, Kacie."

Kacie didn't want to fight with Roni, giving her the time and distance she asked for, but she wasn't going to walk away when she had to deal with her brother.

Kacie held out her hand. "Keys."

"Excuse me?" Tyler asked.

"Keys," Kacie repeated. "I'm not gonna get ditched by you and Eli again. I was lucky that the girls showed up to drive me before I had to deal with Dad. You wanna know what would've happened if they hadn't shown up when they did?"

Tyler's cocky expression faltered slightly. "Look, we had football practice. You know how Coach is."

Kacie scoffed. "Right, and that's more important than making sure your sister doesn't get the shit beaten out of her? Again?"

Roni looked between the siblings, her expression troubled. She knew about the abuse in the Lockwood household, but hearing it discussed so openly made her uncomfortable.

Tyler's jaw clenched as he hissed at his little sister. "Keep your voice down."

"Why?" Kacie challenged. "Afraid someone might find out what an asshole you are for taking that risk?" She hit lightly Tyler on the side of the head. "Keys."

Tyler stepped back, giving Kacie an annoyed look, despite his guilt over his thoughtlessness that morning. "You're delusional if you think I'm gonna give my keys to you."

Kacie glared, reaching for the keys on his belt loop. Tyler pivoted back onto his other foot to stop her.

Roni sighed, concerned and trying to play peacekeeper; despite the fact she wanted to keep her distance from her friends, she should have known that she wouldn't be able to from Kacie when she was still with Tyler.

"Ty, just give her the keys," Roni urged gently, not wanting to make the situation worse.

Tyler didn't look at Roni. "Stay out of this." He directed the next sentence to Kacie. "Get lost."

Tyler turned to Roni, kissing her deeply and passionately, not caring that his sister was still here. Roni let him do so, but she had an ulterior motive.

Kacie scoffed in disbelief, shaking her head, not knowing what to think.

With her eyes closed during the kiss, Roni felt along Tyler's waist, her fingers curling around the key chain on his belt loop, unlatching it, pulling back to break the kiss, throwing the keys to Kacie.

Kacie caught the keys one handed with a smirk.

Tyler looked from Roni to Kacie. "What the hell?"

"You wouldn't give her the keys," Roni said innocently, shrugging.

Kacie shrugged. "Sorry, Ty, but it looks like even when Roni doesn't want to be friends with the rest of us, she's still looking out for us." She shrugged, clearly not sorry at all, turning away with a sweet-but-not-sweet smile. "See you guys later."

Kacie turned around, walking toward the school.

Tyler glared after his younger sister.

Roni couldn't help a smirk.

Tyler turned back to Roni, his expression a mix of annoyance and begrudging respect. "I can't believe you did that."

Roni shrugged, her smirk fading. "Someone has to look out for her."

"That's not your job," Tyler grumbled, running a hand through his hair.

"No, it's yours," Roni shot back, her tone sharper than she intended. She took a deep breath, softening her voice. "Look, I know things are complicated with your family, but Kacie needs you. She needs both you and Eli to step up."

Tyler's jaw clenched, a flicker of guilt crossing his features before he masked it with indifference. "Whatever. It's not like Dad would actually hurt her."

Roni raised an eyebrow, her disbelief evident. "Are you sure about that?"

Tyler's expression faltered, uncertainty creeping into his eyes. "I... I don't know. Maybe not. But it's not like we can do anything about it."

Roni shook her head, frustration evident in her voice. "You can. You and Eli are the only ones who can really protect her. Your mom won't do anything, and Kacie can't fight back on her own."

Tyler ran a hand through his hair, agitation clear in his movements. "It's not that simple, Roni. You don't understand what it's like in our house."

"Then help me understand," Roni pressed, her tone softening. "Talk to me, Ty."

For a moment, Tyler looked like he might open up. His shoulders slumped, and he glanced around to make sure no one was listening. But then, as quickly as it had appeared, the vulnerability vanished, replaced by his usual cocky demeanor.

"There's nothing to understand," Tyler said dismissively. "It's just typical family drama. Kacie likes to exaggerate things."

Roni sighed, frustrated but not surprised by Tyler's deflection. "Fine. Keep pretending everything's okay. But don't be surprised when it all blows up in your face."

Tyler's jaw clenched, but he said nothing. Instead, he reached for Roni's hand. "Come on, let's get out of here. We can skip first period and go somewhere more private."

Roni hesitated, torn between her desire to push Tyler on the issue and her own need for escape.

She knew that pushing Tyler on the issue would only make things worse for them. She was desperate for an escape from school to get away from everyone staring at her and gossiping about the accident and Daniel's death and her time in juvie, not to mention Roni's own family tragedy.

Roni knew that her brother Matt would judge her again if she ditched school with Tyler on the first day of school, but she didn't pay much mind to that, as he was the one that essentially let her spiral this far.

Roni hesitated for a moment longer, then nodded. "Yeah, okay. Let's go."

As they walked away from the Stoner Pit, Roni could feel the effects of the pills Jeremy had given her starting to kick in. The edges of her vision blurred slightly, and a warm, fuzzy feeling spread through her body. It was a welcome distraction from the pain, guilt, regret and anxiety that had been her constant companions since the accident and the fire that had taken her family away.

Tyler led her to his car, opening the passenger door for her with exaggerated chivalry. "Your chariot awaits, milady."

Roni rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Just drive, Lockwood."

"Where to?" Tyler asked, pulling out of the school parking lot.

Roni shrugged, her eyes still closed. "Anywhere but here."

As they pulled out of the school parking lot, Roni leaned her head against the window, watching the familiar streets of Mystic Falls blur past, letting the drugs carry her away from the reality of her life.

(End of Song)

-

Inside - School Office

The secretary looked over the files on her desk. "Your records are incomplete. You're missing immunization records, and we do insist on transcripts."

Stefan took his sunglasses off. "Please look again. I'm sure everything you need is there."

Stefan looked into her eyes, seemingly deep in thought.

The secretary stared at him for a moment, looking back at the file. "Well, you're right." She looked up. "So it is."

-

Hallway

Alex, Ashley and Elena were walking down the hallway when they saw their little sister Liv down the hallway, being taunted by a pair of girls, while their brother Jeremy, who was clearly high, walked into another hallway.

"Oh, great," Ashley sighed worriedly.

"You guys handle Liv," Elena told them. "I'll handle Jeremy."

Alex and Ashley nodded in agreement as the three sisters split up. Elena walked up to the boys' bathroom, while Alex and Ashley made their way toward Liv, though the crowd that had gathered around the girls blocked their paths mostly.

The two girls decided to mock Liv for the status of her friendships and her family, and everyone else connected to them, thinking that it would be fun to pick on one of the 'freaks'.

The two girls, Amber and Megan, circled Liv like vultures, their voices dripping with mock sympathy.

"Aw, poor Little Liv Gilbert," Amber cooed. "All alone now. No friends, no parents, no big sister. It's like everyone you touch just... disappears."

Megan chimed in, her eyes glinting with malice. "Maybe you're cursed, Gilbert. First your parents, then your sister. Now all your little friends are gone too. Tory's family burnt to a crisp, Lindsey's gone crazy after Tory's cousin Roni killed her dad, Dawn and her mom vanished into thin air... maybe we should stay away from you. Wouldn't want to catch whatever bad luck you've got."

Liv stood rigid, her fists clenched at her sides, her face a mask of indifference. But inside, she was a churning sea of emotion, each taunt another wave threatening to break through her carefully constructed walls.

"I heard your brother Jeremy's turning into a junkie," Amber added, relentless. "Must be hard, being the only one left standing."

"Besides Luke and Ryan, but they're as cursed as you, I think," Megan ripped in. "My mom's a doctor, and Emma Thompson's her patient. Looks like she's ready to bite the bullet at any time now. They had to leave town for a bit on one of my mom's suggestions for a treatment, but nothing's going to save their mom now. They're going to lose everyone just like you and the rest of your freaky friends."

Liv's icy exterior cracked for just a moment, a flicker of pain crossing her face at the mention of everyone's pain. But she quickly steeled herself, her voice cold and sharp when she finally spoke even as her eyes flashed dangerously. "Are you two done? Because I've got better things to do than listen to a couple of brain-dead vultures who get off on other people's misery."

Amber's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Oh, look! She does speak after all. We were starting to think you'd gone mute like your friend Lindsey."

Megan laughed cruelly. "Maybe we should check her into the loony bin too. What do you think, Little Liv?"

Liv glared at them for the nickname that only her friends and family called her. "I think you two bitches don't know shit about my friends."

Amber laughed, a cruel sound that echoed in the hallway. "Oh, but we do. Everyone knows about the cursed Gilbert Girl and her band of misfits. It's like a soap opera, really. So much drama!"

Megan leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a stage whisper. "I bet you're glad they're all gone. Must be nice not having to pretend to care anymore."

Something inside Liv snapped. In a blur of motion, her fist connected with Megan's face, sending the girl stumbling backward. Amber shrieked, grabbing for Liv's hair, but Liv was quicker. She ducked under Amber's punch and tackled her to the ground, punching her repeatedly as she yelled in rage and pain.

With the crowd starting to chant for the fight, it made it even harder for Alex and Ashley to push their way through, their faces tight with anger at the two girls who ripped into their sister until she couldn't take it anymore.

The crowd's chants grew louder as Liv continued to pummel Amber, her fists flying in a blur of rage and pent-up emotion. Megan, recovered from the initial shock, grabbed at Liv's hair, trying to pull her off her friend.

"Get off her, you psycho!" Megan screamed, but Liv was beyond hearing.

Finally, Alex and Ashley broke through the crowd.

Alex instantly shoved Megan away from Liv. "Get the hell away from our sister."

Ashley immediately wrapped her arms around Liv's waist, pulling her off Amber. "Liv, stop!"

Ashley strained, struggling to hold onto her thrashing little sister.

Alex stepped between Liv and the other girls, her eyes blazing with fury.

"Back off," Alex snarled at Amber and Megan, who were scrambling to their feet.

Amber's nose was bleeding, and Megan's eye was already starting to swell. They both looked amused by the appearance of the two sisters.

"Oh, there's two more of the cursed Gilbert Girls," Amber remarked. "Hey, Alex, how did it feel going over Wickery Bridge with your family?"

Despite the drunken memories of drowning in the car the taunt brought up, Alex's eyes flashed dangerously at Amber's taunt. In one fluid motion, she grabbed Amber by the collar and slammed her against the lockers.

"Listen carefully," Alex hissed, her voice low and menacing. "If you ever speak about my family or to my sister like that again, what Liv did to you will seem like child's play compared to what I'll do. Do you understand me?"

Amber's eyes widened in fear, all traces of amusement gone. She nodded frantically.

Meanwhile, Ashley was still struggling to hold Liv back, who was fighting to break free.

"Liv, calm down," Ashley pleaded. "They're not worth it."

But Liv was beyond reason, tears of rage and pain streaming down her face as she fought against her sister's grip, yelling. "Let me go! I'll kill them!"

Having heard the fight with his vampire hearing, Stefan walked into the hallway, looking down the hallway toward the confrontation, taking notice that three of the Gilbert sisters were at the center of it.

Megan, emboldened by Alex's focus on Amber, sneered at Liv. "See? Totally unhinged. No wonder everyone leaves you. Maybe you should join Lindsey in the nuthouse after all."

Before anyone could react, Liv broke free from Ashley's grip with a burst of strength fueled by pure fury. She lunged at Megan, tackling her to the ground, punching her over and over in a blind rage. The crowd erupted in renewed cheers and shouts.

"Liv, no!" Ashley cried, trying to pull her sister off Megan.

Concerned, Stefan pushed his way through the crowd who were only encouraging the fight. He couldn't risk exposing himself here, but he had to help.

Alex released Amber, who slumped against the lockers, and rushed to help Ashley. It took both of them to finally pry Liv away from Megan, who was now sporting a split lip and a look of shock.

"Enough, Liv," Alex said firmly, though her voice was gentle. "They're not worth it."

Stefan pushed through the rest of the crowd, seeing the girls needing help.

Still holding onto Liv to help Alex hold her back, Ashley glared at Amber and Megan, eyes blazing with a cold fury that made both girls take a step back.

Despite that, Ashley's voice was eerily calm. "Walk away. And if I ever hear you've been bothering my sister or anyone else again, you'll have to deal with all of us. And trust me, you don't want that."

Stefan walked toward Amber and Megan; his compulsion might not have been the best, but it was enough to make them stop fighting and leave before they could make it worse.

Stefan reached Amber and Megan, his eyes locking onto theirs with an intensity that seemed to freeze them in place. His voice was low, almost hypnotic as he spoke, his pupils dilating slightly.

"You're going to leave now," Stefan said firmly, so low that no one else in the hallway could hear him. "You won't remember taunting Liv or fighting with her. If anyone asks, you'll say you tripped and fell. You won't bother the Gilberts or their friends again."

Amber and Megan's eyes glazed over slightly, and they nodded in unison, though they looked confused. Without another word, they turned and walked away, their movements slightly robotic.

Stefan then turned his attention to the crowd, his voice carrying easily over the murmurs. "Show's over. Everyone get to class."

The onlookers, disappointed that the excitement was over, began to disperse, leaving only the Gilbert sisters and Stefan in the hallway.

Stefan was sure that none of the crowd would out Liv's fight against the bullies; after all, the mean girls had started it, and the crowd had just enjoyed the show. None of them had a reason to expose Liv. And if someone did, Stefan decided that he could handle it. Especially after seeing the state the girls put her in, knowing she didn't deserve to get in trouble for this on top of everything else she was going through.

Alex and Ashley looked at Stefan in surprise, recognizing him as the new student the girls had been gossiping about earlier.

-

Boys' Bathroom

Elena walked into the bathroom, pushing past a boy, walking toward Jeremy.

"Whoa!" the boy told her. "Pants down, chick!"

Elena grabbed Jeremy's face, looking into his eyes to see if he was high. "Great. It's the first day of school and you're stoned."

"No, I'm not," Jeremy told her.

Elena rummaged through his pockets. "Where is it? Is it on you?"

"Stop, all right?" Jeremy demanded. "You need to chill yourself, all right?"

"Chill myself?" Elena repeated. "What is that, stoner talk? Dude, you are so cool."

"Look, stop!" Jeremy told her. "I don't have anything on me. Are you crazy?"

"You haven't seen crazy, Jeremy!" Elena told him. "I gave you a summer pass, but I am done watching you destroy yourself." Jeremy tried to walk around her. Elena put her hand on his chest to stop him. "No, no, no, you know what? Go ahead. Keep it up. But just know that I am going to be there to ruin your buzz every time, you got it?" A boy walked past them, leaving. Elena sighed, her voice softer the next time she spoke. "Jeremy, I know who you are. And it's not this person. So don't be this person."

"I don't need this," Jeremy told her.

Jeremy pushed past her, walking toward the door, leaving.

-

Hallway

Liv was still trembling with rage, within Alex and Ashley's grip, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she was on the verge of a panic attack.

"Let me go," Liv growled, but there was less fight in her voice now; it sounded almost broken and defeated.

Alex and Ashley exchanged a worried glance over Liv's head. Slowly, they loosened their hold. Liv stood there, trembling, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, nearly hyperventilating.

Stefan approached Liv cautiously, his voice gentle and soothing. "Liv, right? I'm Stefan. Look at me."

Liv raised her tear-stained face to meet Stefan's eyes, a mix of confusion and lingering anger in her gaze.

Stefan continued. "Take a deep breath. In through your nose, out through your mouth. That's it. Again."

Something about Stefan's calm demeanor seemed to reach her. Liv nodded jerkily and tried to follow his instructions, her breathing slowly evening out.

Alex and Ashley watched Stefan warily, protective instincts on high alert. But they could see he was helping Liv calm down, so they didn't interfere.

"That's it," Stefan encouraged. "You're doing great. Just keep breathing."

As Liv's panic attack began to subside, the adrenaline that had been fueling her drained away, leaving her looking small and vulnerable.

Alex and Ashley watched in amazement as their sister's panic attack seemed to subside under the new student's guidance.

"You're safe now," Stefan assured her. "Those girls won't bother you again. Just keep breathing."

As Liv's breathing normalized, the fight seemed to drain out of her entirely. Despite that, Stefan seemed to sense an underlying, intense presence of power within Liv, one that he couldn't explain. For a mere second, as Liv's eyes showed the rest of her fury fading, a red light seemed to dance within her gaze before disappearing before her sisters took notice - but Stefan could have sworn he had seen it.

Liv slumped against Alex, who wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders.

Ashley turned to Stefan, gratitude evident in her eyes. "Thank you."

Stefan nodded at Ashley, his expression serious but kind. "It's no problem. I'm glad I could help."

Alex, still holding onto Liv, looked at Stefan with a mix of curiosity and wariness. "How did you do that? Get those girls to leave like that?"

Stefan shrugged, his face carefully neutral. "Sometimes people just need a firm voice to listen to. I'm good at being persuasive when I need to be."

Alex nodded barely, sniffing as she looked at Stefan with gratitude. "Thank you, for helping our sister." Stefan met her gaze. "That was... impressive. How did you know how to handle that so well?"

Stefan responded to Alex's question with a small, gentle smile as he looked between the sisters. "I've had some experience with panic attacks. Sometimes all it takes is a calm presence to help someone through it."

Liv, her voice hoarse from yelling, looked up at Stefan, more composed but still visibly shaken. "Why did you help me? You don't even know me."

Stefan's eyes softened as he looked at Liv. "No one deserves to be treated the way those girls were treating you. I couldn't just stand by and watch."

Liv lowered her gaze. "Well, thanks. I... I don't usually lose it like that."

"It's understandable," Stefan said softly. "Those girls were cruel. You don't have to apologize for defending yourself."

Elena walked toward them, confused. "Guys? What happened?"

Alex, Ashley and Liv looked back at the sound of their sister's voice.

Elena's eyes widened as she took in the scene before her; Liv looking disheveled and tear-stained, Alex and Ashley hovering protectively, and the new guy, Stefan, standing nearby.

"Liv, are you okay?" Elena asked, rushing over to her youngest sister.

Liv nodded weakly, still leaning against Alex.

"I'm fine," Liv mumbled, though it was clear she was anything but.

Elena looked to Alex and Ashley for explanation.

Alex spoke up, her voice tight with lingering anger. "Those bitches Amber and Megan were taunting Liv about... everything. It got ugly."

Elena's face darkened with fury. "Where are they? I'll--"

"They're gone," Stefan interjected calmly. "I made sure they won't be bothering Liv or anyone else again."

Elena turned to Stefan, surprise and gratitude mixing in her expression. "You did? How?"

Stefan shrugged modestly. "I just talked to them. Sometimes all it takes is someone standing up to bullies to make them back down."

Elena nodded, still looking a bit skeptical but appreciative nonetheless. "Well, thank you." She shook Stefan's hand. "I'm Elena, by the way. Elena Gilbert."

"Stefan Salvatore," Stefan replied with a small smile. "It's nice to meet you, Elena. And your sisters. Though I wish it were under better circumstances. I'm new here."

"Well, Stefan," Alex said with a small smile. "It seems like you've already made quite an impression. I'm Alex."

Stefan shook Alex's hand with a small smile in return. "Hi, Alex."

Ashley finished with shaking Stefan's hand. "I'm Ashley."

Stefan nodded in return. "Hello, Ashley."

Stefan's gaze flitted to Liv.

Liv shook her head flippantly. "You already know my name. I'm not saying it."

Alex, Ashley and Elena smirked slightly at Liv's classic response.

Stefan chuckled in amusement. "Fair enough."

Liv shook Stefan's hand. "But thank you."

"Of course," Stefan returned. "I'm just glad I could help."

Elena looked at her in concern. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Liv nodded, straightening up slightly but still staying close to Alex. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... can we go home? I don't think I can handle class right now."

The older Gilbert sisters exchanged glances, silently communicating their agreement.

Elena nodded, her expression softening. "Of course, Liv. We'll take you home. We drove with Bonnie, but I'm sure we can talk to her."

"Or to Kacie, since I'm pretty sure she got the keys from Tyler after he and Eli ditched her this morning," Ashley added.

"I'm sure either Bonnie or Kacie would be thrilled to skip right about now," Liv remarked.

The sisters all knew that was true with Bonnie grieving Daniel and worrying about Lindsey, and Kacie being haunted by the anniversary of Dawn and Susan's disappearance coming up.

Ashley looked down with a haunted expression, sniffling.

Alex looked at Stefan gratefully. "Thanks again for your help, Stefan. We really appreciate it."

Stefan smiled warmly. "It was no trouble at all. I hope you feel better soon, Liv."

Alex kept her arm around Liv's shoulders as they started to move towards the exit. Ashley grabbed Liv's backpack, which had been discarded during the fight.

As the Gilbert sisters turned to leave, Elena paused and looked back at Stefan. "Will you be okay getting to class? I can show you around if you need."

Stefan shook his head. "I'll be fine, but thank you. You should be with your sisters right now."

Elena nodded, a small smile on her face. "See you around, Stefan."

The four Gilbert sisters made their way down the hallway, Liv still nestled protectively between Alex and Ashley. Elena walked just behind them, a comforting hand on Liv's back.

Despite the distance Liv had been trying to keep between herself and others, including her sisters, she was too exhausted to push anyone away now. She thought she didn't need anyone, as that was a weakness, but now, more than ever, she needed them, and she didn't care about letting that show.

As the Gilbert sisters began to walk away, Stefan called out softly. "Liv?"

Liv turned back, her eyes questioning. "Yeah?"

Stefan's voice was gentle but firm. "Remember, what those girls said about you and your friends? It's not true. You're not cursed, and you're not alone. Don't let their words get to you."

Liv's eyes welled up with tears again, but this time they weren't from anger. She nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat.

Alex, Ashley and Elena were incredibly grateful for everything Stefan had done previously, and especially for what he just said to their sister.

As the sisters continued down the hallway, Elena glanced back at Stefan one last time. There was something about him, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. But she felt grateful for his kindness towards Liv.

In the rush of it all, Elena didn't notice that she dropped the diary that had been in her book bag on the floor.

Stefan noticed it after the girls had left, letting the girls go without pushing further when they clearly needed to get home. He leaned down to pick up the diary, now having a reason to see them later.

-

Outside

Once outside, the four Gilbert sisters spotted Bonnie and Kacie near Bonnie's car, deep in conversation. Both girls looked up as the Gilberts approached, their expressions shifting from concern to alarm as they took in Liv's disheveled appearance.

"What happened?" Kacie asked, her eyes wide.

Bonnie and Kacie rushed over to the Gilbert sisters, their faces etched with concern.

"Oh, my God, Liv, are you okay?" Bonnie asked, reaching out to touch Liv's arm gently.

Liv nodded weakly, still nestled between Alex and Ashley.

"I'm fine," Liv mumbled, though her red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained cheeks told a different story.

Elena quickly filled them in on what had happened, her voice low and angry. "Those girls, Megan and Amber, they cornered Liv in the hallway and started to mock her about Lindsey, Tory, Dawn, Luke and Ryan. And Gabby and our parents. About everything that happened with everybody we lost, and where everyone's at right now."

Kacie and Bonnie's eyes went wide with horror and rage, as this cut them deeply to the core given Dawn, Susan, Lindsey and Daniel.

"Made Liv snap to 'prove' to everyone that she's a psycho that deserves to be in the hospital with Lindsey," Ashley whispered in guilt and regret, in a lot of pain.

Bonnie was speechless with anger and incredulity, scoffing.

Kacie's eyes flashed with fury, hissing. "Those bitches. I swear, I'm gonna hunt them down--"

"It's been handled," Alex cut in, her voice firm but grateful. "The new guy, Stefan, he... well, he took care of it."

"What do you mean?" Bonnie asked, her voice still tight with the revelation of what those girls did to Liv, regarding all their loved ones.

"We'll explain on the way," Elena assured. "Right now, we just need to get Liv home."

Bonnie and Kacie exchanged a concerned look before nodding in agreement.

"Of course," Bonnie said, fishing her car keys out of her pocket. "I'll drive."

"I'll follow in my car," Kacie added, her voice soft but determined. "In case you need anything. I need to get the hell out of here anyway before I find those girls and do something that's likely gonna get me expelled on the first day of school."

"Good idea," Alex told her. "Don't want you to get in trouble with your dad."

Kacie's face fell as she looked down, nodding, trying to avoid another beating from Richard. "Yeah, exactly."

As they made their way to the parking lot, Liv stumbled slightly, the adrenaline crash hitting her hard. Alex tightened her grip around her little sister's waist, practically carrying her the rest of the way.

"I've got you," Alex murmured, her voice thick with emotion.

Ashley opened the back door of Bonnie's car, helping Alex guide Liv into the backseat. Alex and Ashley slid in on either side of Liv, while Elena took the passenger seat next to Bonnie.

As Bonnie started the engine, Kacie leaned in through the open window, her eyes locked on Liv. "Hey, Little Liv. You're gonna be okay, alright? Those girls are idiots who don't know anything. We've all got your back."

Liv managed a weak nod, her head resting on Alex's shoulder. The nickname that usually irritated her now felt comforting, a reminder of the bonds that still remained despite everything they'd lost.

Liv sniffed, managing a small, grateful smile for Kacie. "Thanks, Kace."

Kacie squeezed Liv's hand gently before stepping back. "I'll be right behind you guys."

-

On the Road

(Song) Say (All I Need) - One Republic

As Bonnie pulled out of the parking lot with Kacie following close behind, an uneasy silence settled over the car. The weight of everything that had happened - not just today, but over the past year or so - seemed to press down on all of them.

Elena turned in her seat to look at Liv, her eyes full of concern. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Liv shook her head. "Mm-mm. I just wanna go home and sleep."

"That's fair," Ashley whispered.

Bonnie glanced at Liv in the review mirror in concern. She hated that one of the best friends to her cousin went through all of this, and they felt powerless to stop it.

Hoping to change the subject and lighten the mood, Bonnie glanced at Alex and Ashley. "So, tell me more about this Stefan guy. How exactly did he 'handle' the situation?"

Alex and Ashley exchanged a look.

"It was... strange," Alex admitted. "He just walked up to those girls and started talking to them. We couldn't hear what he was saying, but they just... stopped. Like they were in a trance or something. Then they just walked away like nothing happened."

Elena's brow furrowed as she listened to Alex's description. "That does sound odd. But effective, I guess."

"He was really good at calming Liv down too," Ashley added. "He knew exactly what to say to help her through the panic attack."

Bonnie's eyes narrowed slightly as she drove. "Hmm. Sounds like this Stefan guy is pretty... interesting."

"He seemed nice enough," Alex said with a shrug. "A little mysterious maybe, but he helped Liv when she needed it. That counts for a lot in my book."

Liv stirred slightly, her voice muffled against Alex's shoulder. "He said I wasn't cursed. That what those girls said wasn't true."

The car fell silent for a moment, the weight of Liv's words hanging in the air.

Elena reached back to squeeze Liv's knee gently. "He's right, Liv. You're not cursed. None of us are. We've just been through a lot."

"But it feels like it sometimes," Liv whispered, her voice barely audible. "Like everything I touch falls apart."

Alex tightened her arm around Liv's shoulders. "That's not true, Liv. Bad things have happened, but it's not because of you. It's not because of any of us."

"Alex is right," Ashley added softly. "We've lost a lot, but we still have each other. And we're not going anywhere."

Bonnie nodded in agreement, her eyes meeting Liv's in the rearview mirror. "Exactly. Those girls were just being cruel because they don't understand what we've all been through. You've still got me and Kacie, too. And Eliza and Caroline. We're all here for you, Liv. Always."

Ashley wrapped her arm around Liv's shoulders. "We're all still here for each other. That's what matters."

Alex pressed a kiss to the top of Liv's head. "And we're not going anywhere, Little Liv. I promise."

Liv sniffled, burying her face deeper into Alex's shoulder. The walls she had built up over the past months were crumbling, and she found herself clinging to her sisters like a lifeline.

Liv gazed off as she remembered a fonder time with her best friends who she wished were still here.

(End of Song)

-

Flashback 1 - One Year Ago

Night - Town Square

(Song) Empty Hands - Tors

Liv's mind drifted back to a happier time, about a year ago, before everything fell apart...

It was a warm summer evening, with the sun setting over Mystic Falls, casing a warm golden glow over the Town Square.

Liv, Lindsey, Dawn and Tory were spread out on a picnic blanket on the grass.

Despite their different personalities and activities, they all had a love for art and music, anything related to it like dance.

Lindsey and Ryan were the more intellectual of the group, the kind that would grow up to be headmasters in the future, though they were fun and relaxed as well. Lindsey was more of a dreamer than the others, ready to lose herself in daydreams of the future whenever she had the chance.

Ryan was also into football as well as Luke, as it gave the two a release from their family lineage of anger and aggression. Luke was the sportier of the two brothers, a bit pessimistic but mostly laid back and funny. Ryan always had his heart and mind in the right place.

Tory and Dawn had similar traits of frustration and anger issues as the brothers or other Lockwoods, but they could control it fairly better than the boys or Kacie. Dawn was more feminine and sweeter, and Tory was edgy and fierce despite a habit of putting everyone above herself, a responsible head on her shoulders as she helped her mother Amelia take care of her little brothers Zyair and Mikey and anyone else in her family, like her cousins Roni and Matt Donovan and their mother Kelly.

Meanwhile, Liv was the carefree, happy and playful person she truly was. She loved to tease and poke fun and banter with the best. She was the life of the party, ready to deliver any chance she got.

Lindsey was reading a book as Dawn braided her hair.

Tory lounged nearby, her head resting on Luke's lap, who tossed a football from hand to hand idly, always careful not to drop it on Tory.

Ryan was strumming softly on his guitar, the gentle melody floating on the evening breeze.

Liv was doing little dance practice moves, as she was on a dance team, but she didn't go overboard.

Dawn looked up at the darkening sky, pointing upward. "Look. The first star."

Liv smiled, following Dawn's finger. "Make a wish."

They all closed their eyes for a moment, each silently making their wishes.

"What did you wish for?" Luke asked, tossing the football down.

Tory swatted his arm playfully. "You can't ask that! It won't come true if we say it aloud."

Liv smiled mischievously. "Well, I wished for--"

"Don't you dare, Little Liv!" Lindsey exclaimed, throwing a handful of grass at her friend.

Liv laughed, dodging the grass. "Relax, Linds. I wasn't really going to say it."

Ryan strummed a dramatic chord on his guitar. "And thus, the wish remains a mystery, forever locked in the depths of Liv Gilbert's mind."

"Oh, shut up," Liv giggled, flopping down on the blanket next to him.

Dawn finished braiding Lindsey's hair and sat back to admire her work. "There. You look like a princess."

Lindsey touched the intricate braid gently. "Thanks, Dawn. You're the best." She looked up at the sky dreamily. "We should do this every night."

"Agreed," Tory chimed in, reaching for a handful of chips from the bowl beside them. "It's perfect. I get away from Mom and her new boyfriend, and I have a night off from watching Zy and Mikey. They're crashing over with Roni and Matt while Aunt Kelly's out of town."

"You staying over with Roni and Matt too?" Luke asked. "Take it Zyair and Mikey won't be the only ones."

"Nope," Tory answered. "I'll be over there, at least until we have to go back home tomorrow morning."

"Guessing Roni told you to take off and live a little for once," Ryan remarked.

"Yep," Tory answered. "She always makes sure I hang out with you guys and be a kid for a little while."

Liv smiled softly at the memory of Roni's kindness. "Roni's always looking out for you, Tor."

"Yeah," Tory agreed, her voice warm with affection. "She's the best big cousin I could ask for."

"Speaking of looking out for people," Dawn piped up. "Luke, Ryan, how are things at home? Your dad still...?"

The brothers exchanged a glance, their expressions falling slightly.

"Same old, same old," Luke muttered, tossing the football a little more aggressively.

Ryan strummed a melancholy chord. "He's been working late a lot. Has to if he's going to afford to pay Mom's medical bills."

"Cancer sucks that way," Luke agreed.

"Dad's always good with us, but he's depressed because of Mom getting worse," Ryan admitted. "And I don't blame him for that. I just... I hate feeling like we're losing both our parents and they're still here."

Liv reached out and squeezed Ryan's hand, since she was closest to him, her eyes also on Luke. "You're not alone, you know. We're all here for you guys."

"Always," Dawn added softly, her eyes filled with compassion.

Luke nodded, his expression softening. "We know. Thanks, guys."

"And hey," Tory chimed in, sitting up as she removed her head from Luke's lap. "If you ever need a break from all that, you know my door's always open. Well, when I'm not at Roni's, anyway."

"Or mine," Lindsey offered. "Mom and Dad love having you guys over."

"Same here," Liv agreed. "My parents adore you two."

"My mom, too," Dawn added.

Ryan smiled gratefully. "Thanks, everyone. Really."

A comfortable silence fell over the group as they gazed up at the darkening sky, more stars beginning to appear.

"You know," Lindsey mused, her voice dreamy. "I have a feeling we're all going to stay friends forever. No matter what happens."

Liv nodded enthusiastically. "Totally." She gave a teasing, dramatic roll of her eyes. "We're like, bonded for life or something."

"Blood brothers and sisters," Luke joked, pretending to make a slashing motion across his palm.

"Ew, gross," Dawn laughed, shoving Luke playfully.

"But seriously," Tory said, her tone more somber. "I don't know what I'd do without you guys. You're like my second family."

"Same here," Ryan agreed, strumming a soft chord. "No matter how bad things get at home, I know I can always count on you all."

Lindsey sat up, her eyes shining with emotion. "Promise me we'll always be there for each other, no matter what. Even if we fight or drift apart or whatever, we'll always come back together."

"You know I'll always come back," Ryan answered with a flirty wink directed at Lindsey.

Lindsey blushed and giggled at Ryan's flirty comment. "You know what I mean, you goof."

"I promise," Liv said solemnly, holding out her pinky finger. "Pinky swear on it."

One by one, they all linked pinkies, forming a circle of intertwined hands.

"Friends forever," Dawn whispered.

"No matter what," Tory added firmly.

"Through thick and thin," Luke chimed in.

"In sickness and in health," Ryan said with a dramatic flair, earning a playful eye roll from Lindsey.

"Till death do us part," Lindsey finished, her voice soft but full of conviction.

As they broke apart, a comfortable silence fell over the group. The sky had darkened fully now, a blanket of stars twinkling above them.

Lindsey smiled, her eyes fixed on the stars. "I have a feeling that no matter what happens, we'll always have moments like this. Even when we're old and gray, we'll still find our way back to each other, lying on a blanket under the stars."

Dawn smiled, her heart swelling with affection for her friends. "I hope you're right, Linds. I can't imagine my life without you guys in it."

"Me neither," Liv agreed, reaching out to squeeze Dawn's hand.

"We're stuck with each other," Tory declared with a grin. "Like it or not."

Luke chuckled. "I think I can live with that."

Ryan strummed a cheerful chord on his guitar. "To friendships that last forever."

Ryan smiled, raising an imaginary glass.

The others laughed and mimicked his gesture, repeating in a chorus together. "To friendships that last forever."

-

Now

Day - On the Road - Bonnie's Car

Bonnie was still driving. Elena was in the passenger seat. Ashley, Liv and Alex were in the backseat.

As the memory faded, Liv felt a fresh wave of grief wash over her. The stark contrast between that carefree summer evening and her current reality was almost too much to bear. Not only had she lost her best friends, but she had lost her older sister Gabriella, and her parents. She choked back a sob, clinging tighter to Alex.

"I miss them," Liv whispered, her voice barely audible. "My friends. Gabby. Mom and Dad. I miss them so much it hurts."

Alex, Ashley, Elena and Bonnie knew that Liv would eventually break down, all looking at each other in pain and grief, sighing heavily.

Alex stroked Liv's hair gently. "I know, sweetie. We all do."

Ashley reached over to squeeze Liv's hand. "Your friends still with us, Liv. Luke and Ryan may be out of town to help Malik with Emma's treatment, but they'll be back soon. And Tory may be in foster care after losing Zyair, Mikey and her mom, but she's still out there. Lindsey's in the hospital, but she's still here. She's just... different now. And Dawn and her mom have to be out there somewhere. They're not gone, they're just... missing. We'll find them. You'll get all of them back. I promise."

Liv nodded weakly, but the ache in her chest only seemed to intensify. The promise they had made that night - to always be there for each other, no matter what - now felt like a cruel curse, just like the girls taunted her about.

None of her friends were to blame, she knew that. But how could the universe tear them apart? How could it burn Tory's family alive and send her away from her loved ones? How could it make Dawn disappear with her mother? How could it take Lindsey's father from her, send her into an emotional and mental breakdown, and lock her away in a mental hospital where she was isolated from everyone she loved? How could it slowly kill Luke and Ryan's mother in front of them and leave them unable to stop it?

How it could it take Gabriella and her parents away from Liv, Ashley, Alex, Elena and Jeremy? Why didn't any of it ever seem to stop?

Elena turned in her seat, reaching back to grasp Liv's hand. "They're all still part of you, Liv. The memories, the love you shared - that doesn't go away, even when people are gone or things change."

Bonnie nodded, her eyes meeting Liv's in the rearview mirror. "Elena's right. And who knows? Maybe someday things will get better. Dawn and her mom might come home. Lindsey's gonna recover; my cousin is so strong, she's not going to stay there for long. And Tory could come back to Mystic Falls. And Luke and Ryan are gonna come back home with their parents before football season starts. They're going through a lot, but they still care about you, Liv. They just need time."

Liv sniffled, wiping her eyes. "I know. I just... I feel so alone sometimes. Like I'm the only one left standing. Just like those girls said."

"You're not alone," Alex said firmly, tightening her arm around her.

"You're not alone," Ashley repeated, her voice firm but gentle. "We're all still here, Liv. Me, Alex, Elena, Bonnie, Kacie, Eliza, Caroline. Even Jeremy, even though he's struggling too. We're your family, and we're not going anywhere."

Liv nodded weakly against Alex's shoulder, trying to take comfort in her sister's words. But the ache in her chest persisted, a constant reminder of all they had lost.

As they turned onto their street, Bonnie glanced back at Liv in the rearview mirror. "Do you want us to stay with you for a while? We could have a movie night or something."

Liv hesitated, torn between wanting to be alone with her grief and not wanting to face the emptiness of the house. "I... I don't know."

"How about this?" Elena suggested gently. "We'll stay for a little while, just to make sure you're settled. Then if you want to be alone, we'll go. But we'll be at the Grill if you want to come with us, okay? Eliza and Caroline invited us to a girls' night out if you want to come."

Liv was touched by the offer, and relieved she didn't have to make a decision right away. She highly doubted she would leave her room tonight, but it was a nice offer. "Okay. Thanks, guys."

-

Gilbert House - Outside

As Bonnie pulled into the driveway, Kacie's car stopped behind them. The girls piled out, with Alex and Ashley supporting Liv between them.

Kacie hurried over, her face etched with concern. "How are you doing, Little Liv?"

Liv managed a weak smile. "I'm okay. Just tired."

Kacie nodded, reaching out to squeeze Liv's shoulder gently. "I get it. Let's get you inside."

As they made their way to the front door, Elena fished out her keys.

-

Inside

Elena headed straight for the kitchen, calling over her shoulder. "I'll make some tea."

Bonnie and Kacie followed Liv, Alex, and Ashley into the living room. Liv sank onto the couch, curling into herself as Alex sat beside her, keeping a protective arm around her shoulders.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Ashley asked gently.

Liv shook her head, her eyes downcast. "Not really. I just... I don't know how to make it stop hurting."

Kacie sat on the coffee table across from Liv, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees. "It's okay to hurt, Little Liv. What you've been through... what we've all been through... it's not something you just get over."

Bonnie nodded in agreement. "Kacie's right. Healing takes time. And it's not always a straight line. Some days are going to be harder than others."

Alex took a deep breath. "And you're stronger than you think. We all are."

Ashley nodded. "We've all been through so much, but we're still here. Still fighting."

Elena returned from the kitchen with a tray of steaming mugs. She set it down on the coffee table and handed one to Liv. "Here, sweetie. It's chamomile. It might help you relax a little."

Liv took the mug gratefully, wrapping her hands around its warmth.

Liv took a small sip of the tea, letting the warmth spread through her. The familiar taste brought a hint of comfort, reminding her of countless evenings spent with her parents and siblings. For a moment, she could almost pretend everything was normal again.

But reality crashed back as she looked around the room at her sisters and friends. Their faces were etched with concern and shared grief. Liv felt a wave of guilt wash over her.

"I'm sorry," Liv whispered, her voice barely audible. "I didn't mean to ruin everyone's first day back."

"Hey, no," Alex said firmly, tightening her arm around Liv's shoulders. "You didn't ruin anything. Those girls are the ones who should be sorry."

Ashley nodded in agreement. "Alex is right. You have nothing to apologize for, Liv."

"We're just glad we were there to help," Elena told her.

The room fell into a comfortable silence as the girls sipped their tea. Liv could feel their eyes on her, full of concern and love. It both comforted and overwhelmed her.

After a few minutes, Kacie spoke up softly. "You know, Little Liv, it's okay if you're not okay. None of us are, really. We're all just... figuring it out as we go."

Liv nodded, her eyes fixed on the mug in her hands. "I know. I just... I feel like I should be handling it better by now. It's been months since..."

Her voice trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

"Since the accident," Alex finished gently. "Liv, there's no timeline for grief. Everyone processes things differently."

"And you've been through so much," Bonnie added softly. "Not just losing your parents and Gabby, but everything with your friends too. It's a lot for anyone to handle, let alone someone your age."

Liv felt tears welling up in her eyes again. "I just want things to go back to normal. I want to feel like myself again."

Elena reached out and squeezed Liv's knee. "I know, sweetie. We all do. But maybe... maybe we need to find a new normal."

Ashley nodded in agreement. "We'll be here to help you every step of the way."

Liv managed a small, grateful smile.

In that moment, Liv regretted all the times she closed herself off and pushed everyone away. She was so tired of being angry at the world, even the ones closest to her. She didn't want to take it out on everyone and keep lashing out.

She just had to find another way to survive the cruel world they lived in.

Without the girls knowing, the crow from that morning was sitting in the windowsill, looking in on the girls, the beady eyes seeming to pierce each one of them.

(End of Song)

-~-

Night - Salvatore Boarding House - Stefan's Room

Stefan sat in his room at the boarding house, speaking with Nicola and Levi.

Nicola and Levi were processing what they heard from Stefan today.

"So those bitches attacked Liv Gilbert for no reason about losing her older sister Gabriella and her parents, and about all of her friends who went through hell," Nicola stated.

"Little Liv Gilbert lost it, and you had to step in," Levi finished. "You compelled those girls to walk away and believe they tripped and got hurt instead of her beating their asses, but the fight happened in front of a crowd. How do you think that'll go?"

"The crowd won't expose anything," Stefan explained. "They all saw those girls corner Liv, saw that she was defending herself. Her sisters Alex and Ashley came to help. And if they did expose it, I'll take care of it so she doesn't get in trouble."

"And of course, you helping with Liv's panic attack after that got you in the good graces of the Gilbert sisters, including Elena," Levi remarked, giving Stefan a knowing look.

Stefan nodded, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Elena was grateful, yes. Alex and Ashley, as well. But I didn't do it for that reason. Liv needed help, and I was there."

Nicola leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and concern despite her usual aloofness. "And how is the youngest Gilbert holding up now?"

"She's... coping," Stefan said, his brow furrowing slightly. "It's not easy, losing so much at such a young age. But she's strong, like her sisters."

Nicola nodded, crossing her arms critically in thought. "So, what's next? Are you going to keep an eye on the Gilberts now?"

Stefan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't have much choice. There's something... different about them. Liv, Alex and Elena especially. They look exactly like Thea Tovey and Valentina and Katherine Pierce, and that can't be a coincidence."

Levi raised an eyebrow. "Valentina and Katherine Pierce? Aren't those the exes to you, Damon, Nathan and Kaylin from 1864? The ones who turned you four?"

"The very same," Stefan confirmed, his expression darkening. "If Alex and Elena are connected to Valentina and Katherine somehow, they could be in danger."

"Okay, so Alex and Elena look like Valentina and Katherine," Nicola mused. "Liv looks like this Thea Tovey?"

"Yes," Stefan answered.

"And who was Thea Tovey?" Levi questioned.

"A friend of ours growing up," Stefan answered. "She had other friends, too, but... all of them had tragic endings."

"Seems to be a theme for the present history repeating," Nicola remarked.

Stefan nodded in agreement, raising his eyebrows. "Thea had power that me and my siblings didn't understand, but she was close with witch bloodlines, even if she wasn't one. I don't know much more than that."

Levi frowned. "And somehow Katherine and Valentina's bloodline merged with Thea's bloodline and that's how we ended up with the Gilberts?"

"It appears so, somehow," Stefan replied. "I'll have to look more into it to be sure, but..."

"It doesn't explain why Liv, Alex and Elena look exactly like Thea, Valentina and Katherine," Nicola finished.

"Exactly," Stefan answered. "And then there's Ashley. Just all four sisters... there's something about them. I can't explain it."

Levi crossed his arms, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You seem to care a lot about this family, Stefan. Is it just because of Elena, or is there more to it?"

Stefan was quiet for a moment, his gaze distant. "The Gilberts... they remind me of what it means to be human. To feel, to hurt, to heal. It's been a long time since I felt that way. In fact, the only time I've felt that way recently is when I'm with the two of you."

Nicola raised her eyebrow at the confession, tilting her head with a slight smirk.

Levi smiled teasingly. "Aw. What a nice way to say you care about us. That's a huge compliment."

Stefan chuckled softly at Levi's teasing, a rare moment of lightness in his usually brooding demeanor, his eyes holding a fond glimmer. "Don't let it go to your head."

"Oh, why not?" Levi replied. "You know we make it hard for you to be brooding all the time. Someone has to keep you on your toes, Stef."

Nicola rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of affection in her gaze.

Although, ever the pragmatist, Nicola steered the conversation back to more pressing matters. "Is there more?"

Stefan sighed. "Yeah, there's more. When I helped Liv during her panic attack, I sensed something... unusual about her. A kind of energy I've never encountered before. At least, since I turned and was able to sense it."

Nicola leaned forward, her interest piqued. "What do you mean, unusual?"

Stefan shook his head, struggling to find the right words. "It was like... a pulse of power, just beneath the surface. Not vampire, not witch... something else entirely. And when I looked into her eyes, just for a moment, I could have sworn they flickered with a red light."

Nicola frowned in thought. "You said that Thea had connections to witches even if she wasn't one, but a sort of different power? Do you think Liv might have gotten that from her?"

"Maybe," Stefan answered. "If she did, it's dormant right now, but lurking beneath the surface."

Levi exchanged a glance with Nicola before turning back to Stefan. "And the other sisters? Did you sense anything from them?"

"Not the same intensity as Liv," Stefan answered.

"So, you're saying all four Gilbert sisters might be supernatural?" Nicola asked, her eyes widening with intrigue.

Stefan shook his head slowly. "I'm not sure. It's just a feeling I have. But there's definitely more to their family than meets the eye."

Nicola bit her lip. "So, what's your plan? Are you going to tell the Gilberts about vampires? About their connection to Thea, Valentina and Katherine?"

Stefan's expression grew serious once more. "No, not yet. It's too dangerous. They're safer not knowing, at least for now. I'll watch over them, protect them if I can. But I can't risk exposing our world to them. Not until I know more about what's really going on in Mystic Falls."

"What do you mean?" Levi asked.

"All of the loss you two pointed out that the sisters and all their friends went through..." Stefan trailed off. "What do you know about them?"

"You think there's more to them than what everyone thinks," Nicola realized.

"It would certainly explain a lot," Stefan answered.

Nicola sighed, nodding. "Okay. You obviously know about Gabriella Gilbert, and Miranda and Grayson, as you saved Alex and Elena from drowning with them."

Stefan nodded. "Yes."

"It goes far beyond that," Levi remarked.

Nicola exhaled. "Liv had a group of friends that you know about now. Lindsey Davis, Tory Donovan, Luke and Ryan Thompson, Dawn Lockwood. Lindsey is Bonnie Bennett's cousin. Tory is Veronica and Matt Donovan's cousin. And Dawn is Kacie, Tyler and Eli Lockwood's cousin. I think Luke and Ryan are the only two that don't have family ties to the older group."

"Lindsey's father, Daniel Davis..." Levi trailed off, sitting down. "He was killed in an accident involving Veronica Donovan, ironically, almost a year ago. It was an accident, but she got sent to juvie, and Lindsey was sent to a mental hospital after a breakdown. Her mother Courtney hasn't been doing well since then either."

Stefan nodded, puzzled. "Okay."

"And Tory's family burned alive in a house fire a year ago, just before the accident," Levi went on. "Her mother Amelia Donovan and her little brothers, Zyair and Mikey. Tory was in the house, and no one knows how she got out alive. They just know she woke up next to Roni and Luke, and she was sent away to foster care. Girl has some serious anger issues, but she helped take care of her little brothers."

"I still don't know how you know half of these details," Nicola admitted.

"Because, unlike you, my dear twin, I don't reject society," Levi answered. "I embrace it. I'm not antisocial like you. I get the intel we apparently need."

Nicola rolled her eyes, while Stefan gave the two a bemused look.

Nicola gave Levi a look. "Just go on."

Levi nodded. "Yeah. Uh, after the Davis accident, Dawn and her mother Susan disappeared. Like literally maybe a week or less later, so the anniversary of their magical disappearance is coming up, which explains why Kacie, Eli and Tyler Lockwood are being extra bitchy lately. Their parents are just relative monsters by the way rumors go."

"Get to the point," Nicola urged.

Levi did finger guns at Nicola as if a gesture of agreement. "And last but not least, Luke and Ryan. They haven't lost anyone... yet. But their mother Emma Thompson has had cancer since they were kids, slowly dying. Their father Malik's been working nonstop to try and pay for all her medical bills to keep her alive. They kept moving around to try and find a doctor that could treat her and save her life, which is why they've been in and out of town for years. Basically have to watch their mother slowly wither away in front of them."

Stefan processed all of this. He knew that it was bad from the confrontation he stopped earlier and saw Liv's reaction, but he hadn't known that it was this bad.

Stefan's brow furrowed as he absorbed the information. The weight of so much tragedy hanging over such young lives was staggering. He'd lived for over a century and a half, seen countless horrors, but there was something particularly haunting about the losses these children had endured.

"That's... a lot for anyone to deal with, let alone kids," Stefan said, his voice low. "No wonder Liv reacted so strongly when those girls taunted her."

Nicola nodded, her usual stoic expression softening slightly. "It's a miracle any of them are still functioning, to be honest."

Levi leaned back in his chair, his typically jovial demeanor subdued. "Yeah, and those losses are also tied to the older group. Elena, Alex, Ashley and their friends, mostly Bonnie, Kacie, Eli, Tyler, Roni and Matt. I think the only ones that haven't suffered losses out of the older group are Eliza and Caroline Forbes."

Nicola nodded, her usual detachment slipping slightly. "It's like this town is cursed or something. It's been rough on all of them. The whole town, really. So much loss in such a short time. All starting a year ago."

Stefan frowned at that. "All of this happened within the span of a year?"

"Yeah," Levi answered. "And you think there might be more to it? Something supernatural?"

Stefan nodded slowly. "I can't shake the feeling that there's a pattern here. The accidents, the disappearances... it's too much to be coincidence. And then there's what I sensed from Liv..."

"You think whatever's going on with the Gilbert sisters might be connected to all this tragedy?" Nicola asked, her eyes narrowing.

Stefan ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his posture. "I don't know. But it's possible. The timing is suspicious, to say the least. And if Alex and Elena really are connected to Valentina and Katherine somehow, and Liv is connected to Thea..."

"Then this could all be part of some larger supernatural plot," Levi finished, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a serious frown.

"Exactly," Stefan confirmed. "Which means I need to be even more careful. If there are other supernatural forces at work here, they might not take kindly to any of them, or anyone else who gets involved."

Levi whistled low. "Man, and here I thought Mystic Falls was just going to stay a quiet little town to settle down in."

Nicola shot him a side-eyed look. "Take a look at 1864 and ask yourself if it's ever been a safe town to do that."

Stefan nodded to Nicola in agreement.

Levi waved Nicola off. "Whatever. Sounds like we've stumbled into a supernatural mystery."

"We?" Stefan raised an eyebrow at his nephew.

"Yes, we," Levi insisted, leaning forward with a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Come on, Stefan. You can't expect us to sit on the sidelines after dropping all this on us. We're family, and we're in this together."

Nicola nodded, her usual detached demeanor giving way to determination. "Levi's right. We may be distant descendants, but we're Salvatores. If there's trouble brewing in Mystic Falls, we want to help."

Stefan looked between the twins, a mix of pride and concern on his face. "I appreciate that, but it could be dangerous. We don't know what we're dealing with yet."

"All the more reason for you to have backup," Nicola countered. "We may be young, but we're not helpless. And we have our own talents that could be useful."

Stefan frowned. "What kind of talents?"

Nicola and Levi shared a smirk.

"Our dad's been training us to fight supernatural since we were kids," Levi answered. "In case something like this ever happened. He knew that we could be in danger because of us being Salvatores, and so did our mom, so they wanted us to be protected."

Stefan's eyes widened in surprise. "Your father trained you? I had no idea."

"Yeah, well, we don't exactly advertise it," Nicola said with a shrug. "But we know how to handle ourselves in a fight, supernatural or otherwise."

Levi grinned, pointing to Nicola. "Plus, Nikki here has got a knack for research and digging up information. And I've got my own nifty tricks and secrets that can help. Could come in handy for unraveling this mystery."

Stefan leaned back, considering their words. He had to admit, having allies he could trust would be invaluable, especially family members who already knew about the supernatural world. And if they were trained...

"Alright," Stefan said finally. "You can help. But we do this carefully. No unnecessary risks. And if I tell you to back off, you do it. Understood?"

Stefan gave them both a look. As much as he trusted them, he was worried. They were family, and he had a responsibility to them.

The twins nodded in unison.

"Crystal clear," Levi answered. "But do you think you might need more help? Have you told Nathan about this? Or Kaylin?"

Stefan sighed. "No, not yet. But I was thinking about calling them when I realized how far this might get out of control. I haven't seen Kaylin as much as Nathan, since our sister likes to keep her distance and live her own life, but if she's with him now, then maybe they'll both come. Nate likes to check up on Kay every now and then."

Nicola and Levi nodded in understanding.

Nicola looked down, biting her lip. "You don't think Damon will come back, do you?"

Stefan's jaw tightened slightly, knowing that was a valid concern for all of them. "I don't know. I hope not. You know how he can be."

Nicola snorted. "Yeah, subtlety isn't exactly his strong suit."

"Neither is impulse control nor not killing anybody," Levi added.

Stefan nodded grimly with a grimace. "You're not wrong. Which is why I hope he stays away. The last thing we need is Damon complicating things even further."

"So what's our next move?" Nicola asked, leaning forward with keen interest.

Stefan stood up and began pacing, his brow furrowed in thought. "We need more information. About the Gilberts, their friends, about the accidents and disappearances, about any unusual activity in town over the past year."

Levi perked up. "I can start asking around town, see if anyone's noticed anything strange." He smiled smugly. "People tend to open up to me."

"Good idea," Stefan agreed. "But be subtle about it. We don't want to raise any suspicions."

Nicola pulled out her laptop. "I'll dig into the town records, see if I can find any patterns or connection to these tragedies or any historical precedents."

Stefan nodded approvingly. "Excellent. I'll continue to keep a close watch on the Gilberts and their friends, see if I can pick up on anything unusual. We need to be prepared for anything. And reach out to Nathan and Kaylin, see if they can lend a hand. We need to move fast. Nicola, can you also look into any strange occurrences or unexplained phenomena in town over the past year? Anything that might point to supernatural activity?"

Nicola nodded, already typing away on her laptop. "On it. I'll cross-reference with historical records too, see if there are any patterns or cycles we should be aware of."

"Perfect," Stefan said. "Levi, when you're talking to people in town, pay special attention to anyone who seems overly interested in the Gilberts or their friends. Could be nothing, but it might also point us to other players we're not aware of yet."

Levi nodded, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You got it, Uncle Stef. I'll put on my best charming persona and see what I can dig up."

Stefan smiled slightly at the nickname, then grew serious again. "Remember, we need to be careful. If there are other supernatural forces at work here, they might not take kindly to us poking around."

"Don't worry," Nicola said, not looking up from her laptop. "We know how to be discreet."

Stefan nodded, then paused, a thought occurring to him. "There's one more thing. I need you both to keep an eye on Zach."

The twins exchanged a confused look.

"Our dad?" Levi asked. "Why? Is he in danger?"

Stefan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know. I just don't want to put any of you in danger."

Nicola's brow furrowed. "You think Dad might be a target?"

"I'm not sure," Stefan admitted. "But given his connection to us and the fact that he's been living in Mystic Falls, it's possible he could be caught in the crossfire if things escalate."

Levi nodded, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by seriousness. "We'll keep an eye on him, Stefan. Don't worry."

"Good," Stefan said, relieved. "And... he's always been wary of vampires, even family. If he catches wind of what's going on, he might try to interfere or worse, expose us. We need to keep him in the dark for now, for his own safety."

Nicola nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Especially if he'll try to stop us from helping those people. Don't worry. We'll be careful. Dad doesn't need to know about any of this."

"Yeah, we've got experience keeping secrets from him," Levi added with a wry smile. "Comes with the territory of being trained supernatural fighters, though that's his own fault for training us."

Stefan raised an eyebrow at that but didn't comment further. Instead, he moved to the window, gazing out at the darkening sky. "We should get started. The sooner we figure out what's going on in this town, the better chance we have of protecting everyone."

Nicola was already engrossed in her research, fingers flying over the keyboard.

Levi stood up, stretching. "I'll head into town, see what I can pick up. Maybe grab a coffee at the Mystic Grill, do some eavesdropping." He grinned. "Time to turn on the Salvatore charm."

Stefan nodded. "Good idea. Just be careful, Levi. And remember—"

"Subtle," Levi finished, heading for the door. "Got it. Don't worry, Uncle Stef. I've got this."

As Levi left, Stefan turned to Nicola. "What about you, Nikki? Do you need anything for your research?"

Nicola shook her head, not looking up from her screen. "I'm good. I've got access to most of the town's digital records already. But..." She hesitated, then looked up at Stefan. "I might need access to some of the older, physical records. The ones kept in the town archives. Some of them aren't digitized yet."

Stefan nodded thoughtfully. "I can arrange that. I've got some connections at the Historical Society. I'll make a few calls, see if I can get you access."

"Thanks," Nicola said, returning her focus to the screen. "Oh, and Stefan? I've been thinking... maybe we should look into the Founding Families as a whole as well. If there's a supernatural element to all this, they might be involved somehow. I mean, think about it. The Gilberts are a Founding Family. We are, and so are the Lockwoods, Forbes and Fells. And as we told you, the Gilbert Girls and all their friends? Most of them are Founding Families. The only exceptions being the Davis-Bennetts, Donovans and Thompsons."

Stefan's brow furrowed as he realized her point. "You're right. The Founding Families have always been at the center of Mystic Falls' supernatural history. Good thinking, Nicola."

Nicola nodded, looking at her laptop. "The only thing recently I've found is a couple that was killed last night in the road. They're not releasing any details yet, but I bet I can find out soon enough."

Stefan nodded. "Text me if you do, or about anything else."

"Okay," Nicola agreed. "This might take a while."

"No pressure," Stefan replied, walking over to his desk to pick up Elena's diary.

Nicola raised her eyebrow. "Hmm, at least you have a convincing reason to see her again."

"Them," Stefan corrected, as this was not just about his draw toward Elena.

Nicola smirked slightly, nodding knowingly. "That's what I said."

Stefan tilted his head as he gave Nicola a bemused look, chuckling a little as he walked out of the room.

Nicola stood to leave Stefan's room and head to her own room with her laptop and continue with her research.

As Stefan was walking down the stairs, he made the call to his brother. "Hey, Nathan. Have you seen Kaylin around recently? Nicola, Levi and I might need your help."

-

The Mystic Grill

(Song) Take Me to the Riot - Stars

As he said, Levi arrived to the Grill to listen and ask around. At the moment, he was just eavesdropping when he could, since he couldn't ask people directly without raising suspicions, like Stefan pointed out.

At the bar, Roni was working a shift at the Grill, wearing a waitress uniform.

Matt walked toward his sister, giving Roni a look. "You skipped school today? The first day back?"

"I'm not in the mood for a lecture right now, Matt," Roni retorted. "I'm on the clock." She gave him a sarcastic look. "You can ground me when I get home or whatever."

Levi saw the Donovan siblings arguing, knowing they were Tory's cousins and could be a vital piece to the potentially supernatural puzzle he, Stefan and Nicola were determined to decipher, walking closer, but keeping his distance as he listened.

"Roni, you just got out of juvie," Matt told her. Roni sighed heavily, tilting her head back. "After everything that happened the past year, we can't take any more risks."

Roni turned to give her brother a look. "I'm the one that has been taking all of the risk, Matty. You don't get to yell at me when you left me to rot and spiral after Aunt Amelia, Zy and Mikey died and Tory was sent away, and after last year with Daniel Davis. I know I fucked up, okay? But I didn't mean to hurt anybody. Least of all Bonnie or Lindsey."

Matt's face fell. "I know, Roni."

"Then tell me how I'm supposed to feel when my own brother abandons me because he thinks I'm a murderer," Roni told him, her voice cracking.

Matt shook his head. "The accident wasn't your fault."

Roni took a deep breath, knowing there was more to it than anyone would ever know or believe, even her own brother.

Roni shot her older brother a glare. "Then where the hell were you for the past year?"

Matt swallowed. "I had to deal with Tory being taken away and running away from foster care and coming back to town and ripped away over and over. Each time she came back, she always came to see you, too."

"I know," Roni agreed. "So you don't get to use that excuse, because our cousin, who was shipped away after the death of her mother and her siblings, still found a way to come see me and be there for me, while my own brother didn't. And I was the one out there in the yard with Luke when Tory woke up during the fire. So tell me again how you're the one taking all the risks."

Levi raised his eyebrows, stunned with the family drama, though he seemed to be hearing everything he already knew for the most part, listening for something he didn't.

Matt's shoulders slumped, the fight going out of him. "You're right. I'm sorry, Roni. I should have been there for you. I was just... I was scared. After everything that happened, I didn't know how to handle it all."

Roni's expression softened slightly. "I get it, Matt. I do. We've all been through hell. But I needed my big brother. I still do. I need you to have my back now, okay? I'm trying to get my life back on track."

Matt nodded. "I know. And I will. Just... please don't skip school again. We can't afford to draw any more attention to ourselves."

Roni sighed. "Fine. I'll be there tomorrow. Happy?"

"It's a start," Matt said, offering a small smile.

As their conversation wound down, Levi decided it was time to make his move.

Levi approached the bar, putting on his most charming smile, looking at Roni. "Hey, there. Could I get a coffee, please?"

Roni turned to Levi, her demeanor shifting to a more professional one as she faced a customer. "Sure thing. Regular or decaf?"

"Regular, please," Levi replied, flashing a friendly smile.

"Hey, Levi," Matt greeted, as they were friends from the football team.

"Hey, Matt," Levi returned. "I need a pick me up if I'm going to get through my history homework. Actually doing a lot of projects lately."

Roni nodded, moving to pour the coffee, smirking slightly. "Yeah? Since when did Levi Salvatore focus on school projects, especially on the first day?"

"Not so much school, but for my family," Levi admitted. "We're amateur enthusiasts, especially my sister Nicola, and our cousin Stefan. He just got to town, and we're thinking of showing him around. I find small towns like this often have the most fascinating stories. Any local legends or mysteries, and we're dying to know. But you know how we mostly keep to ourselves, so I just thought about asking around."

Roni raised an eyebrow knowingly as she handed Levi his coffee. "Mysteries? Mystic Falls has its fair share of those."

Matt chimed in. "Don't forget the animal attacks. Seems like every few decades, the town gets hit with a wave of them."

Levi's ears perked up at that. "Animal attacks? That sounds intense. When was the last time that happened?"

Roni looked down in thought as she spoke slowly. "Actually, there was an attack just last night. A couple in the road."

Matt looked at Roni in confusion. "When did you find that out?"

"When Tyler and I skipped school," Roni answered stubbornly. "We hit the road and came up on the crime scene. They had it cordoned off and they haven't released any details yet publicly, but I heard someone say it was a mountain lion."

Levi pursed his lips, nodding. "Uh-huh. And that's not the only strange accidents or disappearances lately."

Matt and Roni exchanged a quick glance that Levi didn't miss.

Roni looked down uncomfortably.

Matt, noticing this, covered for her as he looked for Levi, giving a forced shrug. "Just regular small-town stuff. Nothing exciting."

Levi took a sip of his coffee, watching them over the rim. "What about that girl who went missing last year with her mother? Dawn Lockwood, right? Did they ever find out what happened to them?"

Roni's hand tightened on the rag she was using to wipe down the bar, her knuckles turning white as she responded tersely. "No. They never found them."

Roni looked down with a haunted look in her eye. Even though she didn't know what happened to Dawn and Susan, she clearly knew something more than she let on, and determined to find out more, which Levi picked up on, frowning in confusion.

Matt shot Levi a warning look. "It's still a sensitive topic around here. The Lockwoods took it pretty hard."

Levi nodded, backtracking slightly. "Of course, I didn't mean to pry. It's just... tragic, you know? A young girl and her mother disappearing like that."

Roni's eyes flashed with anger and pain before she schooled her features. "Yeah, well, Mystic Falls has seen its share of tragedy lately."

Matt placed a hand on his sister's shoulder. "Roni..."

Roni shrugged him off. "I'm fine, Matt."

Turning back to Levi, Roni forced a smile.

Levi nodded sympathetically, sensing he had touched a nerve. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up painful memories. It's just... my family, we've had our share of loss, too. I guess I was hoping to find some connection there."

Roni's expression softened slightly. "Yeah, well, welcome to Mystic Falls. Seems like everyone's got a tragic backstory these days."

Matt nodded in agreement. "It's been a rough year for a lot of people."

Roni's forced smile faltered slightly. "But we're managing."

Matt jumped in, clearly trying to change the subject. "So, Levi, how's Stefan settling in? Must be nice having family in town."

Levi took the cue, easing off his probing. "Oh, he's doing well. Still getting used to small-town life, I think. But he seems to like it here so far. Getting to spend time with me and my sister, mostly."

Matt nodded. "Nicola, right?"

"Yep," Levi answered.

Roni managed to smirk, thankful for the change of subject, going along with it. "Funny how almost everyone knows you, Levi, and yet no one knows Nicola except your friends."

Levi shrugged, smirking slightly. "Yeah, well, that's how Nikki likes it. I'm gonna get her out of her antisocial bubble one of these days, though, I swear on it."

"Good luck with that," Roni replied.

Jeremy suddenly walked up to them, his eyes on Roni even as he greeted the two boys. "Hey, Matt. Hey, Levi."

"Jeremy," Levi replied. "What's up, man?"

"Roni, can we talk?" Jeremy asked.

Roni shot Jeremy a warning glare, shaking her head. "I'm working." She looked at Matt and Levi. "Which I should get back to."

"Right," Matt agreed. "I'll stick around and give you a ride home when you get off."

Roni picked up a food tray. "Good, because my shift ends in a half-hour, and your little buddies Tyler and Eli are over at the table about to take these to."

Roni sauntered away without a glance toward Jeremy.

Jeremy, Matt and Levi shared a look.

Roni reached Eli and Tyler's table, putting the tray on the table.

"Thanks, Roni," Eli told her.

"No problem," Roni agreed, looking between the two Lockwood brothers. "Do you two need another refill?"

"I'm good," Eli answered.

Tyler met Roni's gaze with a smirk. "I'd love one."

Roni smirked slightly, taking Tyler's glass, walking away toward the bar.

Eli watched Roni go as he raised an eyebrow, turning to Tyler. "I thought you broke up with Roni after the accident."

"Yeah, 'cause that's what the 'rents wanted me to do," Tyler answered. "What they don't know won't hurt them, though."

Eli nodded barely, amused, taunting. "Mm-hmm. Secret relationship with your ex-girlfriend while you're still completely hung up over Alex."

Tyler looked busted but tried to keep it covered. "One, I'm not hung up over Alex. Two, I'm with Roni, that's that."

Eli smirked, raising his glass in mock toast. "Whatever you say, Ty. Either way, you're a dick."

Eli took a drink.

Tyler shrugged in acknowledgment. "Whatever."

Eli chuckled. "Though, at least you're using each other mutually. You're using Roni to get over Alex. She was using you to maintain the perfect charade of popular cheerleader and perfect football player. Now for an escape, it looks like."

Rather than getting mad, Tyler was unbothered as his eyes looked toward Roni, thoughtful.

Eli shook his head. "Looks like you two deserve using each other."

Tyler reached over to tip Eli's drink in mock revenge, making it spill over the table and onto Eli's clothes, making him gasp at the cold as he recoiled in his seat.

Tyler smirked smugly. "You were saying, Eli?"

Eli couldn't help a smirk as he nodded, looking away, knowing he deserved that one. "All right, touché."

Levi glanced over at them from where he sat at the bar.

Levi watched the interaction between Roni and the Lockwood brothers with interest, filing away the information for later. He turned back to Matt and Jeremy, who were still standing awkwardly at the bar.

"So, Jeremy," Levi said casually. "How are your sisters doing? I heard there was some drama at school today."

Jeremy's face darkened. "They're fine. It's none of your business."

Matt placed a hand on Jeremy's shoulder. "Hey, take it easy. Levi's just asking."

Jeremy shrugged off Matt's hand. "Yeah, well, maybe he should mind his own business."

Levi held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Sorry, man. I didn't mean to pry. I just heard there was some trouble with Liv, and I was concerned."

Jeremy's expression softened slightly. "It's... it's been rough. For all of us. But they're handling it."

Jeremy looked down in guilt, since he realized that he hadn't been there to help Liv through it.

Matt nodded sympathetically. "The whole town's been through a lot. We're all just trying to get by, you know?"

Levi took a sip of his coffee, nodding thoughtfully. "Yeah, I get that. It's not easy, dealing with loss."

Jeremy snorted. "You have no idea."

Levi raised an eyebrow. "Try me. My family's got plenty of skeletons in our closet too."

Jeremy opened his mouth to retort.

Matt cut him off. "Hey, let's not get into a 'who's got it worse' competition, all right? We've all been through stuff."

Levi nodded, backing off. "You're right. Sorry, Jeremy. I didn't mean to push."

Matt nodded. "You know you can talk to me if you need to, right?"

Jeremy shrugged, his gaze drifting back to where Roni was refilling Tyler's drink. "Yeah, sure."

Levi watched the interaction carefully, noting the tension between Jeremy and Roni, and the way Jeremy's eyes followed her.

"Look," Levi said. "I know I'm not really part of your friend group or anything, but if any of you ever need someone to talk to who's a bit removed from everything, I'm here. Sometimes it helps to get an outside perspective."

Matt smiled gratefully. "Thanks, man. That's cool of you to offer."

Jeremy just shrugged noncommittally, his eyes still tracking Roni as she moved between tables.

Noting that Jeremy had it bad for Roni, Levi nodded awkwardly, taking another sip of his coffee. He glanced at his watch. "Well, I should probably head out. Got that history project to work on." He stood up, leaving some cash on the bar. "Thanks for the coffee and the chat."

Levi stood and turned to leave, taking his time in case he heard or saw anything else.

Matt walked away to go join Tyler and Eli at their table, as he shared a handshake with the two Lockwood brothers.

Roni returned to the bar to put her tray down, eyes following Levi as he walked away. Levi glanced back at Roni, seeming to sense that she knew more than she let on, but of course she gave nothing away.

Jeremy walked over to Roni, dragging her attention away from Levi. "Hey, what's your deal? I mean, after you got out of juvie, you act one way and then school starts and you can't be bothered. By the girls, I get, because of everything, but what did I do?"

"You didn't do anything, and neither did the girls," Roni answered. "Look, Jeremy, I appreciate all the pharmaceuticals, but you can't keep following me around like a lost puppy."

Jeremy frowned, insulted. "When's the last time you had sex with a puppy?"

Jeremy stepped closer.

Roni backed away, voice cold and distant. "We hooked up a few times in a drug haze. It's over. You gotta back off."

"Why?" Jeremy asked sarcastically. "Because you and Tyler are such a great thing? You said that you were just using him because you liked the idea of being king and queen of the school, high and mighty so you wouldn't end up like..."

Roni's gaze cut to Jeremy dangerously as he realized his mistake. "Like what?" Jeremy swallowed, looking down. Roni tilted her head. "No, finish that sentence, Jer."

Jeremy closed his eyes in guilt and regret, knowing that what he said was only going to further push her away and make it easier on her to do the same to him.

Roni scoffed, biting her lip. "You know, I liked that you were the only person who didn't look at me differently after the accident. After what happened to my family, too. But if you ever even think of comparing me to my mother again..."

Jeremy shook his head hurriedly. "I wasn't. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"No, you shouldn't have," Roni agreed. "But it's too late. You already did. And I'm already gone. You should be too."

Without waiting for an answer, Roni pushed past Jeremy, walking away.

She felt guilty after being such a bitch to Jeremy and the girls, her best friends, to push them away, but it was what she thought she had to do. It was easier than getting close to people and risking getting them hurt all over again, or her getting hurt, just like the aftermath of all the tragedy that occurred over the last year. She couldn't open up to anyone lately after what happened with her cousins and aunt, and how her mother and brother essentially abandoned her to pick up the pieces of her life on her own.

And she couldn't come clean about the rest of her life, which had taken a very drastic turn.

-

Elsewhere

Caroline and Eliza entered the Grill, just as Levi was about to leave.

Seeing the Forbes sisters, knowing their ties to the older friend group, Levi paused a little distance away, seeing what they could know.

Knowing that Caroline and Eliza were the only ones that hadn't suffered a loss directly, Levi figured that he could potentially get more answers out of one of them without setting off anger or pain. Especially knowing how much the sisters seemed to know about everything and everyone around given their popularity.

Now, Caroline was gossiping about Stefan, determined to have a shot with the new guy. "His name is Stefan Salvatore. He lives with his cousins, Nicola and Levi up at the old Salvatore Boarding House. He hasn't lived here since he was a kid. Military family, so they moved around a lot." She turned to face Eliza, smiling. "He's a Gemini, and his favorite color is blue."

"You got all of that in one day?" Eliza asked.

Caroline scoffed. "Oh, please, I got all that between third and fourth period." She smiled. "We're planning a June wedding."

Caroline turned around, smiling, waving to someone, walking away.

Eliza watched her go, shaking her head.

Caroline's words confirmed that the sisters could know something, but Levi knew that talking to Caroline was likely not a good option, as she rarely focused on other matters than those that involved her or her family.

However, talking to the sweeter and more caring and empathetic Forbes sister was an option he could use, as Eliza focused on everyone around her.

Levi walked up to Eliza. "Hey, Eliza."

Startled, Eliza turned around, surprised to see him, smiling warmly. "Oh, hey, Levi. I didn't expect to see you here."

"Oh, just here with Caroline," Eliza said, gesturing to where her sister had disappeared. "She's on a mission to learn everything she can about the new guy in town." She paused. "Well, I guess you would know that, since Stefan's your cousin, but..."

Levi chuckled. "Yeah."

Eliza tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "But we invited the girls here tonight for a little night out after school today, so..."

"Oh, that's nice," Levi said.

"Yeah, they should be here soon," Eliza agreed. "Alex, Elena, Kacie, Bonnie. Even Little Liv if they manage to talk her into it after today."

Levi nodded, his eyes lighting up with interest at the mention of the Gilbert sisters. "Oh yeah, I heard there was some drama with Liv today. Is she okay?"

Eliza's smile faltered slightly. "She's... coping. It's been a rough year for all of them, you know? Especially the younger ones. They're so young to have gone through so much."

Levi nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, I can't even imagine. Losing family like that... it's not easy."

Eliza sighed, her usual cheerful demeanor dimming. "No, it's not. And it's not just the Gilberts. Seems like everyone's been hit with tragedy lately."

Levi nodded encouragingly. "I've heard bits and pieces. The Lockwoods lost people too, right? And the Donovans?"

Eliza glanced around. "Yeah, Dawn and Susan Lockwood disappeared last year. No one knows what happened to them. And the Donovans... they lost Tory's mom and brothers Zyair and Mikey in that awful fire. It's been really hard on all of them."

Levi nodded solemnly. "That's terrible. And I heard something about an accident involving Bonnie's cousin?"

Eliza's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, you mean Lindsey? Yeah, that was... complicated. There was an accident with Roni Donovan. Lindsey's dad didn't make it. Lindsey had a really hard time coping after that. Luke and Ryan, I'm sure you know them from the football team."

"Yeah, not as much lately," Levi answered. "They've been gone an awful lot because of their mom. I heard them talking about their mom's sickness in the locker room. I mean, damn, that's a lot for one town to go through in such a short time."

Eliza nodded in agreement. "It's been one thing after another."

Levi leaned in, his voice low. "How is everyone holding up?"

Eliza shook her head, her eyes sad. "As well as they can, I guess. Kacie, Eli and Tyler took Dawn and her mom's disappearance really hard. And Tory... well, she's been in and out of foster care. Roni and Matt try to look out for her when she's in town, but it's not easy."

"And the Gilberts?" Levi prompted gently.

Eliza sighed. "They're struggling, but they're trying to stay strong for each other. Elena and Alex are doing their best to keep it together for Ashley and Liv, but I know it's taking a toll on them. Liv... she's having the hardest time. Well, you saw what happened today. Without her friends, without Gabriella and her parents... at least her older sisters have the rest of us."

Levi nodded sympathetically. "It must be tough, losing so much like that."

"Yeah," Eliza agreed softly. "It's just been one blow after another for them. And it's not just the loss. There's been so much change for them. Jenna, their aunt, moved in to take care of them. She's great, but she's young and still figuring things out herself."

Levi raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a lot of responsibility for someone so young."

Eliza nodded. "It is. But she's doing her best. We're all trying to help where we can."

Levi hesitated, then asked carefully. "Have you noticed anything... strange happening around town lately? Besides all the tragedies, I mean."

Eliza tilted her head, looking puzzled. "Strange how?"

Levi shrugged, trying to appear casual. "Oh, you know, just anything out of the ordinary. Mysteries, weird noises, strange sightings, that kind of thing."

Eliza furrowed her brow, thinking. "Well, Mystic Falls has always been known for its mysteries." She smiled at a fond memory with her cousins. "Fell's Church, people say it's haunted, hearing voices from beneath."

Levi frowned at this, as he hadn't heard that. "Really?"

"Yeah," Eliza answered. "I actually used to go out there with some of my Fell cousins. It's true, and it's so creepy when you hear them at night."

Levi didn't know what to make of that. "Huh."

"Yeah," Eliza agreed. "And then the Civil War stories. And there was that couple found dead on the road last night. Animal attack, they're saying. But other than that..." She trailed off, then shook her head. "No, nothing really strange. Just a lot of bad luck, I guess."

Levi nodded, hiding his disappointment. "Yeah, I guess so. It's just, with all these accidents and disappearances, you'd almost think the town was cursed or something."

Eliza laughed nervously, as if she thought so too, but thought it was ridiculous when she had thought it, saying what she always thought to herself. "Cursed? Come on, Levi. This isn't some supernatural TV show. It's just... life, you know? Sometimes bad things happen."

Levi nodded, forcing a chuckle. "Yeah, you're right. Just my overactive imagination, I guess."

Eliza smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's sweet of you to be concerned, though. We could all use a little more of that these days."

Levi gave a small smile in return, nodding.

Even if he didn't think the Fell's Church legend was important, he would file that fact for later.

And even though it was mostly what he knew again because it was town-wide news that had been gossiped about for over a year with no real answers provided, he did have a few new details. It wasn't much to go on, but Levi hadn't expected much to begin with, just glad for somewhere to start, no matter how small.

(End of Song)

-

Gilbert House - Living Room/Foyer

Elena walked towards the door, looked up the stairs. "Ashley, coming?"

Ashley jogged downstairs, standing next to Elena in the foyer. "Yeah, I'm ready."

Alex walked toward Elena and Ashley, turning to Jenna, who was in the living room doorway. "Elena, Ash and I are meeting Bonnie, Caroline, Eliza and Kacie at the Grill." She turned to the living room couch, still giving the option to their little sister to get her mind off of what happened and everything they went through. "Wanna come, Liv?"

Liv was sitting on the couch, playing a video game in an attempt to drown out the day's events.

Liv didn't look up from her game as she responded flatly. "No thanks."

Elena and Alex exchanged a concerned glance. Ashley sighed, walking over to sit next to Liv on the couch.

"Come on, Liv," Ashley said gently. "It might be good for you to get out of the house for a bit. Take your mind off things."

Liv paused her game, finally looking up at her older sister. Her eyes were tired and slightly red-rimmed. "I said no, Ashley. I don't want to go out and pretend everything's fine when it's not."

Jenna stepped further into the room, her face etched with worry. "Liv, honey, I know today was rough. But isolating yourself isn't going to make it better."

Liv raised her eyebrows skeptically. "And going out to the Grill will?"

"Maybe not," Alex answered truthfully. "But it helps us to get back out there."

"Maybe it can help you too," Ashley pointed out gently.

Liv sighed heavily, looking down at the game controller in her hands. "I just... I can't deal with people right now. Not after today."

Elena walked over, sitting on the arm of the couch next to Liv. "We understand, Liv. Really, we do. But you can't let those girls win by hiding away."

"They didn't win, Elena," Liv muttered. "I kicked their asses, remember? And I would've done worse if Alex and Ash hadn't stopped me."

Alex couldn't help but smirk slightly. "Yeah, that's true."

Ashley nudged Liv gently. "Come on, just for a little bit? If it gets too much, we can come right back home."

Liv looked around at her sisters and aunt, seeing the concern and love in their eyes. She sighed, her resolve weakening slightly.

"Fine," Liv said reluctantly. "But only for an hour. And if anyone so much as looks at me funny, I'm out of there."

Elena smiled, squeezing Liv's shoulder. "Deal. And we'll be right there with you the whole time."

Alex nodded. "Strength in numbers, little sis."

Liv sighed, tilting her head. "Let's get this over with."

Ashley grinned, pulling Liv into a quick hug. "That's the spirit. Now go get changed out of those sweatpants."

Liv rolled her eyes but couldn't quite suppress a small smile as she headed upstairs to change.

Jenna watched her go, then turned to the older girls. "Keep an eye on her, okay? She's putting on a brave face, but I know she's still struggling."

Ashley smiled reassuringly at Jenna. "We'll make sure she's okay and bring her home if it gets to be too much."

Jenna sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I just wish I knew how to help her more. How to help all of you."

Elena gave her aunt a hug. "You're doing great, Jenna. We couldn't ask for a better guardian."

Alex nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you've got our backs just like we got each other's. And we got yours, too."

Jenna smiled at her nieces, feeling a swell of pride mixed with sadness. They had been through so much, but their bond remained unbreakable.

Jenna took a deep breath. "You girls are amazing, you know that? Your parents and Gabby would be so proud of how you're looking out for each other."

The sisters exchanged a bittersweet smile. The loss still felt raw, but slowly healing.

Liv walked downstairs, now dressed for a casual night outing to the Grill.

Ashley smiled at her. "There she is."

"Knock it off," Liv replied, though it wasn't meaningful.

The sisters smiled.

"Ready?" Alex asked.

Liv swallowed, nodding. "Yep."

Jenna gave the four sisters a smile. "Okay, have fun." She turned away before she remembered to be the responsible guardian, turning back. "Wait, I got this. Don't stay out late, it's a school night."

Ashley applauded teasingly.

Alex laughed. "Well done, Aunt Jenna."

"Not bad," Liv remarked.

Elena gave a thumbs up in agreement, smiling.

Jenna smiled, walking away.

Alex turned to her sisters. "Okay, let's go."

As they walked toward the door, Elena opened the front door, stopping short. "Oh."

Stefan was revealed standing on the porch. "Sorry, I was about to knock."

Alex, Ashley and Liv were surprised to see him after that afternoon.

Elena frowned. "Hi. How did you know where we lived?"

"It's a small town," Stefan replied. "I asked the first person I saw. Um, I thought you might want this back. I noticed you dropped it today after..."

Stefan handed Elena her diary, trailing off, glancing at Liv, not wanting to bring up the incident directly.

Elena took her journal, stunned. "I... thank you."

Elena looked down nervously, as Alex, Liv and Ashley shared a guarded look.

Understanding why, Stefan shook his head. "Don't worry, I didn't... read it."

Elena looked up. "No? Why not? Most people would have."

"Well, I wouldn't want anyone to read mine," Stefan answered.

All four sisters reacted in surprise.

Alex tilted her head slightly toward Stefan. "You keep a journal?"

Alex and Elena shared a look, knowing that both twins had a journal.

Stefan nodded a little. "Yeah, if I don't write it down, I forget it. Memories are too important."

Elena smiled a little. "Yeah."

Alex looked at Stefan. "That was really nice of you, to bring it by. Thanks for your help earlier, by the way."

Stefan nodded. "Of course. I'm glad I could help." His eyes moved to Liv. "How are you doing?"

Liv shrugged, averting her gaze. "I'm fine. Thank you."

Stefan smiled kindly. "Of course. No one deserves to be treated like that."

Alex nudged Liv gently. "See?"

Liv gave Alex a halfhearted look.

Ashley put a comforting hand on Liv's shoulder. "We were just heading out to the Grill, actually. To meet up with some friends."

Liv pointed at Alex, Ashley and Elena. "Their friends, more correctly. I currently don't have mine."

Elena put a hand on Liv's arm. "You will. Promise. And our friends are your friends too. They want to see you're okay."

Liv softened slightly at that, sighing, nodding.

Stefan looked between the four sisters with a softening expression. "Oh, I don't want to keep you, then."

Stefan and Elena's gazes locked for a moment, which her sisters noticed.

Getting an idea, Alex perked up as she gave Stefan a small smile. "Do you want to come?"

Stefan was surprised by the invitation.

Knowing that Alex was trying to set her up, Elena gave her twin sister a look.

Alex merely gave her a small smirk in return.

-

Mystic Grill

(Song) Thinking of You - Katy Perry

Matt and Bonnie were sitting together at a table.

"How's Elena doing?" Matt asked.

"Her sister, Mom and Dad died," Bonnie told him. "How do you think? She's putting on a good face, but it's only been four months."

"Has she said anything about me?" Matt asked.

"Oh, no," Bonnie said. "So not getting in the middle. You pick up the phone and call her."

"I feel weird calling her," Matt told her. "She broke up with me."

"Give it more time, Matt," Bonnie told him.

Elena, Stefan, Alex, Ashley and Liv walked into the Grill.

Matt and Bonnie looked over at them.

Kacie, Eli and Tyler looked over at them.

Eliza and Caroline looked over at them from where they were talking to Levi.

While working and finishing her shift, Roni looked over at them. She glanced around, noticing all of her former friends and Liv here now, looking nervous.

Matt looked back at Bonnie. "More time, huh?"

Bonnie looked sympathetic.

Matt got up, walking toward Elena, Stefan, Alex, Ashley and Liv.

Matt looked at Stefan, holding out his hand. "Hey, I'm Matt, nice to meet you."

"Hi," Stefan told him, shaking his hand. "Stefan."

Ashley and Alex flashed Matt a gentle grin.

Liv tossed up a halfhearted peace sign.

Matt smiled at them, eyes landing on Elena.

Elena mustered a tiny, awkward smile. "Hi."

"Hi," Matt echoed.

Alex exchanged an awkward glance with Ashley at the cringey interaction.

Liv's eyebrows rose as she let out a soft whistle. "Talk about a weird vibe."

Alex and Ashley shot Liv a tickled look, dismissing her with a head shake.

Elena cocked her head, eyeing Liv in disapproval for the comment.

Stefan's lips twitched in slight amusement.

Matt gave Liv a look, sighing. "I gotta go. Take Roni home."

Ashley's face fell instantly, while Liv, Alex and Elena looked at Matt.

Liv bit her lip, concerned about one of her best friend's cousins after everything that happened. "How is she? Roni?"

"Holding up," Matt answered. "I'll tell her you asked, Liv."

"Thanks, Matt," Liv replied softly.

Ashley knew that Roni wouldn't talk to her right now, sniffling. "Can you tell her that we hope she feels better? That things get better?"

"Sure thing," Matt answered. "See you guys."

"Bye," Ashley told him softly.

"We'll see you guys later," Alex told him.

Elena placed a hand on Matt's shoulder. "I'm still here for you, Matt. You and Roni. We all are. Even if you don't want us to be right now."

Matt nodded in appreciation, sniffling. "Thank you."

Matt walked away toward Roni.

Alex, Liv, Ashley, Elena, Caroline, Eliza, Bonnie and Kacie's eyes followed in concern, but they maintained the distance that Roni requested.

Roni met the eyes of each girl, guilt flickering over her features, but she pushed it down, thinking it was for the best. When her gaze met Ashley's, Roni's stare hardened before she turned around and walked away without a look.

Ashley looked down sadly in guilt, swallowing.

Roni called back to her brother over her shoulder without stopping. "You coming or what, Matt?"

Matt sighed, following.

All of the girls, including Liv, looked heartbroken but understanding.

Levi, Eli and Tyler had seen the entire exchange.

Levi bit his lip in curiosity by the girls' dynamics.

Eli and Tyler, despite their reputations preceding them as Lockwood assholes, couldn't help the twinge they felt at seeing the girls torn apart from Roni because of the circumstances that all of their families had gone through.

Shaking the moment off, Caroline linked her arm through Eliza's. "Come on, Eliza."

Eliza, pushing the moment of sadness down and seeming to light up with what her friends would call 'delusional happiness', turned to give Levi a warm smile, giving a goodbye out of pure instinct of politeness. "Oh, right. We should go. It was nice talking to you, Levi."

"You too, Eliza," Levi said with a smile. "And Caroline."

"Likewise," Caroline returned. "Even though you didn't answer any of my questions. Help a girl out, Levi."

Eliza tilted her head as she gave Caroline a look.

Levi smirked slightly in amusement. "You want answers about Stefan, you go straight to the source. He'll answer anything you ask him."

Caroline sighed, giving in. "All right, fine."

"Have a good night," Levi told them.

"You too," Eliza bid.

As the Forbes sisters walked away, Levi watched the group of girls gather at a table with Stefan. His eyes lingered on Liv, remembering what Stefan had said about sensing something unusual and intense about her.

While sitting at the table with the girls, Stefan shared a look with Levi across the Grill.

Stefan caught Levi's eye across the Grill, giving him a subtle nod. Levi returned the gesture, understanding passing between them. Their conversation would have to wait until later.

Levi had gathered some information, but there was still much to uncover.

(End of Song)

-

(Song) Kids - MGMT

At their tables, Eliza, Caroline, Bonnie, Kacie, Alex, Elena, Liv, Ashley and Stefan sat together.

"I can't believe you actually came, Liv," Eliza was saying, her voice warm, welcome and friendly.

"Yeah, well," Liv mumbled. "Elena, Ashley and Alex wouldn't stop bugging me about it."

"Because isolating yourself isn't healthy," Ashley replied gently.

"And neither is dwelling on what happened today," Elena added.

Alex nodded. "You need to get out, have some fun."

Caroline looked at Liv, not thinking before she remarked. "So are we going to talk about what happened at school today, or..."

Liv tensed visibly. "I'd rather not."

Eliza gave Caroline a look, shaking her head. "That's not what tonight is all about." She looked at Liv, giving her a soft, encouraging smile, cheerful and uplifting. "No drama, no heavy stuff." She gave the rest of the girls the same look and smile, her enthusiasm contagious for most of the girls. "Just us having a nice night out. Right, girls?"

Bonnie nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Let's focus on the positive."

Kacie raised her glass. "I'll drink to that."

The other girls raised their glasses as well, clinking them together in a toast.

Liv hesitated for a moment before reluctantly joining in, the ghost of a smile tugging at her lips.

As the girls clinked their glasses together, Stefan observed the group dynamic with keen interest. He noticed how the older girls seemed protective of Liv, subtly shielding her from Caroline's probing questions and trying to keep the mood light.

Elena caught Stefan's eye and gave him a small, grateful smile. He returned it, feeling a flutter in his chest at the warmth in her gaze. But he quickly refocused, reminding himself why he was really here.

Stefan's gaze shifted among the girls, wondering what secrets this group of friends might be hiding, knowingly or unknowingly.

"So Stefan," Caroline said, leaning towards him eagerly. "Tell us more about yourself. Where did you live before coming to Mystic Falls?"

Stefan hesitated, carefully considering his response. "Oh, all over really. My family moved around a lot."

"Military family, right?" Caroline pressed.

Stefan nodded, impressed by her research. "That's right. How did you know?"

Caroline preened. "Oh, I have my ways."

Eliza rolled her eyes good-naturedly at her sister's enthusiasm. "Don't mind Caroline. She likes to know everything about everyone."

Stefan chuckled. "It's all right. I'm an open book."

"Were you born in Mystic Falls?" Eliza asked curiously.

Stefan met her gaze steadily. "Mm-hmm. And moved when I was still young."

Kacie smirked with a quip. "Well, welcome back to our little slice of small-town drama. Plenty to go around for everyone."

Stefan met Kacie's gaze with a chuckle.

Alex gave Kacie an amused look, tilting her head, before turning her gaze to Stefan politely in curiosity. "And how are you liking it so far?"

Stefan smiled a bit as his gaze met Alex's. "It's been... interesting." His gaze flickered briefly to Elena. "In a good way."

Elena ducked her head, trying to hide her blush.

Bonnie leaned forward, her eyes curious but wary. "So what made you decide to come back to Mystic Falls after all this time?"

Stefan paused as he looked to Bonnie, choosing his words carefully. "I guess I just felt it was time to reconnect with my roots. This town has a lot of history for my family."

Even Liv couldn't help but be interested after the way Stefan helped her that day. "The Salvatores were one of the Founding Families, right?"

"That's right," Stefan confirmed. "My ancestors helped build this town, just like most of yours."

Bonnie raised her hand. "Except for mine."

The other girls chuckled.

Ashley looked at Stefan. "Parents?"

"My parents passed away," Stefan answered, looking between Ashley, Liv, Alex and Elena.

Ashley, Liv, Alex and Elena's faces fell in sympathy.

"I'm sorry," Elena apologized, seeming to speak for all of them as her sisters nodded their agreement.

Stefan nodded in return.

Alex tilted her head. "Any siblings?"

"None that I talk to," Stefan answered.

Kacie raised her eyebrows. "So that means you do."

Stefan glanced at Kacie, not surprised by her perceptiveness, conceding. "Yes. A sister and two brothers. They're not in town. I live with my uncle and cousins. Uh, their names are--"

"Nicola and Levi," Ashley finished.

"Yeah, Levi's pretty popular," Eliza explained. "And we know who Nicola is, even if she doesn't want to be known."

Stefan smiled a small smile.

Caroline pulled Stefan's attention to her. "So, Stefan, if you're new, then you don't know about the party tomorrow."

"It's a back-to-school thing at the falls," Bonnie explained.

Stefan looked at Elena. "Are you going?"

Seeing another chance to set Stefan and Elena up, Alex smiled. "Of course she is."

Elena looked at Alex, fully aware of what she was doing, giving her a look, but unable to help a smile.

Ashley looked at Liv meaningfully, giving her a smile. "We all are."

Liv rolled her eyes at Ashley's pointed look. "Do I have to?"

Alex nudged Liv gently. "Come on, it'll be fun. You used to love the falls parties."

Liv's expression softened slightly, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Yeah, well, that was before..."

Liv trailed off, not needing to finish the sentence. The others understood - before the losses, before everything changed.

Elena reached out and squeezed Liv's hand. "I know it's hard, but maybe it'll be good to try and get back to some normal teenage stuff."

Kacie tilted her head. "Come on, Little Liv. You know they won't give up until you give in."

Liv sighed. "Fine. But I'm not promising to have fun."

Eliza clapped her hands excitedly. "Yay! It'll be great, you'll see."

Bonnie and Caroline smiled.

Stefan watched the interaction with interest, noting how protective the older girls were of Liv; after the loss of Liv's own friends, the older girls seemed to take Liv underneath their wing to help her recover after all their combined tragedy, despite the younger girl's prior reluctance. It was heartwarming in the midst of all their heartbreak.

As the conversation continued, Stefan found his gaze drawn repeatedly to Elena. There was something about her that captivated him, beyond her resemblance to Katherine. Her kindness, her strength in the face of tragedy... it stirred something in him he thought long buried.

Sensing Stefan's gaze, Elena met his with her own with a slight smile, pulling her hair behind her ear.

(End of Song)

-

Salvatore Boarding House - Underground Gym/Training Center

The Salvatore Boarding House had an addition built onto it by Zach and his wife Monica for their children Nicola and Levi while they were growing up training to fight the supernatural if need be.

In which, Nicola and Levi were training, sparring. Levi ran at Nicola to try to tackle her, but Nicola spun out of the way and grabbed Levi's arm from over her shoulder to use it as leverage to flip Levi over her head to the ground in front of her, looking down at him with a smirk.

Levi shook his head with a smirk. "I see someone's not holding back."

Nicola shook her head. "Not in my nature."

Levi stood. "Again."

Nicola ran at Levi, jumping up to tackle him, but Levi ducked and slid underneath Nicola over the ground as she jumped in the air. Nicola landed on her feet, while Levi spun to a standing position, both spinning to face the other.

Levi swung at Nicola. Nicola ducked, spinning around to stand behind Levi, backhand punching him in the back, making him stumble forward. Levi let Nicola get close enough to him so that he could spin out of the way at the right second to make Nicola hit the wall when he pushed her, turning to face her.

Nicola grabbed Levi by the shirt, kicking his feet out from underneath him as she lifted Levi up and slammed him on the ground. Levi somersaulted back to his feet, standing up instantly, spinning to try to kick Nicola. Nicola ducked, cartwheeling through the air to duck another swing.

Levi managed to grab a hold of Nicola in a choke hold. It took a moment for Nicola to be able to get out of it, pushing Levi into the wall.

Zach was surveying their training, which was why Levi and Nicola hadn't talked yet about their discoveries (or lack thereof) on the case they just started with Stefan. "I'll just stop you two right there since we all know that this could go on for a while with both of you at each other's necks and not giving up until one of you win no matter how long it takes."

Nicola and Levi smirked.

"That's true," Nicola agreed. "We never do know when to stop unless one of us wins."

"Even if it takes hours for one of us to win," Levi remarked.

Zach smiled fondly, though bittersweet as he mentioned his deceased wife. "Monica would be proud of you. Both of you."

Nicola and Levi looked at Zach gratefully.

"Thanks, Dad," Nicola told him.

"Wish Mom could've got to see this place when it was finished," Levi admitted, looking around.

Zach nodded in agreement. "Me too. All we wanted was for the two of you to be safe, ready to defend yourself from whatever could happen. Vampire or not, there's a lot of supernatural out there that could be a danger to both of you."

"We know," Levi agreed, sharing a knowing look with Nicola as they were trying to decipher potentially supernatural threats with Stefan as of now. "We get it, Dad."

Nicola grabbed a water bottle to take a drink, shrugging casually. "Do you know if Stefan's back yet?"

"I think he just came in," Zach answered. "Why?"

Levi shook his head. "No reason. Just family talk. Uh, somewhat teenager to immortal-forever-teenager wise."

Zach's expression tightened slightly. "Right. Well, just... be careful around him, okay? I know he's family, but--"

"We know, Dad," Nicola interrupted gently. "You've warned us about vampires our whole lives. We're not going to let our guard down."

Levi nodded in agreement. "Yeah, don't worry. We can handle ourselves."

Zach sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know you can. I just... I worry. Especially with Stefan back in town. It's bound to stir things up. If Damon comes back, or Kaylin and Nathan..."

Nicola and Levi exchanged a quick glance, silently agreeing not to mention their investigation with Stefan.

"We'll be fine, Dad," Levi assured him. "Promise."

Zach nodded, though he still looked concerned. "Okay. I think you two did good tonight. Give it a rest."

Nicola nodded in agreement. "You got it."

Nicola and Levi walked by Zach, as Nicola placed a kiss on his cheek and Levi patted his shoulder from the other side, both leaving the gym.

-

Living Room

Stefan entered the boarding house, his mind still processing everything he had observed at the Grill. As he walked into the living room, he found Nicola and Levi waiting for him, both looking eager to share what they had learned.

"So, how was your night out with the local beauty queens?" Levi asked with a smirk.

Stefan gave him a look. "Informative. I'm guessing you two have some updates as well?"

Nicola nodded, her expression serious. "I've been digging into the town records like you asked. There's definitely been an uptick in strange occurrences over the past year, beyond just the tragedies we already knew about."

"What kind of occurrences?" Stefan asked, his brow furrowing.

"Unexplained animal attacks, for one," Nicola replied. "Including that couple found dead on the road last."

Stefan's eyes narrowed at the mention of the animal attacks. "That's concerning. Anything else?"

Nicola nodded. "There have been reports of strange noises in the woods, unexplained power outages, and a few instances of people claiming to have seen shadowy figures around town at night."

"Could be nothing," Levi chimed in. "But given everything else going on..."

Stefan nodded grimly. "It's worth looking into. What about you, Levi? Learn anything at the Grill?"

Levi shrugged. "Nothing concrete, or new, given that all of this has been the talk of the town for the past year even without real answers. But Eliza Forbes did tell me about Fell's Church and whispers at night. Something about it being haunted. I don't know if I buy that, but that's what she thought of when I asked about anything strange or mysterious and the like."

Stefan's face fell at the mention of Fell's Church as he remembered his past and all that happened. "Right."

"And Veronica Donovan seemed super tense and secretive," Levi added. "I mean, I get it after leaving juvie and everything, but it just seems to be more. And it's not just Roni. I got the sense that there's a lot more going on beneath the surface with all these kids. They're all on edge, especially the Gilbert sisters and their friends."

"Makes sense, given what they've been through," Nicola mused.

Stefan ran a hand through his hair, processing the information. "I noticed that too when I was with them tonight. There's definitely more going on than just normal teenage drama and trauma."

Levi chuckled lightly at the rhyme. "Drama and trauma."

Stefan and Nicola both gave Levi a look, causing him to deflate.

Stefan sighed. "Especially with Liv Gilbert."

Nicola leaned forward, interest piqued. "Did you sense anything else unusual about her?"

Stefan shook his head. "Nothing concrete. But there's something... different about her. About all of them, really. I can't put my finger on it."

"Did you sense anything usual about the others like with Liv earlier?" Nicola questioned.

Stefan dropped his hand. "Not to the same degree. But there's something about Elena and Alex that I can't quite put my finger on. And it's not just their resemblance to Katherine and Valentina. Or Liv's to Thea. Ashley, all their friends. Something's different about all of them."

"And you're gonna try and figure it out," Nicola stated.

"I can try," Stefan admitted. "Even if we can't, we need to keep a close eye on all of them."

Levi crossed his arms. "So what's our next move? We've got hints of supernatural activity, a group of teenagers who've been through more tragedy than seems natural, and at least one girl who might have some kind of latent power."

"We keep digging," Stefan said firmly. "But carefully. We can't risk exposing ourselves or alerting whatever other forces might be at work here."

Nicola nodded. "I'll keep digging into the town records, see if I can find any patterns or connections between these families and the supernatural. There might not be anything that we can actually prove from records, but it's a good place to start."

Stefan nodded in agreement. "Good idea. And Levi, keep your ear to the ground at school. See if you can pick up on any other unusual behavior or rumors. I don't even care if it sounds ridiculous like Fell's Church being haunted like you heard from Eliza Forbes. Just be careful."

Levi gave a mock salute. "You got it, Uncle Stef. I'll be the picture of subtlety."

Nicola rolled her eyes at her brother's antics. "Just don't overdo it, Levi. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves."

"Speaking of which," Stefan said, his expression growing serious. "We need to be careful around Zach. He's already wary of me being here. If he catches wind of what we're doing..."

"He'll try to stop us," Nicola finished. "Or worse, he might try to take matters into his own hands."

Levi nodded, his usual joviality fading. "Yeah, Dad's not exactly subtle when it comes to protecting us from supernatural threats. If he thinks we're in danger, he won't hesitate to act."

Stefan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Exactly. And that could put all of us at risk, including the Gilberts and their friends. We need to keep this between us for now."

Nicola leaned back, crossing her arms. "Agreed. But Stefan, there's something else we need to consider. If there really is supernatural activity ramping up in Mystic Falls, it's only a matter of time before other vampires start showing up. Including..."

"Damon," Stefan finished grimly. "I know. I've been thinking about that too. If he catches wind of what's happening here, or if he finds out about Elena and Alex's resemblance to Katherine and Valentina, he'll come running. And even if we weren't as close to Thea by any means, if he knows about Liv, especially with her being their sister, it'll just draw his focus more to them, to Ashley, the rest of their family and friends..."

Levi's expression darkened. "And we all know Damon's not exactly known for his subtlety or restraint."

Stefan nodded grimly. "Which is why we need to figure this out quickly. The last thing we need is Damon swooping in and complicating things even further. That's why I'm hoping Nathan and Kaylin get here before he does. They can handle fighting our brother than I can."

Nicola reacted in surprise. "You heard back from them? They're on their way?"

"I haven't heard back, no," Stefan answered. "I don't even know if they got my messages. But I'm hoping they did. Because if he ends up in town, we all know how that's likely to end."

"With a trail of bodies and a whole lot of chaos," Levi answered.

Nicola nodded in agreement. "Not to mention the risk to the others if Damon discovers their potential supernatural connections."

Stefan began pacing, his brow furrowed in thought. "We need to be prepared for that possibility. If Damon shows up before Kaylin and Nathan do, we'll need to act fast to protect everyone."

Nicola sighed. "Well, we've known Nathan since we were young, like you, so we know he'll help, but we've never met Kaylin."

Levi pursed his lips, looking away as if he knew something that Nicola didn't. "Right. Anyway, so..."

Stefan and Nicola frowned at his reaction but let it go.

Stefan looked at Nicola. "You're wondering if Kaylin will help."

"Yeah," Nicola answered.

"If we give her something worth fighting for, she will," Stefan answered. "And there's a million of reasons she can find to fight for with those girls. She likes to look out for girls like her who lost so much."

Nicola frowned. "What do you mean?"

Stefan sighed, his expression softening slightly as he thought about his sister. "Kaylin... she's complicated. She's been through a lot, and it's made her wary of getting involved in other people's problems. But she's also fiercely protective of those she cares about, especially young women who've suffered loss like she has."

Levi nodded, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes. "Yeah, from what I've heard about her, she seems like she'd be a good ally to have."

Nicola raised an eyebrow at her twin's tone but didn't comment on it. Instead, she turned back to Stefan. "So you think she'll help if she sees the Gilbert sisters and their friends as worth protecting?"

Stefan nodded. "I believe so. Especially if she sees the potential supernatural threat to them. Kaylin may try to distance herself from our family drama, but she'll come around when we need her, and she'll find a reason to stay if she sees what we see."

Stefan's words hung in the air for a moment as Nicola and Levi processed their implications. The gravity of the situation was settling in - they weren't just dealing with a few mysterious occurrences, but potentially a supernatural threat that could put the entire town at risk.

Levi broke the silence, his usual joviality subdued. "So, we're really doing this, huh? Playing supernatural detectives while trying to protect a bunch of teenagers who may or may not have latent powers?"

Nicola nodded grimly. "Looks like it. And all while trying to keep our vampire uncle's homicidal brother from showing up and wreaking havoc."

Stefan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know it's a lot to ask of you both. If you want to back out now, I'd understand."

Levi and Nicola exchanged a look, a silent conversation passing between the twins. After a moment, they both turned back to Stefan with determined expressions.

"We're in," Nicola said firmly. "All the way."

Levi nodded in agreement. "Yeah, no way we're backing out now. This is our town too, and these people need protection. Plus, let's be honest, this is way more exciting than normal high school drama. Besides, someone's gotta keep you from brooding yourself into oblivion."

Stefan couldn't help but smile slightly at Levi's attempt to lighten the mood. "I appreciate that. Both of you. Just remember, this isn't a game. Be careful. The risks are very real."

"We know," Nicola assured him. "But we've been training for this our whole lives, even if we didn't know exactly what 'this' would be. We're ready."

"And we've got each other's backs," Levi added. "Always have, always will."

Stefan nodded, feeling a mix of pride and concern for his young niece and nephew. All of them were determined to see this through.

Stefan walked toward the table nearby, picking up a vintage journal, opening it to reveal what looked like a really old picture of Elena and Alex.

The writing under the picture said; Katherine and Valentina 1864

(End of Song)

-~-

Day Three

Day - Mystic Falls High School - History Class

The next day at school in history class.

Matt was sitting in the back of the class, next to the windows.

Kacie and Alex sat together in the front row.

Elena sat two seats behind Kacie.

Stefan sat three seats behind Alex.

Bonnie and Nicola sat together a few rows away, but they weren't friends.

Levi sat behind Nicola.

"The Battle of Willow Creek took place right at the end of the war in our very own Mystic Falls," the teacher told the students. "How many casualties resulted in this battle? Miss Bennett?"

Bonnie looked up. "Um... a lot? I'm not sure. Like a whole lot."

"Cute becomes dumb in an instant, Ms. Bennett," the teacher told her. Bonnie looked down. The teacher looked toward Matt. "Mr. Donovan? Would you like to take this opportunity to overcome your embedded jock stereotype?"

"It's okay, Mr. Tanner, I'm cool with it," Matt told him.

A few students laughed.

Levi smirked.

Kacie laughed silently.

"Miss Lockwood?" Tanner asked. "Surely you'd might want to overcome the Lockwood legacy and say it's not true, right?"

"Can't," Kacie told him, leaning forward against her desk. "Then I'd be lying."

Alex chuckled.

Tanner looked at the Gilbert twins. "Gilberts? Surely you can enlighten us about one of the town's most significantly historical events?"

Elena shook her head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Tanner. I don't know."

Alex shrugged. "Nada."

Tanner's cold gaze swept over Kacie, Elena, Alex, Bonnie and Matt, his words slicing through the air like a blade. "I was willing to be lenient with the five of you last year for obvious reasons. But the personal excuses ended with summer break."

The students sat in stunned silence, unable to believe their teacher would use their painful pasts against them in front of the entire class.

Nicola, Levi, and Stefan exchanged worried glances, their hearts going out to the survivors as they faced another round of public humiliation.

The rest of the class's gazes were pitying, searching for any signs of weakness or vulnerability among the five targeted students, or indifferent.

Matt hung his head in shame and pain.

Elena's eyes filled with hurt and betrayal.

Bonnie flinched as if struck by physical blows, her gaze dropping to the floor.

Alex pretended not to be affected by Tanner's harsh words, but her clenched hands and strained expression proved otherwise.

Kacie's hands trembled with anger and disbelief as she clenched her fists, struggling not to lash out against their teacher, prepared to retort to Tanner's cruelty.

Before she could speak out of turn and risk getting in trouble, Stefan intervened to divert attention away from their painful pasts. "There were 346 casualties. Unless you're counting local civilians."

Nicola and Levi looked at Stefan, unsurprised but approving that he stepped up to defend the sisters and their friends once again.

Kacie glanced back at Stefan, his answer briefly distracting her from her rage. It was enough for Alex to reach over and take Kacie's hand, the two friends helping each other calm down.

Elena looked at Alex, Kacie and Bonnie and Matt in concern before looking at Stefan.

Bonnie looked up at her friends as Elena, Alex and Kacie met her gaze, seeming to calm each other down despite the distance between their seats.

Tanner's gaze flitted between the five trauma survivors to Stefan, frowning. "That's correct. Mr...?"

"Salvatore," Stefan answered evenly.

"Salvatore?" Tanner repeated, looking toward Nicola and Levi.

The rest of the class followed his gaze to Nicola and Levi.

Levi smirked and winked at Tanner, enjoying being in the spotlight.

Uncomfortable with all the attention, Nicola gestured in annoyance as if to ask, what are you looking at?

This caused everyone to look away sheepishly.

Exasperated, Nicola laid her head on her desk.

Levi shook his head at Nicola's aversion to the limelight.

Tanner turned back to Stefan. "Any relation to the original settlers here at Mystic Falls like Nicola and Levi?"

Stefan glanced at his distant niece and nephew before replying. "Distant."

Levi snorted under his breath. "Yeah, okay."

Nicola scoffed a chuckle, raising her head, looking away, shaking her head. She didn't want to draw any more attention to herself, but she found it ironic that they were talking about original Founders while Stefan was the son of one.

A small smile tugged at Stefan's lips at their reactions before he returned his focus to Tanner.

"Well, very good," Tanner told him. "Except, of course, there were no civilian casualties in this battle."

The comment likely would have humiliated any other student.

However, Stefan exposed Tanner's ignorance with one correction that humiliated Tanner in turn for his humiliation of the survivors. "Actually, there were 29, sir. Confederate soldiers, they fired on the church, believing it to be housing weapons. They were wrong. It was a night of great loss. The Founder's archives are, uh, stored in civil hall if you'd like to brush up on your facts... Mr. Tanner."

The rest of the class watched on in shock and disbelief as Stefan confidently corrected their teacher and put him in his place, some students laughing nervously at his boldness.

Nicola and Levi shared a satisfied smirk at Tanner's embarrassment after his lack of sensitivity toward the tragedies that had befallen the survivors and their families the previous year.

Despite harboring some resentment toward Stefan, Matt couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction at seeing Tanner get what he deserved, a slight smirk pulling at his lips.

Elena gazed at Stefan with a mix of admiration and amusement, lips slightly parted as she looked from Stefan to Tanner with wide eyes, hands clasped lightly in front of her.

Alex smiled with pride and gratitude, giving Stefan a thankful nod, which he reciprocated with an acknowledging gesture.

Even Bonnie managed a small, grateful smile amidst her lingering hurt.

Kacie's rage dissipated as she joined in with Stefan's retaliation against Tanner, laughing smugly in vindication, relieved that someone had stood up for them all.

-

Salvatore Boarding House - Living Room

The notes from the piano danced lazily through the air, each one played with precision and skill by Nicola's fingers. She was lost in her own world of music, a place where she could escape the pain of losing her mother. Levi approached her, breaking her concentration.

Levi spoke softly. "Hey. Haven't seen you play the piano since..."

Nicola looked up sadly, nodding. "Since Mom died. Yeah. But I just felt like it."

Levi nodded in understanding. Wanting to cheer her up and distract them from their troubles, he gave her a smile. "You're coming to the bonfire party with me."

Nicola scoffed at the suggestion. "The hell I am. Levi, you know I hate parties."

Despite Levi's words, he clearly had an ulterior motive. "It's in the name of investigating the teens of Mystic Falls."

Nicola chuckled at his attempt. "Nah, it's just your latest scheme to rescue me from 'loner-ville', as you like to call it."

Levi grinned, owning up to his true intentions. "Okay, okay, guilty as charged. But seriously, how do you expect to uncover any secrets if you're hiding away?"

"I have access to some of the Founder's archives, thanks to Stefan," Nicola explained. "I plan on diving into that treasure trove tonight while you two go to the party."

"Or," Levi suggested with a grin. "Plot twist, you could postpone your solo archive party and come be social with me."

"Socializing at a party ranks pretty low on my 'what's fun' list," Nicola quipped.

Levi shot her a playful glare. "You don't even know what you're missing. You're practically a furniture fixture here."

Nicola struck a chord on the piano, using music to convey her uninterested response.

Undeterred, Levi continued to coax her. "Just a few hours. Come on, live a little."

Nicola responded with a gentle note floating in the air, letting the music speak for her.

Levi exhaled heavily. "Seriously, this reclusive hermit life can't be healthy--"

Nicola's reply was a defiant piano note, stronger and longer to drown out Levi's voice, cutting him off.

Levi pressed on. "A little fun never killed anyone."

Another note from Nicola, this one even more stubborn and resolute, silencing him once again.

"Nikki, come on--" Levi began.

But Nicola drowned him out with a note that was louder and held for an eternity.

Levi nodded sarcastically. "Oh, very mature. The height of sophistication, sis."

Nicola responded with the most thunderous note yet.

"Really now," Levi pushed.

Nicola answered with a flurry of chords, each one more resounding than the last.

Levi, at his wit's end, protested. "Let me talk!"

"Nope," Nicola said in a singsong voice, using her chords to do the talking for her.

Levi rolled his eyes. "I'm--"

Nicola played louder, her chuckles echoing like a villain in a cartoon.

Frustrated, Levi threw his hands up. "Every single time--"

Nicola's chords escalated, silencing him mid-sentence once again.

Levi glared daggers at her. "Seriously? Cut it out."

"Nope," Nicola continued to play. "Go enjoy your party and leave me be, Levi."

Levi, at his limit, surrendered. "Fine! Enjoy your lonely existence."

"Enjoy your illusion that being Mr. Popular adds depth to yours," Nicola shot back.

Levi spun on his heel, storming off to the party, leaving Nicola with a satisfied smirk on her face.

Nicola continued to play her music confidently and passionately, reveling in her victory over her twin's attempts to change her mind.

-

Night - Woods - The Party

(Song) Death - White Lies

Stefan arrived at the party, listening for Elena and her friends.

Soon, he heard the voices of Elena, Ashley and Eliza.

"Just admit it, Elena," Ashley told her.

"Oh, okay, so he's a little pretty," Elena confessed sheepishly.

Eliza's giggle seemed to echo within Stefan's vampire hearing. "He has that romance novel stare. 'Stefan looked deep into her eyes, piercing her very soul.'"

Stefan heard the laughter of Elena, Ashley, Alex, Kacie, Eliza and Bonnie, having a slight smile.

Caroline walked up to Stefan, excited to catch him. "Hey! You made it!"

Stefan nodded. "I did."

"Well, let's get you a drink," Caroline told him.

"Well, I'm--" Stefan started.

"Oh, come on," Caroline told him.

Caroline pulled him away.

-

Elsewhere

Elena, Ashley, Alex, Kacie, Eliza and Bonnie were hanging out during the bonfire party.

"So where is he?" Bonnie asked.

"I don't know," Elena replied. "You tell me, you're the psychic one."

Bonnie smiled. "Right, I forgot. Okay, so give me a sec. Grams and Courtney say I have to concentrate."

Kacie raised a finger. "Hold on, we're missing a crystal ball here." Swiveling to snag another beer, she presented it to Bonnie with a flourish. "Ta da!"

Ashley, using inebriation as a band-aid for her woes and mysteries, let out a tipsy giggle.

Alex grinned. "Top-shelf crystal ball, this one."

To emphasize her endorsement, Alex took a swig of her 'crystal ball.'

Eliza's laughter bubbled up.

Elena watched the scene, her head shaking with amused disbelief.

Bonnie's smile faltered as she closed her eyes, gripping Kacie's beer bottle tightly in her hand. Suddenly, her body jolted back violently as if electrocuted, her eyes snapping open with a haunted look.

The other girls looked at her in confusion and concern.

"What is it?" Ashley asked.

Bonnie struggled to catch her breath, her mind reeling with a vision that had just flashed before her. "That was weird." She looked at Kacie. "When I touched you, I saw the crow."

Eliza frowned in confusion. "What crow?"

Alex, Ashley, Elena and Kacie were uneasy.

"The crow that hit Bonnie's windshield," Alex answered. "Scared us half to death yesterday on the way to school."

"That crow died, Bonnie," Elena told her softly.

Pain and guilt washed over Ashley as she looked down at her feet.

Kacie's mind flashed back to the moment after the accident when she saw a crow staring at her, but she had dismissed it as another bird. "Right."

Eliza frowned in concern for her friends, looking at Bonnie. "You saw? What else did you see?"

Bonnie's gaze turned distant as she recounted her vision. "There was fog... and a man."

"A man?" Alex repeated skeptically.

Kacie couldn't help but tease with a nervous chuckle, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. "Maybe you've had one too many drinks, Bennett."

Bonnie forced herself to snap out of it, nodding, despite her evident fear. "You're right. I'm drunk. It's the drinking. There's nothing psychic about it. Yeah?" Unnerved and needing to get some air, she made an excuse to bolt. "Okay, I'm gonna get a refill."

Elena frowned. "Okay?"

As Bonnie walked away, the vision continued to flood her mind, simple but overwhelming and terrifying. She couldn't shake off the feeling that it meant something more sinister than just drunken hallucinations.

The girls watched her go in worry and concern for their friend's well-being.

"Bonnie," Ashley called.

As the girls watched Bonnie's retreating figure with concern, a familiar voice broke through their worried silence.

"Hey," Stefan said, approaching the group with a tentative smile. "Is everything okay?"

Elena turned to face him, relief washing over her features. "Hi. Yeah, we're fine. Bonnie's just... not feeling great."

Kacie, seizing the opportunity, stepped forward. "Actually, Stefan, I wanted to thank you for earlier. With Tanner." She met his gaze, her usual bravado and act of not giving a damn softened by genuine gratitude. "What you did... standing up for us like that. It means a lot."

Stefan nodded, his expression somber. "Of course. What he said was out of line. You've all been through enough without having to deal with that kind of insensitivity."

Alex smiled warmly. "Well, we appreciate it. The only ones that have stood up for us like that lately are Eliza and Caroline."

Eliza was pleased that someone was looking out for her friends. "And it's hard for us to do that all the time when we don't have all the same classes and we're not around each other all the time."

Stefan nodded in understanding, his eyes warm with sympathy. "I can imagine. It's not easy being the new guy, but it's even harder going through what you all have."

Ashley, who had been quiet until now, spoke up softly. "It's nice to have someone else in our corner. Even if you don't really know us yet."

"Well, I'd like to," Stefan said, his gaze moving between the girls before settling on Elena. "If you'll let me."

Elena felt a flutter in her chest at his words, a small smile tugging at her lips. "We'd like that too. You're making quite the impression around here, Mr. Salvatore."

Stefan returned her smile, their gazes lingering for a moment before he looked around at the group. "So, is this the kind of party you usually have around here?"

Kacie snorted. "Oh please, this is tame compared to our usual shenanigans."

Alex laughed. "She's not wrong. Though lately, things have been a bit... subdued."

An awkward silence fell over the group.

Stefan, sensing the shift in mood, quickly changed the subject. "So, where's Liv? I thought she was supposed to come tonight too."

"She's actually here around here somewhere," Elena answered. "Our brother Jeremy's helping us keep an eye on her, but clearly, she doesn't want us to crowd around her all the time. Can't really blame her for that."

Ashley nodded, her expression somber. "Yeah, it's been hard for her to be around crowds lately. Especially at parties like this. But at least we got her to come. That's progress."

"We're trying to help her come out of her shell again," Alex added. "But it's a process."

Stefan nodded in understanding. "Of course. These things take time."

Kacie, eager to lighten the mood again, clapped her hands together. "Alright, enough of this doom and gloom. We came here to party, didn't we? Who's up for a game of 'Never Have I Ever'?"

Eliza grinned teasingly. "Is there anything that you of all people have never done, Kacie Lockwood?"

The girls laughed at Eliza's teasing remark, the tension easing slightly.

Kacie smirked at Eliza's teasing. "Oh, you'd be surprised, Eliza Forbes. I've still got a few secrets up my sleeve."

"Alright, I'm game," Alex said with a grin. "But let's keep it PG-13, okay?" She pointed to Stefan teasingly. "We don't need to scar poor Stefan on his first Mystic Falls party."

Stefan chuckled. "Don't worry about me. I've probably seen more than you'd think."

Elena raised an eyebrow at that, intrigued. "Oh really? Care to elaborate on that, Mr. Mysterious?"

Stefan glanced between the girls, shrugging. "I guess you'll have to play the game and see."

The girls were pleased by the response, impressed, smiling.

"I like this one," Kacie remarked, causing the girls to laugh.

"Nicely done," Ashley agreed.

"At least this is a good but fun way for us to get to know each other better," Eliza pointed out optimistically.

Stefan nodded in agreement. "Exactly."

Stefan doubted that he would find anything useful in the game, but he did want to get to know the girls for more than just his investigation with Nicola and Levi. He thought perhaps maybe they could be true friends.

-

Elsewhere

Roni arrived to the party on her motorcycle, parking and getting off, taking off her helmet and placing it down on the seat, twirling the keys to the bike in her hand as she walked away.

Roni paused when she saw Liv and Jeremy further up ahead, coming to a stop in thought.

Clearly, Roni had heard about Liv's debacle the day before, and she felt guilty for leaving the Grill, and all her friends and Liv, heartbroken from her attempts to push them all away.

Knowing that Liv was a best friend to Roni's little cousin and that she was going through hell, she wanted to check on her, though her teen drama with Jeremy lately made that a bit difficult when Liv's older brother was around.

As their sisters said, Jeremy was helping keep an eye on Liv, attempting to make up for the fact that he wasn't there for Liv yesterday, either. He took a drink of beer.

Liv swooped her hand in to take the beer bottle, but seeing that coming, Jeremy took the beer bottle out of her reach.

Jeremy let out a chuckle. "You're underage."

"High school's the land of underage," Liv retorted. "Yet everyone else here is drinking."

"You're barely past 14," Jeremy reminded her.

"And you're barely past a learner's permit," Liv shot back.

"Nearly driving," Jeremy boasted.

"Nearly there myself," Liv countered.

Jeremy let out a laugh, conceding her point, as he passed the beer bottle to Liv.

Liv grabbed the bottle, taking a swig. "Wow, this is child's play compared to the concoctions Tory, Lindsey, Dawn, Luke, Ryan, and I whipped up."

"You mean the fruit punches with a hint of booze pilfered from my stash and those of Kacie, Eli, Tyler, and Roni," Jeremy retorted.

"Some of those punches packed more than just a hint," Liv replied, feigning innocence.

Jeremy just shook his head with a chuckle, amused by the memory.

Roni watched the interaction between Jeremy and Liv with a mix of amusement and concern. She could see the bond between the siblings, but also sensed the underlying tension - the weight of everything they'd been through.

Taking a deep breath, Roni decided to approach them cautiously.

As she got closer, Jeremy noticed her first, his expression shifting from surprise to wariness and hope. "Roni. I didn't think you'd come tonight."

Liv turned at Jeremy's words, her eyes widening slightly as she saw Roni. For a moment, there was a flicker of the old Liv - excited to see her friend's cousin. But it was quickly replaced by a more reserved expression.

"Hey," Roni said, her voice softer than usual. "I just... wanted to check in. Make sure you're okay, Liv. After yesterday and everything."

Liv hesitated; her tone was flat and lacked conviction as she looked down. "I'm fine."

Roni nodded, not pushing. "Okay. Good. I just... I heard what happened. Wanted to make sure those bitches didn't mess with you too badly."

Jeremy tensed slightly, protective instincts kicking in. "Liv, Alex and Ashley handled it. Stefan Salvatore stepped in to help too."

Roni's eyebrows raised at that. "Stefan Salvatore? Nicola and Levi's cousin?"

Liv shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Yeah. He was... nice. Helped me through a panic attack after."

Roni's expression softened further. "That's... that's good. I'm glad someone was there for you."

An awkward silence fell over the trio. There was so much left unsaid.

Jeremy looked between the two girls, clearly unsure if he should leave them alone or stay as a buffer.

Roni looked at Liv, her voice low. "Look, I know things are complicated right now. With everything that's happened. But I want you to know that if you need anything, I'm here. Even if I've been..."

Roni trailed off, struggling to find the right words.

"Distant?" Liv supplied, a hint of hurt in her tone.

Jeremy scoffed at the understatement after the way Roni brushed him off.

Roni winced but nodded. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that." Her gaze slipped to Jeremy and back to Liv, as she said this to explain to both of them about her actions. "I just... I thought it was for the best. To keep my distance from everyone."

Jeremy frowned. "Roni, you know none of us blame you for what happened."

Roni's expression darkened slightly. "Maybe you should."

Her words didn't seem to apply just to the accident with Daniel.

Liv looked up sharply at that. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Roni shook her head, realizing she'd said too much. "Nothing. Forget it. I just... I'm trying to figure out how to move forward. How to be around everyone again without..."

"Without what?" Jeremy pressed.

Roni sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Without feeling like I'm going to break apart every time I see the pain in your eyes. In all of your eyes."

Liv's expression softened slightly. "Roni, we're all hurting. But pushing us away isn't going to make it better. For any of us."

Roni's expression tightened, a flicker of pain crossing her features before she pushed it down. "Maybe not. But it's all I know how to do right now."

Jeremy took a step closer to Roni, his voice softening. "You don't have to figure it out alone, you know. We're all here for you. If you'd just let us in."

Roni shook her head, taking a step back. "I can't. Not yet. I'm sorry."

Liv watched the exchange with a mix of frustration and understanding. She knew all too well the impulse to push people away when the pain became too much.

"Roni," Liv said softly, causing the older girl to look at her. "I get it. I do."

Roni's expression wavered, a flicker of vulnerability showing through her tough exterior. "Well, I don't. I don't know how to do this. How to be around everyone again without feeling like I'm constantly reminded of everything we've lost."

Jeremy stepped closer, his voice gentle. "None of us do, Roni. We're all just trying to figure it out day by day."

Liv nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and it sucks doing it alone. We miss you. All of us do."

Roni swallowed hard, fighting back the emotion threatening to overwhelm her. "I miss you guys too. More than you know. I just... I don't know if I deserve to be back in your lives after everything."

"That's not for you to decide," Jeremy said firmly. "We want you here, Roni. Despite everything."

Liv reached out hesitantly, touching Roni's arm. "He's right. We all want you back, Roni. Even if it's hard sometimes."

Roni looked at Liv's hand on her arm, then up at the younger girl's face. For a moment, her tough exterior cracked, revealing the pain and longing underneath. But just as quickly, she shuttered it away.

"I... I can't," Roni said, her voice tight with emotion. "Not yet." She took a step back, breaking contact with Liv. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come over here. I just wanted to make sure you were okay after yesterday, Liv. Especially after Matt told me that you asked him about how I was doing last night. And now I have, so..."

Jeremy frowned, frustrated. "Roni, come on. Don't do this."

Roni shook her head, already backing away. "I'm sorry. I can't."

With that, Roni turned and walked away, leaving Jeremy and Liv watching her retreating figure with a mixture of frustration and concern.

Jeremy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, that went about as well as expected."

Liv nodded, her expression somber. "Yeah. But at least she came. That's something, right?"

Jeremy sighed heavily, biting his tongue about his own connection to Roni after she got out of juvie. "Yeah. That's something."

Liv sighed sadly.

As Roni walked away, she wiped the tears that escaped against her will.

Across the way, Roni paused when she saw the crow perched on a tree branch, watching her, seeming to be staring straight through her.

Roni gazed at the crow in thought, managing a chuckle, bitterly. "Checking up on me or keeping me on track? I'll stay on track. Don't worry."

The sight of the crow triggered a flashback of the day that Roni got out of juvie, when she had received her motorcycle as a 'gift'.

-

Flashback 2 - End of Summer

Day - Juvenile Detention Center - Corridor

Roni was marching in line through the juvenile detention center corridor.

A girl blocked her path. "So, you're getting out today, right? That's the rumor." Three girls encircled Roni. "Got nothing to say?"

They seized Roni, pinning her in place, eliciting a faint gasp from her.

"Remember how tough you were in the showers?" the ringleader snarled. "You cost me my time in the yard."

Even with a guard in sight, the girl struck Roni hard in the face, sending her tumbling to the ground. The trio continued their assault, but Roni held back, aware that any resistance would jeopardize her release. Despite her urge to fight back, she refrained, unwilling to extend her time inside.

Approaching guards intervened, detaching the assailants from Roni, albeit after the damage was done.

-

Outside

After enduring the brutal assault, Roni was finally released from the juvenile detention center. As she stepped outside, blinking in the bright sunlight, she felt a strange mixture of relief and trepidation. The world seemed both familiar and alien after her time inside, and she felt a strange mix of emotions. Relief at finally being free, anxiety about facing the world again, and a deep, lingering sadness for all that had been lost.

Roni took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air and the feeling of freedom. Her face was still tender from the beating, but she refused to let it dampen this moment. She had survived, and now she was out. That was what mattered.

A gentle breeze ruffed her hair, and for a moment, Roni closed her eyes, savoring the simple sensation of wind on her face.

As she walked down the steps of the facility, Roni noticed something unexpected in the parking lot. There, gleaming in the sunlight, was a sleek black motorcycle. It was a beautiful machine, all chrome and leather, with a powerful engine that promised speed and freedom. A red ribbon was tied around the handlebars, fluttering in the breeze.

Roni approached the bike cautiously, wondering if this was some kind of mistake. But as she got closer, she noticed the crow perched on the seat of the motorcycle.

Roni approached the motorcycle cautiously, her eyes darting between the sleek machine and the crow perched upon it. The bird's beady eyes seemed to follow her every move, sending a shiver down her spine.

As she drew closer, Roni noticed a small envelope tucked beneath the ribbon on the handlebars. With trembling fingers, she pulled it free and opened it.

Inside was a simple note:

For your fresh start. Ride free, little bird.

- Your friend

Roni scoffed softly in realization, nodding. "Of course."

Roni turned the note over in her hands. There was no signature, no clue as to who this mysterious benefactor might be, but she knew.

Roni glanced around the parking lot, half-expecting to see someone watching her, but it was empty save for a few staff members heading to their cars.

The crow cawed softly, drawing her attention back to the bike. It hopped closer to the handlebars, its dark eyes fixed intently on Roni.

Roni hesitated for a moment, then reached out to touch the motorcycle's sleek frame. The metal was cool beneath her fingertips, solid and real. This wasn't some elaborate hallucination or cruel joke. The bike was here, and it was hers.

"A fresh start, huh?" Roni murmured, more to herself than the crow. She let out a bitter laugh. "As if it's that easy."

The crow tilted its head, as if considering her words. Then, with a sudden flap of its wings, it took off, soaring into the sky and disappearing from view.

Roni watched it go, a strange mix of emotions swirling within her. Part of her wanted to reject the motorcycle, but the other part wanted to keep it. Something that made all the pain and all the trauma a bit bearable, if she had an escape.

Roni stood there for a long moment, her hand still resting on the cool metal of the motorcycle. The weight of everything that had happened, everything she'd been through, pressed down on her shoulders. But as she gazed at the sleek machine before her, something stirred within her chest – a faint flicker of hope, of possibility.

She ran her fingers along the smooth curves of the bike, feeling the power dormant within it. The leather seat was supple under her touch, inviting her to climb on and leave everything behind. The chrome gleamed in the sunlight, reflecting the world around her in distorted, dream-like images.

Roni closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. The scent of leather and motor oil filled her nostrils, mingling with the fresh air – so different from the stale, oppressive atmosphere of the juvenile detention center. When she opened her eyes again, her decision was made; she was keeping it, and her first mission of escape was getting the hell out of here.

Roni swung her leg over the motorcycle, settling into the seat. It felt right, like it was made for her. She found the keys in the ignition and turned them, feeling a thrill as the engine roared to life beneath her.

For a moment, she sat there, letting the vibrations of the idling engine course through her body. It was a physical reminder that she was free, that she could go anywhere she wanted.

Roni glanced back at the juvenile detention center one last time, her expression hardening. Then, with a twist of the throttle, she peeled out of the parking lot, leaving behind a cloud of dust and the echoes of her past.

As she rode, the wind whipped through her hair, carrying away the lingering sense of confinement.

Now that she had her freedom, Roni had a mission. And she didn't care what she had to do in order for it to succeed.

It was worth the risk. It was worth everything to find out what happened.

-

Now

Night - Bonfire Party

Elsewhere in the party, Stefan, Alex, Elena, Ashley, Kacie and Eliza were finishing their game of 'Never Have I Ever'.

As the game of 'Never Have I Ever' wound down, the group was laughing and buzzing with a mix of alcohol and newfound camaraderie. Stefan had surprised them all with his willingness to play along, revealing just enough about himself to intrigue them without giving away too much.

"Okay, last round," Kacie announced, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Never have I ever... kissed someone of the same gender."

Elena rolled her eyes good-naturedly at her bisexual friend. "Really, Kacie? That's your big finale?"

Kacie shrugged, grinning. "Hey, I'm curious. Plus, it's tame enough that our new friend Stefan won't be scandalized."

Stefan chuckled, shaking his head. "Trust me, it takes a lot more than that to scandalize me."

The others laughed, as the girls began to answer Kacie's question by drinking or not.

Eliza took a sip of her drink, smiling sheepishly with a shrug, as the other girls looked at the innocent bubbly friend in shock.

"Wait, what?" Alex exclaimed, her eyes wide. "When did this happen?"

Eliza shrugged, a slight blush in her cheeks. "It was just a dare at Caroline's birthday party last year with some of our Fell cousins. No big deal."

As the laughter died down from Eliza's revelation, Ashley reached for her drink, her hand accidentally brushing against Stefan's. In that split second of contact, a jolt of energy surged through her, like static electricity but more intense. Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, the world around her seemed to blur at the edges.

Stefan glanced at her, his brow furrowing slightly in concern. "You okay?"

Ashley blinked rapidly, shaking off the strange sensation. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little dizzy for a second there."

Elena looked at her sister worriedly. "Maybe you should slow down on the drinks, Ash."

Ashley nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, you're probably right. I think I'll switch to water for a bit."

As the game continued, Ashley couldn't shake the lingering feeling that something significant had just happened. But what exactly, she had no idea, and she wouldn't know until much later.

The game wound down, but the energy between Stefan and Elena remained evident. Their eyes kept meeting, lingering for just a moment too long before darting away.

The other girls exchanged knowing glances, a silent conversation passing between them.

Alex, ever the matchmaker, decided to take matters into her own hands. She stretched dramatically, letting out an exaggerated yawn. "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm suddenly feeling very tired. And thirsty. I think I'm going to grab another drink and then maybe head home."

Kacie, catching on quickly, nodded in agreement. "You know what? I'm feeling pretty parched myself. I'll join you, Alex."

Eliza, not quite as smooth as the others, jumped in a bit too enthusiastically. "Oh! Me too! So thirsty. And tired. Very, very tired and thirsty."

Ashley rolled her eyes at her sister and friends' less-than-subtle attempts to leave Elena and Stefan alone, but she played along. "I should probably get some water anyway. You guys want to come?"

Elena shot her sisters and friends a look that was equal parts exasperation and gratitude. "I'm good, thanks."

Stefan, seeming to catch on to what was happening, smiled slightly. "I'm alright too. But thanks."

Kacie smirked, standing. "We'll be off, causing trouble."

Alex rose to her feet with a mischievous smile. "Always."

Ashley grinned, wrapping her arm around Elena's shoulder. "Stefan, we're giving you our precious treasure. Take really good care of her."

Elena rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile.

Eliza grinned, while Alex smiled and Kacie smirked.

Stefan chuckled, nodding. "You got it."

Ashley and Alex winked at Elena, starting to walk away with Kacie and Eliza.

Alex turned back with a grin. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do, sis!"

Elena felt her cheeks flush as she called after her twin chidingly. "Alex!"

Alex, Ashley, Kacie and Eliza laughed as they dashed off through the party.

Kacie pointed at Alex. "You little matchmaker." Alex grinned. Kacie chuckled. "Though how in the world you can pass someone like him up after what he's done for you and your sisters already, I'll never know."

Alex laughed lightly. "It's not like that. I just want Elena to be happy. And I'm not looking for a guy right now."

Kacie scoffed, looking ahead of them. "Yeah, and you also obviously can't see it when one is looking at you."

Ashley smirked. "Ooh, I know who."

Eliza pointed at Kacie and Ashley with a teasing smile. "Mm, it's obvious."

Kacie, Eliza and Ashley smirked at each other, clinking their beers together.

Alex frowned at them. "What?"

Kacie glanced toward where Tyler and Eli were tossing football back and forth during the party, her brothers having fun.

Meanwhile, Tyler's gaze was constantly drawn toward Alex, which she didn't seem to notice, but Kacie, Eliza, Ashley and Eli sure did.

Kacie shook her head, giving Tyler a weird look, taking a drink.

"What are you guys talking about?" Alex asked, following the girls' gaze.

However, Tyler looked away before Alex saw his gaze on her and returned to playing the game with Eli.

Eliza smiled while Ashley smirked slightly.

As Alex looked over at Tyler and Eli tossing the football, she missed Tyler's gaze but caught Eli's teasing smirk directed at his brother. She frowned slightly, confused by the interaction.

"Okay, seriously, what am I missing here?" Alex asked, turning back to her friends.

Kacie sighed dramatically. "Oh, sweet, oblivious Alex. How can someone so smart be so clueless?"

Ashley chuckled. "It's a gift, really."

Eliza, always the peacemaker, stepped in. "Come on, guys. Maybe we shouldn't meddle."

Kacie raised an eyebrow. "Since when have we ever not meddled in each other's love lives?"

"Fair point," Eliza conceded with a laugh.

Alex looked between her friends, exasperation clear on her face. "Okay, does anyone want to fill me in?"

Kacie smirked, shaking her head. "Oh, nothing. Don't worry your pretty little head about it."

Ashley nudged her sister playfully. "Yeah, Alex. It's not important right now. What is important is that we successfully set up Elena and Stefan for some alone time."

Eliza nodded enthusiastically, her voice so sweet. "They look so cute together! Did you see the way Stefan was looking at her during the game?"

Alex's confusion melted into a smile as she glanced back toward where they'd left Elena and Stefan. "Yeah, I did. It's nice to see her smiling like that again."

Kacie's expression softened slightly. "Yeah. It is. Maybe things can get better around here."

Ashley sniffled, looking down. "Maybe."

Eliza raised her beer bottle, trying to cheer them up. "It can if you believe it can. Here's to wishful thinking."

Alex, Ashley and Kacie smiled softly at Eliza's optimism and positivity, raising their beers as well.

Alex nodded in agreement. "Wishful thinking."

Alex, Ashley, Kacie and Eliza clinked their bottles, drinking.

Tyler caught himself looking at Alex again while still playing catch with Eli.

Eli, of course, had noticed Tyler gazing at Alex and didn't waste a chance to taunt his brother like he did before about Tyler and Roni mutually using each other contently, while Tyler was clearly still crushing on Alex.

Eli couldn't resist the opportunity to tease his brother once again. As Tyler's gaze lingered on Alex for the umpteenth time that night, Eli lobbed the football with extra force, catching Tyler off guard.

"Hey, earth to Tyler!" Eli called out as the ball smacked against Tyler's chest. "You know, if you stare any harder, you might actually burn a hole through Alex's shirt. Though I'm sure you wouldn't mind that, would you?"

Tyler scowled, his cheeks flushing slightly as he caught the ball. "Shut up, Eli. I wasn't staring."

Eli snorted, crossing his arms with a smirk. "Oh, please, you've been making googly eyes at her all night. It's actually kind of pathetic. What happened to Mr. 'I don't do relationships'? That's why you and Roni Donovan agreed to only date for appearances and reputation, right? That and the occasional hookup."

Tyler stared Eli down, acting unfazed, tossing the ball to his brother. "Knock it off, Eli."

But Eli was just getting started. He tossed the football from hand to hand, circling his brother like a shark that had scented blood in the water. "I mean, I get it. Alex Gilbert is definitely easy on the eyes. Those long legs, that silky hair, those big brown eyes..." He whistled low. "But come on, man. You're about as subtle as a freight train."

Tyler's jaw clenched. "I said knock it off, Eli. You don't know what you're talking about."

Eli's smirk widened, sensing he'd struck a nerve. "Oh, I think I do. You've had a thing for Alex since we were kids. But you were too chicken to do anything about it, so you settled for hooking up with Roni and acting like a player. And now that Stefan's in town and catching everyone's eye, you're getting all jealous and territorial."

Tyler's eyes flashed. "You're crossing a line, little brother."

But Eli couldn't resist pushing further. "What's the matter, Ty? Afraid the new guy's going to sweep Alex off her feet before you work up the courage to actually talk to her? Or are you just mad that for once, you're not the star of the town? It's actually kind of sad, watching you pretend you don't care when we all know you're head over heels."

Tyler was used to the taunting, trying to let it roll off his back before it could make him mad. "You done?"

Eli held up his hands in mock surrender, but his eyes gleamed with mischief. "Hey, I'm just calling it like I see it. But by all means, keep pretending. I'm sure Alex will eventually notice you."

Tyler's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I said, are you done?"

Eli opened his mouth to deliver another witty retort, but something in Tyler's expression made him pause. There was a tension in his brother's jaw, a barely contained anger simmering just beneath the surface. Eli had seen that look before, and it never ended well.

Realizing he may have pushed too far, Eli took a step back, holding up his hands in surrender, tossing the ball to Tyler. "Alright, alright. I'm done. No need to go all Hulk on me."

Tyler took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax. "Good. Now can we just play some football without you running your mouth?"

Eli nodded, catching the ball as Tyler tossed it to him. "Sure thing, bro. But you know I'm right."

Tyler rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Just throw the ball."

Tyler had always had issues with his anger, more so than even Kacie or Eli, but he was working on controlling it. He wanted to be able to control his anger before he ever actually asked Alex out, as it wouldn't be some hookup or fling to him. It would be something real, something he hadn't ever had.

Tyler knew Alex deserved better than this version of himself right now, and before he made a move, he wanted to make sure that he could get there.

Levi had been drinking at the side of the party when he heard Eli and Tyler's exchange about Alex, seeing their aggression.

It wasn't a surprise to him, as Levi was friends with both Lockwood brothers on the football team and he had seen how they could react. He was eavesdropping and keeping an eye on the Gilbert Girls and their friends for the investigation with Nicola and Stefan, but he hadn't expected to hear about Tyler's crush on Alex.

Even if it wasn't related to the supernatural investigation, Levi couldn't help but be entertained by the tiny bits of teen drama he saw stirring in the midst of the friend group and their families.

Levi walked over to the Lockwood brothers, his arrival distracting Eli and Tyler and easing the tension between them as if it never happened. "Hey, guys."

"Levi," Eli replied. "What's up?"

Levi nodded to the football. "Mind if I join in? Bored out of my mind here with nothing to do."

Tyler shrugged. "Not at all, if it keeps Eli from running his mouth."

Eli gave Tyler a small, sheepish grin in return.

Levi grinned as he joined Tyler and Eli's game of catch. "So, what'd I miss? Anything exciting?"

Tyler shot Eli a warning look before answering casually. "Nah, just tossing the ball around."

Eli smirked, unable to resist one last jab. "Oh, you know, the usual. Tyler pining from afar, me calling him out on it."

Tyler's jaw clenched, but he forced a tight smile. "Ignore him. He thinks he's funny."

Levi raised an eyebrow, glancing between the brothers. He could sense the underlying tension, but decided not to push it. Instead, the boys just continued their game.

The tension between the brothers seemed to ease with Levi's presence, though Tyler still glanced occasionally in Alex's direction.

Levi knew that he could not ask Eli and Tyler questions about the mysteries of Mystic Falls and the tragedies that befell their family and friends. Knowing their anger, it would make them snap, and that was one thing he did not want to happen. So instead he just enjoyed playing catch with his friends as they let the tensions of the day drift away.

Meanwhile, Elena and Stefan were left alone by the fire. An awkward silence fell between them for a moment before Elena broke it with a soft laugh.

"Subtle, aren't they?" Elena said, nodding in the direction her sisters and friends had gone.

Stefan chuckled. "About as subtle as a brick through a window. But I can't say I mind the company."

Elena felt her cheeks warm slightly at his words. "Neither can I." She looked toward the bridge nearby, nodding toward it. "Do you want to take a walk?"

Stefan nodded. "I'd love that."

Stefan stood, offering Elena a hand. Elena smiled, taking his hand and allowing him to help her stand. Together, they walked along the bridge by the party.

"You know, you're kind of the talk of the town," Elena told him.

"Am I?" Stefan asked.

"Mm-hmm," Elena answered. "Mysterious new guy, oh, yeah."

(End of Song)

"Well, you have the mysterious thing going, too," Stefan told her, gently easing into a question to see if Elena knew anymore than she did. "Twinged in sadness. Like most of this town lately."

Elena looked down. "Yeah."

"I don't mean to pry," Stefan said. "Just... after everything with Liv, and then in Tanner's class today, I was curious. I don't know much about what I'm up against when helping you and your friends and sisters."

"And we appreciate it," Elena told him. "Truly." She sighed, looking down. "But, uh... you don't want to know. It's... it's not exactly party chit-chat."

"Well, I've never really been very good at, uh, chit-chat," Stefan told her.

Elena hesitated. "Last spring... my parents' car drove off of a bridge into the lake. We had an older sister with us in there, Gabriella. She, Alex and I were in the backseat. Alex and I... we survived, but our parents and Gabby didn't. So that's my story. Everyone else has one. All our friends, they've been through so much. It's just... a lot."

Stefan stopped walking.

Elena stopped, turning to face him.

"You won't be sad forever, Elena," Stefan told her.

Elena nodded gratefully.

-

Elsewhere

Roni stood alone in the party, when Ashley was walking along and saw her, freezing.

Ashley had tried to talk to Roni when she was in juvie, any way she could have, but Roni always ignored her attempts.

The tension was evident between them, both knowing that there was more to the story about the Davis accident last year that killed Daniel.

Ashley's heart raced as she locked eyes with Roni across the party. The cacophony of music and laughter faded into the background as Ashley took a hesitant step forward, her breath catching in her throat. This was the closest she'd been to Roni since that fateful night almost a year ago.

Ashley hesitated for a moment, knowing how badly their last encounter had gone. But the guilt that had been gnawing at her for months pushed her forward. She had to try one more time to make things right.

"Roni," Ashley called out softly, her voice barely audible above the din of the party. "Can we talk? Please?"

Roni's expression hardened, her dark eyes flashing with a mixture of pain and anger. "I don't think we have anything to say to each other."

Ashley flinched at the coldness in Roni's voice, but pressed on. "Please, Roni. I know you're angry, and you have every right to be. But I need you to know how sorry I am. For everything."

Roni let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "Sorry? You think 'sorry' fixes anything? You ruined my life, Ashley. You stood by and watched as your parents threw me to the wolves, let me take the fall for something that wasn't even my fault. Do you have any idea what I went through in juvie because of you?"

Ashley flinched at Roni's harsh words, but she pressed on, her voice trembling. "I know, Roni. And I hate myself every day for not speaking up sooner. But you have to believe me, I tried to make it right. I begged my parents to tell the truth, I tried to visit you, to write to you-"

"Oh, please," Roni scoffed, her eyes flashing with anger. "A few half-hearted attempts to ease your guilty conscience don't make up for months of what I went through."

Ashley sniffled. "I never meant for any of this to happen. You have to believe me."

Roni's eyes flashed dangerously. "Believe you? Why should I believe anything you say? You're the reason I spent months in juvie. The reason everyone in this town looks at me like I'm some kind of monster." Her voice rose as she continued, drawing curious glances from nearby partygoers. "Do you have any idea what it was like in there? Locked up like an animal, away from my family, my friends, my life? And for what? An accident that wasn't even my fault. You know how hard it was for my mother and my brother to abandon me? Kelly I could care less about because she was never there to begin with, but Matt? He left me in there and let me spiral, after we already lost Zyair, Mikey and Aunt Amelia. And Tory? You have any idea how hard it was for us to know that she couldn't be with us because of what happened?"

Ashley's eyes filled with tears as Roni's words hit her like physical blows. "I know, Roni. And I'm so, so sorry. If I could go back and change things, I would. But I can't. All I can do now is try to make it right."

Roni laughed bitterly. "Make it right? How exactly do you plan to do that, Ashley? You can't undo what happened. You can't give me back the months I lost, the friendships that were destroyed, my reputation that was ruined, my family that was torn apart. Or make people stop looking at me like I'm a killer."

Ashley took a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know I can't change the past. But I can tell the truth now. I can clear your name, make sure everyone knows what really happened that night."

For a moment, Roni's hard expression faltered, surprise and a flicker of hope crossing her features. But just as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared as he walls slammed down once again.

Roni's expression hardened once again, her eyes blazing with a mixture of pain and anger. "Even if you did clear my name, Ashley, it wouldn't change anything. It's too late. The damage is already done." She took a step closer to Ashley, her voice low and intense. "Do you have any understand the depth of what happened to Tory because of all this? My little cousin, who had already lost everything - her mom, her brothers, her home - she was ripped away from the only family she had left because of my arrest." Her voice cracked slightly as she continued, the raw emotion bleeding through her tough exterior. "Tory was supposed to come live with us after the fire. We were going to take care of her, give her a home, keep what was left of our family together. But then the accident happened, and I got arrested, and suddenly she was labeled as 'at risk' and shipped off to foster care."

Ashley flinched at the pain in Roni's voice, her own guilt intensifying. "I didn't know... I'm so sorry, Roni. I had no idea it affected Tory like that too."

Roni scoffed. "Of course you didn't know. You were too busy protecting yourself and your perfect little family to care about what happened to mine." She shook her head, her voice taking on a haunted quality as she continued. "Do you know what it's like to watch your little cousin be ripped away from everything she knows and loves? To see the fear and confusion in her eyes as she's told she can't stay with us anymore because I'm a 'bad influence'?" Her fists clenched at her sides, her knuckles turning white. "Tory lost everything in that fire. Aunt Amelia, Zy and Mikey... gone in an instant. And then, just when she needed us most, when she needed stability and love and family, they took her away because of what happened."

Ashley's eyes filled with tears as she listened to Roni's pain-filled words. She had known that Tory was sent away after Roni's arrest, but hearing the full impact of it now was devastating.

"Roni, I-" Ashley started.

Roni cut her off, snapping as her voice trembled with barely contained emotion. "No, you don't get to speak right now. You need to hear this. Tory bounced from home to home. And every time she ran away, every time she tried to come back to Mystic Falls, to me, to Matt, to our friends - they just sent her further away. Do you have any idea what that does to a kid? To lose everything and then be constantly uprooted, never allowed to settle or heal?"

Ashley shook her head mutely, tears streaming down her face as she listened to Roni's anguished words. The full weight of the consequences of that night, of her silence, crashed down upon her.

Roni's voice cracked as she continued. "And through it all, even when she was hurting and scared and alone, Tory still tried to be there for me. She'd sneak away to visit me in juvie, knowing full well she'd be caught and sent away again. My little cousin, who'd already lost so much, was willing to sacrifice what little stability she had left just to make sure I was okay."

Ashley's voice was barely a whisper. "I had no idea it was that bad for her. For either of you. Roni, I'm so-"

"Don't," Roni cut her off sharply. "Don't you dare." Her voice cracked as she continued, the pain and anger in her eyes giving way to a deep sadness. "And the worst part? Tory blamed herself. She thought it was her fault that she couldn't stay with us, that she wasn't good enough or strong enough to handle what happened. Can you imagine what that does to a kid? To think they're the reason their family is being torn apart even more?"

Ashley felt like she was going to be sick, the weight of the consequences of her actions hitting her full force. "Roni, I had no idea. I swear, if I had known-"

"You would have what?" Roni interrupted, her voice bitter. "Spoken up sooner? Told the truth? Don't pretend like you care now, Ashley. It's too late for that."

Ashley reached out, her hand trembling. "Please, Roni."

Roni jerked away from Ashley's outstretched hand, her eyes flashing with anger. "Don't touch me. You don't get to comfort me or ask for forgiveness. Not after everything that's happened."

Ashley flinched, her hand falling limply to her side. "I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, Roni. But please, let me try to make this right. I'll go to the police, I'll tell them everything. I'll make sure everyone knows the truth about what happened that night."

Roni laughed bitterly. "And what good would that do now? My record is sealed, but the damage is done. This town has already decided I'm guilty. No amount of truth-telling is going to change that."

"But it could help," Ashley pleaded. "It could clear your name, at least officially. Maybe it could even help bring Tory home."

"Stop," Roni cut her off sharply. "Just stop. You can't fix this, Ashley. You can't undo the damage that's been done." Her eyes flashed with a mixture of pain and anger as she stared Ashley down. "You want to make things right? You really want to try and fix the damage you've caused?" She let out a bitter laugh. "Well, if that's the case, you might want to start with Bonnie and Lindsey. After all, you destroyed their lives first."

Ashley flinched as if she'd been slapped, her face paling at the mention of Bonnie and Lindsey. "What... what do you mean?"

Roni's expression darkened, her voice low and intense. "Don't play dumb, Ashley. You know exactly what I'm talking about. Or have you conveniently forgotten about what happened to Daniel Davis?"

Ashley's breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening with a mixture of guilt and fear. "I... I didn't..."

Roni's eyes flashed dangerously as she continued, her voice low and intense. "Didn't mean for what, Ashley? Didn't mean for Daniel to die? Didn't mean for Lindsey to have a breakdown and end up in a mental hospital? Didn't mean for Bonnie to lose her uncle and her cousin in one fell swoop?" She shook her head, disgust evident in her expression. "You stood by and watched as they tore that family apart. You let me take the fall for something that wasn't even my fault and caused my family to be torn apart, too."

Ashley felt like the ground was crumbling beneath her feet. She had tried so hard to push down the memories of that night, to convince herself that she wasn't responsible. But hearing Roni lay it all out like this...

"I never meant for any of that to happen," Ashley whispered, her voice trembling. "You have to believe me. And I wanted to go back. I wanted to make sure the other person in the car was okay. But you and Dawn convinced me not to. We could have saved him, but you wanted to leave."

Roni's eyes flashed with anger at Ashley's words. "Don't you dare try to put this on me. You were the one driving that night, Ashley. You were the one who hit Daniel's car. Dawn and I might have convinced you to leave, but we weren't the ones behind the wheel."

Ashley flinched, tears streaming down her face. "I know. God, I know. And I hate myself every day for it. But I was scared and drunk and-"

"And what?" Roni interrupted harshly. "You thought it would just go away if you ignored it? That Daniel would magically be okay if you just pretended it never happened?"

Ashley shook her head desperately. "No, of course not. I wanted to go back, to check on him, to call for help. But you and Dawn said-"

"I know what we said," Roni cut her off. "But we were scared teenagers who didn't know any better. And we didn't know it was Daniel in the other car or that he was dying. And you... you knew exactly what you were doing when you let me take the fall for it. When you stood by and watched as your parents threw me under the bus to protect their precious daughter."

Ashley's voice cracked. "I was terrified, Roni. My parents found out and they said if I came forward, it would ruin everything - my future, our family's reputation. They said it was better to let you take the blame since you already had a record." She shook her head, disgust evident in her voice. "I know it was wrong and awful, and I hate myself for going along with it. But I was weak and scared and..."

"And selfish," Roni finished coldly. "You were selfish, Ashley. You chose to protect yourself instead of doing the right thing. And because of that, Daniel is dead, Lindsey is in a mental hospital, Bonnie lost half her family, and I spent months in juvie for something that you and I both did, and Tory was torn from my family again and again, and she's out there, alone, without anyone to protect her and take care of her like her own family and her friends can. I know I should've ended up in juvie, but you should have to. You deserved to pay for it just as much as I did."

Ashley flinched at Roni's harsh words, knowing they were true. "You're right. I was selfish and cowardly. And I'll regret it for the rest of my life. But please, Roni, let me try to make it right now. It's not too late to tell the truth."

Roni laughed bitterly. "Make it right? How exactly do you plan to do that, Ashley? You can't bring Daniel back. You can't undo the trauma Lindsey went through. You can't give me back the months I lost in juvie or fix my reputation in this town." Her voice cracked slightly as she continued. "And you sure as hell can't make up for what happened to Tory because of all this."

Ashley's voice cracked as she pleaded. "I know I can't change the past. But I can come clean now. I can tell everyone the truth about what really happened that night."

Roni's eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and pain as she stared Ashley down.

"Don't bother," Roni spat, her voice low and intense. "It's too late for that now. The damage is already done." She took a step closer to Ashley, her fists clenched at her sides. "Do you have any idea what it's like to live with this every day? To walk down the street and see people whispering, pointing, judging me for something I didn't even do? To know that no matter what I do, no matter how hard I try to move on and be better, I'll always be 'that girl' in this town? The one who killed Daniel Davis and got away with it?"

Ashley flinched at Roni's words, tears streaming down her face. "Roni, please-"

Roni took a step closer to Ashley, her voice low and intense. "You want to know what the truth will do now? It'll tear this town apart. It'll destroy your family's precious reputation. It'll make everyone question everything they thought they knew about that night." Her eyes bored into Ashley's as she continued. "And yeah, maybe it'll clear my name officially. But it won't erase the months I spent in juvie. It won't undo the nightmares, the panic attacks, the way everyone in this town looks at me like I'm some kind of monster or the things that Tory, Lindsey and Bonnie went through because of this. Because of us."

Ashley stood there, stunned into silence by Roni's words. The full weight of her actions, of her silence, crashed down upon her. She had known it was bad, but hearing the full extent of the damage she had caused was devastating.

"I..." Ashley started, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so sorry, Roni. For everything. I know it doesn't change anything, but I truly am sorry. I was selfish and scared and I made the worst mistake of my life. And I've been trying to figure out how to make it right ever since."

Roni's eyes flashed with a mixture of pain and anger. "Sorry doesn't fix this, Ashley. Sorry doesn't bring Daniel back or heal Lindsey or undo what Tory's been through. Sorry doesn't erase the hell I went through in juvie or the way this town looks at me now. And you can't make this right."

Ashley nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I know. You're right. I can't undo what's been done. But I can tell the truth, face the consequences. It's what I should have done from the start."

Roni's eyes flashed dangerously, done with this conversation. "You don't get to do that. You don't get to clear your conscience and play the martyr now, not after everything that's happened. Just stop, Ashley. I don't want to hear it anymore. Your guilty conscience isn't my problem. You want to make things right? Stay the hell away from me. And stay away from Tory and Matt. They're the only family I have left that matter, and I won't have you ruining that again. Even if Tor can't be here with us now because of you. We're done. Leave it at that."

Before Ashley could plead her case again, Roni turned around and stormed away, leaving Ashley devastated and alone.

As Roni stormed away, Ashley stood rooted to the spot, tears streaming down her face. The weight of everything that had happened - the accident, the cover-up, the consequences - crashed down on her all at once. She felt like she couldn't breathe, like the walls of the party were closing in around her.

Suddenly, a hand touched her shoulder gently. Ashley whirled around to see Alex standing there, concern etched on her face.

Alex frowned in worry. "Ash? What's wrong? What happened?"

Ashley opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, a choked sob escaped her throat as she collapsed into her sister's arms.

Alex held Ashley tightly, stroking her hair as she cried. "Shh, it's okay. I've got you. Let's get you out of here."

Gently, Alex guided Ashley away from the party, finding a quiet spot away from prying eyes. As they walked, Alex glanced back to see Roni stalking off in the opposite direction, her body language tense and angry. Alex's brow furrowed with concern and confusion, wondering what had transpired between her sister and Roni.

Once they were alone, Alex helped Ashley sit down on a fallen log, keeping an arm around her shoulders. "Ash, talk to me. What happened with Roni?"

Ashley took a shuddering breath, wiping at her tears. "I... I tried to apologize. To make things right. But I've ruined everything, Alex. And I don't know how to fix it."

Alex frowned, rubbing Ashley's back soothingly. "What do you mean? What happened?"

Ashley looked up at her sister, her eyes filled with guilt and anguish, at a loss for words. She took a deep breath, too panicked to be able to explain.

Noticing this, Alex took Ashley in her arms, holding her and rocking her gently. "Shh, shh, it's okay. You don't have to tell me right now, okay? Just breathe. I'm here."

Ashley clung to Alex, unable to calm down enough to tell her everything yet. But she was determined to tell her sisters first, when she was able to.

She just had no idea when she could.

-

Elsewhere (Party)

Amidst the lively party atmosphere, Liv stood sipping from Jeremy's beer bottle.

Across the party, Eli watched Liv with a smirk on his lips. He made his way through the crowd of football players around him towards her. "Never did I think that I would see Little Liv Gilbert at one of these parties."

Liv rolled her eyes and took another swig of beer as she retorted. "You can take that 'Little Liv' crap and shove it up your ass."

Eli chuckled in amusement, impressed with Liv's feisty attitude. "I see you're being overly bitchy because you're drunk."

"Or maybe I'm just naturally bitchy," Liv countered. "Did you think of that?"

Eli smirked. "Now I definitely am."

"Well, better late than never," Liv quipped. "What do you want, Eli?"

"Nothing," Eli replied with a shrug. "Just find it kinda funny that you're here."

Liv nodded sarcastically. "Mm. What's a junior like you doing talking to a lowly freshman like me?"

"Well, if we're getting technical, our siblings have some complicated connections," Eli pointed out. "Your sister is best friends with my sister. My brother has a crush on your sister and uses your brother's crush to get over her. That said crush is also the sister to my brother's best friend and the cousin to one of your best friends, who also happens to be using my brother while he uses her, so it's a win-win situation for them. So it's more than just a casual acquaintance between you and me in this tangled web."

Despite the convoluted explanation regarding Alex, Kacie, Tyler, Roni and Jeremy (with a hint of Matt and Tory), Liv understood it perfectly and couldn't help but laugh. "Wow, who knew we were practically family?"

Eli grinned in response and glanced at Liv's beer bottle, which was almost empty. "Can I get you another drink?"

Liv looked at her beer bottle before draining the rest of it, tossing it down, looking at Eli with a mischievous grin, nodding. "That could definitely help."

Eli flashed Liv a small smile, offering her his arm. "Milady."

Liv rolled her eyes skeptically but allowed Eli to take her arm as he led her toward the drinks.

Meanwhile, Levi was grabbing a drink from the keg when he saw Eli and Liv about to get another drink together. He raised an eyebrow curiously as he never would have imagined them as friends or even acquaintances.

As Levi watched Eli and Liv approach the drinks, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in curiosity. The unlikely pair made for an interesting sight - Eli Lockwood, known for his cocky attitude and party boy reputation, escorting Liv Gilbert, the quiet freshman who rarely made appearances at these kinds of events.

Levi decided to linger near the drinks, his curiosity getting the better of him. As Eli and Liv got closer, he could hear snippets of their conversation.

"So, Little Liv," Eli was saying with a smirk. "What's your poison? Beer? Vodka? Or are you more of a wine cooler kind of girl?"

Liv rolled her eyes at the nickname. "First of all, drop the 'Little Liv' crap. And second, I'll take whatever's strongest. I'm not here to snooze. I'm here to drink away all my problems and then crash at the end of the night."

Eli grabbed two red cups and started filling them from the keg. "Fine choice, Gilbert. Fine choice. What brings you out of hibernation and to this fine soiree?"

Liv accepted the cup Eli handed her. "My sisters wouldn't stop bugging me to come. Figured it was easier to just show up for a bit than listen to them nag."

Eli smirked. "Ah yes, the Gilbert sister guilt trip. Tyler's told me all about that from Alex."

"Don't remind me," Liv groaned. "It's bad enough having one older sister, let alone four."

Liv looked down as she swallowed, refusing to acknowledge that she only had three sisters left after the death of Gabriella.

Eli noticed Liv's sudden change in demeanor and decided to lighten the mood. "Hey, at least you've got built-in wingwomen. I bet they could talk you up to any guy you're interested in."

Liv scoffed, taking a long swig of her drink. "Yeah, because that's exactly what I need right now. More boy drama."

Eli raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Sounds like there's a story there."

Liv shook her head. "Not one I'm willing to share with you, Lockwood."

"Fair enough," Eli conceded. "But if you ever want to talk..."

Liv gave him a skeptical look. "Since when are you the caring and sharing type?"

Eli shrugged. "Maybe I'm turning over a new leaf. Or maybe I just want to collect some juicy gossip."

Liv snorted.

Levi watched with interest as Eli and Liv continued talking and drinking together. He was surprised to see Liv cautiously opening up to Eli, given her usual reserved demeanor at school.

Levi also noticed how Eli's usual cocky attitude softened slightly around Liv, his smirk taking on a more playful quality.

As the conversation continued, Levi picked up on an undercurrent of sadness in Liv's voice when she mentioned her sisters. There was clearly more going on beneath the surface with the youngest Gilbert sister.

Levi made a mental note to relay this interaction to Stefan and Nicola.

As Levi observed Eli and Liv's interaction, he couldn't help but notice the subtle shifts in their dynamic. Eli's usual bravado seemed to soften slightly around Liv, his smirk taking on a more playful quality. And Liv, despite her initial reluctance, appeared to be cautiously opening up to the older Lockwood brother.

Their conversation drifted in and out of Levi's hearing range as other partygoers moved around the drink table. But he caught snippets here and there that piqued his interest.

"...still can't believe you actually showed up," Eli was saying, a hint of admiration in his voice.

Liv shrugged, taking another sip of her drink. "Yeah, well, sometimes you just need to get out, you know? Even if it means dealing with..."

Liv gestured vaguely at the party around them.

Eli nodded in acknowledgement, sighing. "Yeah, I heard about yesterday. At school."

Liv's face fell, looking down. "Yeah. Didn't everyone? Is that why you came to talk to me? To check on the freak to see if she lost her mind?"

Eli's expression softened, surprising Liv. "Hey, no. That's not it at all. I just... I know what it's like to have everyone talking about you, judging you for things they don't understand."

Liv raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Oh, really? And what could the great Eli Lockwood possibly know about that?"

Eli chuckled humorlessly. "You'd be surprised. Let's just say, being a Lockwood comes with its own set of expectations and judgments. Especially when you're not living up to the family name."

Liv studied Eli's face, seeing a flicker of vulnerability that she'd never noticed before. "I guess we all have our crosses to bear, huh?"

Eli nodded, raising his cup in a mock toast. "To being misunderstood outcasts."

Liv clinked her cup against Eli's as the two took a drink.

Liv studied Eli for a moment, as if seeing him in a new light. "I guess I never really thought about it like that. About you being an outcast."

Eli shrugged, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, well, don't go spreading it around. I've got a reputation to maintain."

Liv rolled her eyes but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. Wouldn't want anyone to know that Eli Lockwood actually has feelings."

Eli chuckled. "Appreciate it. Though I'm not sure anyone would believe you anyway."

Liv took another sip of her drink, her expression growing more serious. "So... what's your deal then? Why do you act like such an ass if it's not who you really are?"

Eli hesitated for a moment, as if debating how much to reveal. Finally, he sighed. "It's easier, you know? To be the guy everyone expects me to be. The cocky jock, the troublemaker, the Lockwood spare." He shrugged. "At least then, when I inevitably screw up, no one's surprised."

Liv nodded slowly, understanding dawning in her eyes. "I get that. It's like... if you never let anyone see the real you, they can't hurt you."

Eli's eyes widened slightly, surprised by Liv's insight. "Yeah, exactly. How did you..."

Liv gave a small, sad smile. "Let's just say I've got some experience with putting up walls."

Eli studied her for a moment, his usual cocky demeanor softening. "I guess we've all got our masks, huh?"

Liv nodded, taking another sip of her drink. "Some are just better at hiding behind them than others."

A comfortable silence fell between them as they both contemplated their unexpected moment of connection.

Eli broke the silence first, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "Hey, Liv? For what it's worth, I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. Those girls were way out of line."

Liv tensed slightly, her guard going back up. "It's fine. I'm used to it."

Eli shook his head. "No, it's not fine. You shouldn't have to be used to that kind of crap."

Liv studied Eli's face, searching for any sign of insincerity. Finding none, she sighed. "Thanks. I appreciate that."

Eli nodded, then smirked slightly, trying to lighten the mood. "Besides, if anyone's gonna give you a hard time, it should be me. Can't have some random girls stealing my thunder."

Liv rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of amusement in her expression. "Whatever you say, Lockwood."

Eli looked down. "I get it, though. People can be real assholes sometimes. And if anyone talked to me like that, especially about Dawn and Aunt Susan..." Liv looked at Eli in sympathy, as Eli took a deep breath. "I would've done the same thing as you."

Liv nodded in understanding. "I know you would've. If anyone has a harder time controlling their rage than me, it's you, Kacie and Tyler."

Eli chuckled. "Yeah, you're right. Kacie told me that she had to follow you girls home yesterday just to make sure she didn't hunt those bitches down and make them pay herself, so she didn't get in trouble at home."

Eli's gaze glazed over at the mention of home, but he kept his true emotions concealed from Liv on the matter.

Liv looked thoughtful. "Yeah. Kacie was always good with me and my friends, despite the fact she may have more of a bitchy mask than you or me sometimes."

Eli smirked slightly. "More than sometimes."

Liv smiled a bit, nodding. "More than sometimes."

Eli paused, seeming to debate whether to continue. "Look, I know we're not exactly friends or anything, but if you ever need someone to talk to... or just someone to sit with you in silence... I'm around."

Liv looked at Eli in surprise; her paranoia once again had her searching his face for insincerity, but once again, she found only sincerity.

Liv gave Eli a small, grateful smile. "I... thanks, Eli. That actually means a lot. I'm not one for talking these days, but... I like to sit in silence."

Eli nodded, a hint of understanding in his eyes. "Yeah, sometimes silence is better than trying to find the right words." He paused, then added with a smirk. "Plus, it gives me a break from hearing my own voice."

Liv rolled her eyes, but there was a ghost of a smile on her lips. "I didn't think that was possible."

Eli chuckled. "What can I say? I'm full of surprises."

As their conversation continued, Levi watched with growing interest. The dynamic between Eli and Liv was unexpected, to say the least. He'd known Eli as the cocky, sometimes abrasive Lockwood brother, always ready with a snarky comment or a flirtatious remark. But here, talking with Liv, Eli seemed... different. More genuine, perhaps.

And Liv, who Levi had only known as the youngest Gilbert, seemed to come into more of her own, even if she wasn't truly herself. Her mask still held tight, despite her guard lowering slightly. She was nowhere near ready to let those come crashing down and let everything back in... and release who she truly was, as she didn't know who that was anymore.

Levi made mental notes of these observations, knowing they could potentially be relevant to Stefan and Nicola during the trio's investigation.

-

Bridge By the PartyS

Stefan and Elena were on the bridge.

Stefan's gaze drifted towards Matt, Caroline, Eliza, and Bonnie who stood a few yards away. His eyes rested on each of them for a moment before he spoke. "I like Bonnie. She seems like a good friend."

"Best friend in the world," Elena chimed in with a smile.

"And Eliza, she's so kind, optimistic," Stefan continued. "I can see how she tries to keep the light alive for you and the girls."

Elena nodded in agreement, her smile widening. "Eliza has been our guiding light through all of this chaos. Even when she couldn't solve all our problems, she was always there to listen and provide distractions when we needed them. Sometimes, we could just sit with her and cry without saying a word, and she would know exactly what to do or say, or sometimes just be there for us. She has a way of understanding without us even having to say anything. She takes care of everyone and everything around her, despite being busy with all of us this past year. And she still manages to help Caroline with her schemes to be the best version of herself, always putting her sister first. I don't know how she manages it all."

Stefan nodded solemnly, understanding the toll it must take on Eliza. He made a mental note of how Eliza's actions could be seen as co-dependent. "And Ashley and Alex seem like amazing sisters."

Elena beamed with pride. "They are two of the best sisters anyone could ask for." Her expression turned concerned. "Liv and Jeremy are going through such a tough time. I wish we could do more to help them, but we're at a loss."

"You've been helping Liv a lot lately," Stefan observed.

"And so have you," Elena said gratefully. "Ever since you helped her with her panic attack, she's opened up to us more in the past two days than she has in the last four months. Thank you."

Stefan shook his head humbly. "I just helped calm her down. The rest was all her."

Elena managed a small smile. "Still, I appreciate it. It means a lot."

Stefan let out a small chuckle. "What about Kacie?"

Elena bit her lip thoughtfully. "To everyone else, Kacie may come off as another Lockwood with her tough, mean facade. But to her friends, she's one of the most loyal and fierce friends you could have. Her anger can get the best of her, but she uses it to defend us, even if it lands her in trouble. Like when you stopped her in Tanner's class today. And like when she wanted to 'hunt those bitches down', as she put it, for hurting Liv. She even skipped school with us to take her home, to make sure she didn't act on that impulse."

Stefan nodded, taking in Elena's words about her friends. "It sounds like you all have a really strong bond. That must be a huge comfort, especially after everything you've been through."

Elena's expression turned wistful. "Yeah, it is. I don't know how we would have made it through this past year without each other." She paused, her brow furrowing slightly. "Though sometimes I worry that we're all just... stuck. Like we're all so focused on taking care of each other that we're not really moving forward, you know?"

Stefan tilted his head, studying Elena's face. "That's understandable. Grief can do that. Make you feel like you're trapped in a moment. But from what I've seen, you're all doing the best you can. And that's all anyone can ask."

Elena gave him a small, grateful smile. "Thanks." She looked toward where Matt was staring at her and Stefan. "And Matt, he's..."

Stefan finished her thought. "He's the ex-boyfriend."

Elena nodded, a hint of guilt in her eyes. "Yeah. We were friends first, you know? And then... I don't know. Things just kind of happened between us. But after my parents died, everything changed. I changed."

Stefan studied her face, his voice gentle. "How so?"

Elena sighed, looking out at the party. "I just... I couldn't be who I was before. The girl Matt fell in love died when she went off the bridge with her sisters and her parents. The one that came out of it, me... she's different. But Matt's that friend since childhood that you start dating because you owe it to yourselves to see if you can be more. And even before everything changed, Matt and I, together we just, I don't know. It wasn't, um... it wasn't..."

Elena frowned as she struggled for the word.

Stefan gazed at her in thought. "Passionate?"

Elena looked at Stefan, taken aback that he could understand so easily, nodding in confirmation. "No. No, it wasn't passionate."

Stefan's eyes started to change.

Elena frowned. "Hey, um, are you okay? Um, Your eye, it just, it's--"

"Oh, um..." Stefan trailed off, looking away, closing his eyes. "Yeah, no. It's, um, it's nothing. Um, are you thirsty? I'm gonna get us a drink."

Stefan walked away, leaving Elena puzzled and confused.

-

Elsewhere (Party)

At the edge of the party, by the woods, Kacie was seen getting overwhelmed by the reality of it all. She kept thinking about her cousin Dawn and aunt Susan, unable to stop wondering about their disappearance so close to the one year anniversary.

Seeing many of the partiers glancing her way didn't help matters.

Drunken and out of sorts, Kacie turned around and started to head into the woods, away from the party, hoping to clear her head away from the chaos.

Further in the party, Roni noticed Kacie walking into the woods, realizing what would have made her boyfriend's sister walk off on her own like that, frowning in concern. Despite her anger at the world, mostly Ashley, and her determination to push everyone away, she couldn't help but start to follow Kacie. She felt something really wrong, and she didn't want anything to happen.

But in the thick of the woods, Roni lost Kacie before she could reach her.

-

Woods

Kacie stumbled deeper into the woods, the sounds of the party fading behind her. The cool night air felt good on her flushed skin, a welcome respite from the chaos and noise. She took another swig from her beer bottle, grimacing slightly at the warm, flat taste.

As she walked, the trees seemed to close in around her, their branches reaching out like gnarled fingers. The moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. Kacie shivered, suddenly aware of how alone she was.

A light mist began to rise from the ground, swirling around her ankles. Kacie watched in fascination as it grew thicker, transforming into a dense fog that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. The fog crept higher, rising up from the ground like fingers reaching for her, enveloping her in its ghostly embrace. Within moments, the forest was shrouded in a dense, white haze that obscured everything beyond a few feet in front of her.

Kacie shivered, pulling her jacket tighter around herself. The fog seemed to carry a bone-chilling cold that seeped into her very core. She squinted, trying to make out the shapes of the trees through the mist, but everything had taken on a dreamlike, ethereal quality. The world around her felt muffled and distant, as if she had stepped into another realm entirely.

Kacie's heart began to race as an eerie silence descended upon the forest. The usual nighttime sounds - chirping crickets, rustling leaves, hooting owls - had all fallen silent. The only sound was her own ragged breathing and the crunch of leaves beneath her feet.

As she stumbled forward, Kacie couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.

Behind her, a figure of a man was seen stalking her.

The hairs on the back of Kacie's neck stood on end, and a shiver ran down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold. She whirled around, peering into the fog, but saw nothing but swirling mist; the man had disappeared before she had time to turn around.

Despite not seeing anyone, Kacie's feeling of being watched persisted. It was as if the very trees were watching her, their twisted branches reaching out like clawed hands. Shadows seemed to dance at the edge of her vision, fleeting shapes that vanished when she turned to look.

A twig snapped somewhere behind her, the sound unnaturally loud in the stillness.

Kacie whirled around, peering into the fog, but saw nothing.

"Hello?" Kacie called out, her voice sounding small and fragile in the vast silence. No answer came. Kacie, realizing that she sounded weak, spoke strongly, her Lockwood facade falling into place as she hissed menacingly. "What the hell? If someone out there is messing with me, I'll make sure you fucking regret it."

Kacie took a few hesitant steps forward, the leaves crunching softly beneath her feet. The fog seemed to part before her, only to close in again once she passed. It was as if the mist itself was alive, watching her, toying with her.

Kacie's heart raced as she stumbled forward through the thick fog. Every shadow seemed to move, every sound amplified in the eerie silence. Every rustle of leaves, every snapping twig made her jump.

Kacie tried to maintain her tough Lockwood exterior, but fear was quickly overtaking her bravado. After everything that happened the past year, including her cousin and aunt's disappearance, she knew that this might not be a game, and that scared her more than she was willing to admit.

"This isn't funny anymore," Kacie called out, her voice shaking slightly despite her efforts to sound strong. "Whoever you are, just come out already!"

Silence was her only answer.

Suddenly, a dark shape loomed out of the mist directly in front of her.

Kacie gasped and stumbled backward, nearly losing her footing on the uneven forest floor. As she regained her balance, she squinted through the fog, trying to make out what she had seen.

It was a man - tall and imposing, shrouded in shadows. He stood perfectly still, watching her with an intensity that made Kacie's blood run cold. Just as suddenly as she had seen him, he melted back into the fog.

Panic rising in her chest, Kacie turned and began to run. The fog seemed to thicken around her.

Kacie's heart pounded as she ran through the fog-shrouded forest, branches whipping past her face. The mist swirled around her, obscuring her vision and making it impossible to tell which direction she was going or how to get back to the party... to safety.

Every tree, every shadow seemed to loom menacingly.

She could hear footsteps behind her, gaining ground. Kacie pushed herself to run faster, her lungs burning with the effort. She didn't dare look back, afraid of what she might see.

Suddenly, her foot caught on an exposed root and she went sprawling to the ground. Kacie hit the forest floor hard, the impact knocking the wind out of her. For a moment, she lay there gasping for air, disoriented and terrified.

As she struggled to her feet, she heard the footsteps approaching. Slow, deliberate steps crunching through the leaves.

Kacie scrambled to her feet, heart pounding as she heard the footsteps drawing closer. The fog swirled around her, obscuring her vision and disorienting her further. She spun in a circle, trying desperately to figure out which direction to run.

"Stay the hell away from me!" Kacie shouted into the mist in fury, her voice trembling despite the ferocity in her tone.

A low chuckle emanated from the fog, seeming to come from all directions at once. Amused that despite her fear, Kacie was still as fierce and furious as always. Enjoying playing the game and hunting her down, reveling in her entertaining reactions.

Kacie's blood ran cold at the sound.

Suddenly, the figure emerged from the mist directly in front of her. It was the man she had glimpsed earlier - tall and imposing, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness. He moved with an unnatural grace, gliding towards her rather than walking.

Kacie stumbled backwards, her eyes wide with terror, looking for where to run, but the fog was so thick she could barely see a few feet in front of her. Every tree, every shadow seemed to loom menacingly.

Still, Kacie attempted to fight valiantly.

It wasn't a match for a vampire.

Kacie's heart raced as she backed away from the menacing figure emerging from the fog. Despite her terror, she refused to go down without a fight.

Kacie clenched her fists, her Lockwood temper flaring, snarling at her stalker. "Stay back! I'm warning you, I know how to fight!"

The man chuckled darkly, continuing to advance. "Oh, I'm counting on it. Where's the fun if there's no struggle?"

His words sent chills down Kacie's spine. She looked around frantically for anything she could use as a weapon, but found nothing but leaves and twigs.

Suddenly, the man blurred forward with inhuman speed. Before Kacie could react, he had her pinned against a tree, his hand around her throat.

Kacie gasped, clawing at his hand as he pinned her against the tree. Her eyes widened in shock and terror at his inhuman speed and strength. This was no ordinary attacker.

"What... what are you?" Kacie choked out, still struggling against his iron grip.

The man's face was seen clearly for the first time. The dark haired, blue-eyed vampire was exactly who Stefan, Nicola and Levi were fearing was going to return to town, not yet aware he had already arrived... Damon Salvatore.

Damon's lips curled into a predatory smile, revealing elongated fangs. His eyes darkened and turned blood red, veins protruding beneath them. "Your worst nightmare, sweetheart."

Kacie's blood ran cold as realization dawned.

Vampire.

Kacie renewed her struggles, kicking and thrashing with all her might. But it was like fighting against solid stone. Damon merely laughed at her efforts.

"Feisty little thing, aren't you?" Damon purred, leaning in close. Kacie's heart pounded as Damon leaned in closer, his fangs gleaming in the moonlight. She could feel his cold breath on her neck as he whispered. "I do love it when they fight."

Despite her terror, Kacie refused to give up without a fight. With all her strength, she brought her knee up sharply, aiming for his groin.

Of course, Damon, with his heightened senses, saw it coming, easily dodging the attack, chuckling darkly. "Nice try, sweetheart. But you'll have to do better than that."

Damon's grip on her throat tightened, cutting off her air supply.

Kacie gasped and clawed at his hand, her vision starting to blur at the edges, still struggling with all she had.

"You know, I was just going to have a quick snack and be on my way," Damon mused, his eyes roaming over her face. "But you've piqued my interest. Maybe I'll keep you around for a while."

Kacie renewed her struggles, kicking and thrashing with all her might, but it was useless against his supernatural strength.

"Let... me... go!" Kacie choked out, her voice barely a whisper as Damon's grip on her throat tightened.

Damon smirked, clearly enjoying her futile attempts to fight back. "Now why would I do that when we're just getting started?"

Damon leaned in closer, his fangs grazing her neck. Kacie squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the inevitable pain.

Damon inhaled deeply. "Mm, you smell delicious. I bet you taste even better."

Damon's fangs sank into Kacie's neck, piercing her flesh. Kacie gasped at the sharp pain, her body tensing. As Damon began to drink, a strange sensation washed over her. The initial burst of agony faded, replaced by an unsettling mix of fear and euphoria.

Kacie's vision blurred, the fog-shrouded forest seeming to spin around her. She could feel her life force draining away with each pull of Damon's mouth on her throat. Her limbs grew heavy, her struggles weakening as Damon drank deeply.

Damon growled low in his throat, clearly savoring her blood. His grip on her loosened slightly as he became lost in bloodlust. Kacie's head lolled to the side, her eyes fluttering as consciousness began to slip away.

The sounds of the forest faded away as Kacie felt herself slipping into darkness. Her body went limp in Damon's grasp, no longer able to fight against his supernatural strength.

Just as Kacie was about to lose consciousness completely, Damon suddenly released her. She crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.

Damon wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes still dark with bloodlust. "Mm, delicious. Just as I thought."

Kacie struggled to focus, her vision blurring in and out. She pressed a hand to her neck, feeling the warm, sticky blood seeping from the puncture wounds.

"W-what are you going to do with me?" Kacie managed to whisper, her voice hoarse.

Damon crouched down beside her, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. Kacie flinched away from his touch, but was too weak to move far.

"Now that is the question, isn't it?" Damon mused, his eyes roaming over her pale face. "I could drain you dry right here and now. It would be so easy." His fingers trailed down to her throat, ghosting over the puncture wounds he had left. "Or I could keep you around for a while. It's been a long time since I've had a pet with this much fight in her."

Kacie's eyes widened in terror at his words. She tried to speak, but could only manage a weak whimper.

Damon's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm not done playing with you yet."

Damon reached out, gently caressing Kacie's cheek with mock tenderness. His touch was icy cold against her feverish skin. Kacie tried to recoil, but her body refused to cooperate. She felt heavy, as if her limbs were made of lead. The world around her seemed to blur and shift, the fog swirling in dizzying patterns.

"Shh," Damon murmured, his voice taking on a hypnotic quality. "Just relax. Let go."

Kacie fought against the urge to close her eyes, knowing that if she did, she might never open them again. But the blood loss and terror had taken their toll. Her vision swam, the fog-shrouded forest blurring into a haze of muted grays and blacks. Her eyelids grew heavy, fluttering as she struggled to stay conscious.

The forest around them seemed to come alive, shadows dancing at the edges of her vision. The mist thickened, enveloping them in a ghostly shroud. Kacie could hear whispers on the wind, indistinct voices calling out from the darkness.

Damon's face loomed above her, his piercing blue eyes the only point of clarity in her fading vision. Those eyes seemed to glow with an otherworldly light, drawing her in.

As Kacie stared into Damon's hypnotic blue eyes, the world around her began to blur and distort. The fog thickened, swirling in mesmerizing patterns that seemed to pulse around them with an otherworldly energy. The trees loomed larger, their branches reaching out like gnarled fingers, casting strange shadows that danced and flickered at the edges of her vision before melting back into the darkness.

Damon's face remained the only constant in her fading vision, his piercing blue eyes boring into hers with hypnotic intensity, drawing her in deeper and deeper

Kacie tried to focus, to fight against the encroaching darkness, but it was a losing battle. Her body felt impossibly heavy, as if she were sinking into the forest floor itself. She felt as if she was falling into an endless abyss, tumbling through layers of fog and shadow.

"That's it," Damon murmured, his voice echoing strangely in her ears. "Let go."

Kacie tried to resist, to cling to consciousness, struggling to keep her eyes open. His hypnotic gaze and soothing voice were impossible to fight in her weakened state, yet she managed to put up a fight that no one else would seem to be able to, which only intrigued Damon more. Anyone else would have succumbed to his compulsion already, and he was curious to find out why she hadn't even after all the blood she lost.

But in the end, Kacie's eyes fluttered closed. Damon scooped her limp form into his arms. He gazed down at her pale face, a predatory smile curling his lips.

"Sweet dreams, little Lockwood," Damon whispered. "When you wake up, the real fun will begin."

With inhuman speed, Damon blurred through the fog-shrouded forest, Kacie's unconscious body cradled against his chest as he rushed her closer to the party, knowing that someone would find her soon, and chaos and pain would reign.

Damon carried Kacie's unconscious body through the fog-shrouded forest, moving with supernatural speed. As they neared the edge of the woods where the sounds of the party could be heard, he slowed to a stop.

Looking down at Kacie's pale face, Damon smirked. "As much fun as it would be to keep you, little Lockwood, I think you'll be more useful to me here." His eyes gleamed with malicious amusement. "After all, nothing stirs up drama quite like a mysterious attack."

With surprising gentleness, Damon laid Kacie down at the base of a large oak tree just beyond sight of the party. He arranged her limbs carefully, making sure the bite mark on her neck and the blood were clearly visible.

Crouching beside her, Damon ran a finger along the puncture wounds, collecting a drop of Kacie's blood, placing his finger in his mouth and tasting her off his skin.

"Sweet dreams, Kacie," Damon murmured, brushing a strand of hair from Kacie's face. He gazed down at her pale face, a mix of satisfaction and intrigue in his eyes. "You're a fighter, little Lockwood. Most humans would have succumbed to my compulsion right away. But you... you're special somehow." He traced a finger along the bite mark on her neck, his touch feather-light. "I'll be keeping an eye on you. Something tells me you're going to make things very interesting around here."

Damon's eyes gleamed with malicious amusement as he gazed down at Kacie's unconscious form. He knew that leaving her here, just out of sight of the party, would cause maximum chaos when she was discovered. The bite marks on her neck and the blood would raise all sorts of questions - exactly the kind of drama he was hoping to stir up.

With one last smirk, Damon stood and melted into the shadows. The fog swirled in his wake, obscuring any trace of his presence as he melted into the shadows at the edge of the party, eager to watch the drama unfold when someone inevitably stumbled upon the unconscious Lockwood girl.

-~-

Roni's voice cut through the eerie silence of the fog-shrouded forest. "Kacie? Kacie, where are you?"

Roni had been searching for Kacie for what felt like hours when in reality it had only been about 20 minutes, worry gnawing at her gut. Something felt off, and Roni couldn't shake the feeling that Kacie was in trouble.

As Roni pushed through the underbrush, her foot caught on something solid. She looked down and her heart stopped. There, lying unconscious at the base of a large oak tree, was Kacie.

"Oh, my God, Kacie!" Roni whispered, dropping to her knees beside her friend's still form. Her hands hovered over Kacie's body uncertainly. "Kacie, can you hear me? Wake up!"

Roni's fingers trembled as she pressed them against Kacie's neck, searching for a pulse. She let out a shaky breath of relief at feeling life beneath her fingers.

That was when Roni saw the two puncture wounds marked in Kacie's neck beneath the blood that began to stain Roni's skin.

Roni's eyes widened in anger and horror as she took in the twin puncture wounds on Kacie's neck. Her breath caught in her throat, a chill running down her spine as the implications sank in.

Roni's hands shook as she gently brushed Kacie's hair away from the wound, revealing the full extent of the damage, her fury only rising. "No, no, no. Not here. Not now. Not her."

Roni's heart pounded as she realized the severity of the situation. She needed to get help, fast. With trembling hands, she reached for her phone in her pocket, fumbling to pull it out.

"Shit," Roni muttered as she tried to unlock her phone.

Her fingers, slick with Kacie's blood, slid uselessly across the touch screen. The red smears left behind obscured the display, making it nearly impossible to see what she was doing.

Frustration and panic welled up inside her as she wiped her hands frantically on her jeans, leaving dark stains on the denim. She tried again to unlock her phone, but her blood-slicked fingers kept slipping, unable to register on the touch screen.

"Come on, come on," Roni pleaded, her voice cracking with desperation and fury.

Roni glanced back at Kacie's pale, unconscious face, swallowing. She knew they were just too far from the party for anyone to hear if she called for help over the loud music of the party, and she couldn't risk leaving Kacie alone vulnerable like this.

Leaving Roni with the hope that someone else would wander this way to help her get Kacie back to the party, their friends and families, and finally be able to get her to the hospital.

-

Party

(Song) Back to Me - The All-American Rejects

Elena was looking around.

Matt walked up to her. "Looking for someone?"

"Hey," Elena told him.

"When you broke up with me, you said it was because you needed some time alone," Matt told her. "You don't look so alone to me."

"Matt, you don't understand," Elena started. "It's--"

"That's okay, Elena," Matt told her. "You do what you have to do. I just want to let you know that... I still believe in us. And I'm not giving up on that."

"Matt..." Elena trailed off.

Matt walked away.

Stefan and Levi were standing at the side of the party, both with beer bottles as they took a drink, having seen Matt and Elena.

"Looks like you gotta worry about Elena with her ex," Levi said teasingly.

Stefan chuckled. "I don't think so. Did you try to get Nikki to come?"

"Uh, yeah," Levi answered in a duh tone. "But of course Nikki wouldn't come. She kept using the piano to cut me off to annoy me enough to where I gave up and came on my own."

Stefan smiled slightly. "I see you two haven't changed at all, Levi."

"Maybe we have more than you realize," Levi told him.

Stefan chuckled before returning serious. "Did you find anything else out?"

"Nothing concrete, as usual," Levi answered.

"Likewise," Stefan returned. "Just getting to know them as people more, which is as much my goal as the rest."

"Well, while you were getting to know the resident trauma survivors of Mystic Falls, I saw Liv Gilbert and Eli Lockwood drinking together," Levi admitted. "That's a duo I never thought I'd see."

Stefan raised an eyebrow at Levi's observation. "Liv Gilbert and Eli Lockwood? That is an unexpected pairing. Did you overhear anything interesting?"

Levi shrugged, taking a sip of his beer. "Nothing too specific, but there seemed to be some tension there. I'm not sure if it was romantic tension, mind you, but... something. They were talking about masks and walls, about not letting people see the real them. Liv was definitely putting up walls, but Eli actually seemed to be trying to get through to her. It was... weirdly sincere for him. She definitely opened up to him more than I've seen her do with anyone else since..."

Stefan nodded thoughtfully. "Interesting. I wouldn't have pegged Eli Lockwood as the type to have heart-to-hearts with freshman girls."

"Me neither," Levi agreed, nodding across the party. "But there's your proof."

Stefan followed Levi's gaze to see that Liv and Eli were sitting on a railing on the edge of the party, sitting in silence while drinking.

Stefan frowned curiously. "Interesting. We'll have to keep an eye on that dynamic. Anything else catch your attention?"

"Other than Eli taunting his brother Tyler about having a thing for Alex Gilbert?" Levi asked. "Not much besides their apparent anger issues."

Stefan raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Tyler? And Alex?"

"Apparently she's clueless," Levi quipped.

Stefan chuckled softly at Levi's comment about Alex being clueless about Tyler's not-so-secret affection. "Well, that's certainly an interesting development. We'll have to keep an eye on that situation as well. Anything else you know about it?"

"Yeah," Levi answered. "I had suspicions about it before, but Eli confirmed it. Not only is Tyler crushing on Alex despite it being his sister Kacie's best friend, but he is also still hooking up with Roni as they use each other mutually for reputations, so it's like an arrangement, and Jeremy's crushing hard on Roni. I noticed their tension last night at the Grill. Though I did see Roni fight with Ashley, but I couldn't get close enough to hear what they were talking about."

Stefan raised his eyebrows. "Well, that certainly adds another layer of complexity to the group dynamics."

Levi nodded, taking another sip of his beer. "Tell me about it. This town is like one big soap opera."

Stefan's expression turned serious. "We need to be careful, Levi. Getting too involved in their personal lives could complicate things."

Levi sighed. "I know, I know. But it's hard not to get invested when we're around them all the time. They're not just subjects of an investigation, Stefan. They're people."

Stefan nodded solemnly. "I understand. Believe me, I do. But we can't lose sight of why we're here. There's something dangerous in this town, and we need to figure out what it is before more people get hurt."

Levi sighed, nodding. "Okay."

Stefan frowned. "But you said Roni and Ashley were fighting?"

"Yeah," Levi answered. "Alex had to take Ashley away and nurse a panic attack after Roni stormed off. It looked super intense."

Stefan frowned. "I've noticed that Ashley seems to be dealing with something heavy. Alex and Elena have too, but she won't open up about it."

"You think it's important?" Levi asked.

"Maybe," Stefan answered. "I don't know. But I do know Elena is trusting me more. She might open up to me again like she did earlier. We may be able to discover something that can help us find out what really happened with everything last year and help make sure that no one else gets hurt."

Levi nodded in agreement. "Then go, have fun with your date." Stefan gave Levi a look for calling it a 'date', which only caused Levi to smirk in response. "I'll find something, or someone, else to keep me entertained."

Stefan nodded slightly, walking away toward Elena.

Caroline stood in Stefan's way. "Hey! There you are. Have you been down to the Falls yet? Because they are really cool at night. And I can show you. If you want."

"I think you've had too much to drink," Stefan told her.

Caroline smiled. "Well, of course I have. So--"

"Caroline," Stefan told her. "You and me, it's not gonna happen. Sorry."

Stefan walked away, leaving.

Caroline looked down, hurt.

Stefan approached Elena.

Elena smiled. "I was wondering who abducted you, but now I know."

"I was actually with Levi for a little bit, catching up with him about family, with him and his twin Nicola," Stefan explained. "Then Caroline did that. Is she like that with, uh, all the guys?"

"No," Elena answered. "You're fresh meat. She'll back off eventually."

Alex and Ashley were returning to the party after Ashley was recovered from her panic attack earlier, feeling only a little better, as Alex wrapped an arm around her steadily, letting Ashley lean against her side with her head on her sister's shoulder.

Alex shushed her little sister soothingly. "Shh. It's okay."

Elena and Stefan both noticed Alex and Ashley.

Stefan glanced toward Levi, remembering what he said about the sisters and Roni earlier, concerned.

Elena was worried upon seeing Ashley's state with Alex helping her, standing, walking closer quickly. "Ashley? What's wrong? Alex, what happened?"

"She got into a fight with Roni," Alex answered. "She won't tell me what about, and I'm not pushing her. She doesn't have to tell us until she feels better." She looked at Ashley reassuringly. "Or at all, okay? That's your choice."

Ashley sniffled, nodding timidly against Alex's shoulder.

Elena's expression softened with concern as she looked at her younger sister. "Oh, Ash. I'm so sorry." She reached out to gently stroke Ashley's hair. "Do you want to go home? We can leave if you're not feeling up to being here."

Ashley shook her head slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "No, I'm okay. I don't want to ruin the night for everyone."

Alex squeezed Ashley's shoulder reassuringly. "You're not ruining anything, Ash. We just want you to be comfortable."

Stefan stepped forward, his voice gentle. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Ashley managed a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Stefan. But I'll be okay. I just need a minute."

Elena nodded, her eyes filled with worry. "Okay, but if you change your mind about wanting to leave, just let us know, okay?"

Ashley nodded, still leaning heavily against Alex. "Okay."

Stefan watched the interaction between the sisters with a mix of curiosity and sympathy. He could sense there was more to the story than just a simple fight, but he knew better than to pry. Instead, he offered gently. "Why don't we find somewhere quieter for Ashley to sit down for a bit?"

Alex nodded gratefully. "That's a good idea. Thanks, Stefan."

As they started to guide Ashley to a quieter spot, they noticed Liv and Eli by the treeline, sitting on the railing.

The sisters were startled.

"Is that Liv with Eli?" Ashley asked in drunken surprise.

"When the hell did Eli Lockwood started hanging out with Liv?" Alex asked.

Elena shook her head in confusion. "I have no idea."

Stefan raised his eyebrow slightly.

As Liv and Eli continued to sit in silence and drink, Jeremy approached, his brow furrowing in concern when he saw his little sister with a red cup in hand.

"Liv, what are you doing?" Jeremy asked, eyeing the drink suspiciously.

Liv rolled her eyes. "Relax, Jer. It's just soda."

Eli smirked, unable to resist stirring the pot. "Yeah, Jeremy. Just soda... with a little extra kick."

Jeremy's eyes narrowed as he looked between Eli and Liv. "Seriously, Liv? I thought we talked about this."

Liv sighed dramatically. "Oh, come on, Jeremy. Don't be such a buzzkill. You're the one that gave me the first beer. And I'm just trying to have a little fun for once."

"Yeah, Jeremy," Eli chimed in, his tone teasing. "Let Little Liv live a little."

Eli smirked at the alliteration.

Jeremy glared at Eli, his protective instincts flaring. "Stay out of this, Lockwood. This is between me and my sister."

Liv rolled her eyes. "God, Jeremy. Stop treating me like a child. I can make my own decisions."

"Clearly not good ones," Jeremy retorted. Seeing Liv's hurt glare, Jeremy's expression softened slightly. "Liv, I know things have been tough lately, but drinking isn't the answer. Trust me, I've been down that road."

Liv's eyes flashed with anger at the hypocrisy. "Oh, so it's okay for you to drink and party, but not me, right? That's real nice, Jer."

"That's different," Jeremy argued. "I'm older—"

"By what, a year and a half?" Liv scoffed. "Give me a break."

Liv took a drink.

Jeremy reached for Liv's cup. "You're drunk. Give me that."

Liv jerked the cup away, sloshing some of its contents. "No! Leave me alone!"

Eli watched the exchange with growing amusement, taking another sip of beer. "Ooh, family drama. My favorite."

Jeremy turned his glare on Eli. "You're not helping. Don't you have somewhere else to be?"

Eli held up his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I was here first. If anyone should leave, it's you."

Noticing that their argument was drawing the attention of most of the party and everyone was staring at them like they were freaks once again, Liv reached her limit.

Fed up, Liv stood, throwing her hands up as she shot both Jeremy and Eli a look. "You know what? No. I'll leave."

Liv stormed off toward the woods, suddenly desperate for an escape from the constant scrutiny of everyone around her.

Jeremy followed his sister as he tried to grab Liv's arm. "Liv-"

Liv jerked her arm away from Jeremy's grasp. "Don't touch me! Just leave me alone!"

Jeremy held up his hands placatingly, his voice softening. "Liv, please. I'm just worried about you."

Liv laughed bitterly. "Worried? Where was all this concern when I actually needed you yesterday? When I was falling apart and you were too busy getting high and following Roni around to notice?"

Eli pursed his lips at the well-made point, looking down.

Jeremy flinched as if he'd been slapped. "That's not fair, Liv. I was going through my own stuff-"

"And I wasn't?" Liv shot back, her voice rising. "In case you forgot, I lost them too, Jeremy! But I didn't have the luxury of checking out or taking drugs to make the rest of the world disappear. I had to keep it together while you were falling apart! Ashley, Alex and Elena are going through hell just as much as you, yet they were able to be there. What the hell is your excuse?"

Jeremy didn't have a response to that, knowing that it was more than fair, biting his lip in guilt as he looked down.

Liv stormed off into the woods, disappearing into the fog and darkness.

Jeremy hesitated for a moment, torn between going after his sister and giving her space.

"Damn it," Jeremy muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He turned to glare at Eli. "This is your fault. You shouldn't have given her alcohol."

Eli held up his hands defensively. "Hey, she's the one who asked for it. I just obliged. And like she said, you're the one that gave her the first bottle."

Unable to make a denial to that, Jeremy's fists clenched at his sides. "I swear to God, Lockwood, if anything happens to her..."

"Relax, Gilbert," Eli said, rolling his eyes. "She'll be fine. She just needs to cool off." Jeremy ignored him, turning to follow his sister into the woods. Eli sighed, calling after him. "I wouldn't do that if I were you..."

"Fuck off, Eli," Jeremy retorted, walking into the woods.

Alex, Elena and Ashley hadn't heard the fight, but they had seen bits and pieces of it, now noticing their siblings storming into the woods.

Ashley sighed in concern but exasperation for her twin brother and little sister. "You've gotta be kidding me."

Elena looked at Stefan. "Excuse us."

Alex, Ashley and Elena started to follow their little brother and sister toward the woods.

"Need some help?" Stefan offered.

Alex looked over her shoulder toward Stefan. "Trust me, you're not going to want to witness this."

Elena called out for their little siblings. "Jeremy! Liv!"

-

Woods

Liv pushed deeper into the woods, her anger and frustration fueling her steps. The fog swirled around her ankles, creating an eerie atmosphere. She could hear Jeremy calling after her, but she ignored him, determined to get away.

"Liv, please!" Jeremy called out. "I'm sorry, okay? Just stop and talk to me!"

"Leave me alone, Jeremy!" Liv shouted back, not slowing down.

The fog thickened as Liv ventured further into the forest, obscuring her vision. The trees loomed ominously, their branches reaching out like gnarled fingers. An unsettling silence fell over the woods, broken only by the sound of Liv's ragged breathing and Jeremy's distant calls.

Suddenly, Liv's foot caught on an exposed root. She stumbled, losing her balance and tumbling to the ground. Pain shot through her ankle, and Liv cried out in pain as she hit the forest floor, her ankle twisting underneath her. She sat up, wincing as she gingerly touched her throbbing ankle. Tears of frustration and pain welled in her eyes.

"Liv?" Jeremy's voice called out, sounding closer now. "Are you okay? I heard you yell."

She then heard Alex, Ashley and Elena getting closer as well.

"Liv, what happened?" Alex asked worriedly. "Where are you?'

Liv struggled to sit up, wincing as she tried to move her injured ankle. Realizing she needed help, she called over to her siblings. "I'm over here."

Alex, Ashley, Elena and Jeremy emerged from the fog, relief evident on their faces when they spotted their sister.

Elena sighed. "Thank God. Are you okay?"

Liv shook her head, gesturing to her ankle. "I think I twisted it."

Her ankle was swelling rapidly, and when she tried to stand, a sharp pain shot through her leg, causing her to cry out again.

Instantly, the four siblings rushed closer to help as Jeremy and Elena took Liv's arms to help steady her weight.

Ashley and Alex stood in front of them in concern.

"What happened?" Ashley asked breathlessly.

Liv swiped at the tears on her cheeks in frustration. "I tripped. It's no big deal."

Before they could continue on, they heard Roni's voice calling for help once she heard the sound of Liv crying out in pain and her siblings calling for her.

Roni had realized that they were close enough to hear her cry out for help where she was still with the unconscious, attacked Kacie. "Somebody help!"

The Gilbert siblings looked in the direction of the voice, all startled and concerned.

"Was that Roni?" Alex asked.

Ashley's face fell, but all four of them were determined to go to Roni's aid after hearing her scream.

"Go, go," Elena urged.

Alex and Ashley ran ahead of them, while Elena and Jeremy helped Liv along, as Liv refused to stay behind when she heard Roni crying out. They all knew something was seriously wrong.

The Gilbert siblings pushed through the fog-shrouded forest, following the sound of Roni's desperate cries for help. The eerie mist swirled around their ankles, obscuring roots and undergrowth, making their progress slow and treacherous.

Alex and Ashley led the way, with Elena and Jeremy supporting the limping Liv between them. The air grew thick with tension as they drew closer to Roni's voice, a sense of foreboding settling over the group.

As they drew closer, Roni's voice became clearer, her words sending chills down their spines. "Please, somebody help! She's hurt!"

Alex and Ashley broke through the treeline first, skidding to a stop at the horrific scene before them.

Roni was kneeling on the ground, cradling Kacie's limp form in her arms. In the pale moonlight filtering through the fog, they could see Roni's hands and clothes were stained dark with blood.

"Oh, my God," Alex gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock.

Ashley stood frozen, her eyes wide with horror. "Kacie?"

Elena, Jeremy and Liv stumbled through the treeline next, coming to an abrupt halt as they took in the horrifying scene before them.

"Kacie!" Elena cried out, rushing forward to kneel beside Roni and the unconscious Kacie.

Liv's hand flew to her mouth, stifling a gasp. Despite her injured ankle, she pushed forward, desperate to see if her friend was alright. "Kacie?"

Liv cried out as her foot nearly gave out on her. Jeremy helped Liv sit down on a nearby log before joining his other sisters. His face paled as he saw the blood staining Kacie's neck and Roni's hands.

"What the hell happened?" Jeremy demanded, his voice shaking.

Roni looked up at them, her eyes wild with panic and filled with tears. "I-I don't know. I found her like this. She won't wake up."

Alex knelt down beside Elena, reaching out with trembling hands to check Kacie's pulse. "She's alive, but her pulse is weak. We need to get her to a hospital, now."

Ashley stood, breathing shakily. "We have to get her back to the party. We can help her there."

Everyone nodded.

"Jer, can you..." Elena trailed off shakily.

Instantly, Jeremy lifted Kacie off the ground in a cradle, holding her against his chest. "I got her."

Alex quickly reached for Roni's hands to help her up, which Roni took as they pulled her to her feet.

Alex looked at Kacie's blood now staining her skin as she sobbed at the horror of her best friend enduring this tragedy. "No, Kacie..."

Ashley looked at Roni with shocked tears streaming down her face, and despite Roni's earlier rage, she couldn't push Ashley away now when they were desperate to save Kacie.

Ashley swallowed. "Come on."

As Jeremy carried Kacie toward the party, Ashley and Elena both took hold of Liv's arms to help her limp the way there, followed by Alex and Roni. All of them were moving as quickly as they were able to through the dense forest fog.

The Gilbert siblings and Roni rushed through the fog-shrouded forest as fast as they could, Jeremy cradling the unconscious and bloody Kacie in his arms. The eerie mist swirled around their ankles, making the trek back to the party treacherous.

"We're almost there," Elena called out encouragingly, though her voice trembled with fear.

Elena and Ashley supported the limping Liv between them.

Alex and Roni brought up the rear, both of their hands and clothes stained with Kacie's blood. Roni's eyes were wide with shock, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Hold on, Kacie," Jeremy muttered, his arms tightening protectively around his friend's limp form. "Just hold on."

-

Party

As Roni and the Gilberts neared the edge of the woods with Kacie, the sounds of the party grew louder. Music, laughter and chatter seemed surreal given the horror they had just witnessed.

Jeremy ran with Kacie in his arms, her limp body heavy as he struggled to keep up with Ashley and Elena carrying Liv between them. In a frenzy, Alex and Roni burst through the trees behind them, their hands and clothes stained with blood. Panic set in as they all cried out for help, drawing attention from the partygoers who quickly turned to see the commotion, their expressions quickly morphing from curiosity to shock and horror.

The partygoers were stunned by the sight of Roni and Alex, but their attention quickly turned to Jeremy as they saw him carrying the unconscious and bleeding Kacie.

Sitting closest to the treeline, Eli's heart stopped when he saw his twin sister lying motionless and bleeding in Jeremy's arms. "Kacie?!" He stood, running closer instantly. "Kacie, what the hell?"

Hearing Eli yell their sister's name through the crowd, Tyler looked toward the sound of his brother's voice, unable to see what was happening through the surrounding sea of teenagers. "Eli, what the hell's going on?"

As Jeremy gently placed Kacie on a nearby bench, Eli rushed to her side, calling out to their brother for help. "Tyler, it's Kacie!"

Without hesitation, Tyler ran toward his brother's voice, pushing through the crowd to get to Eli and Kacie. "Kacie? What happened?"

Ashley and Elena helped Liv sit down on a nearby table.

Eliza ran closer worriedly. "Oh, my God. Kacie."

"Eliza, call an ambulance," Liv instructed.

Eliza frantically took out her phone, turning aside to dial, her hands trembling, eyes brimming with tears as she feared for her friend's safety, covering her mouth to stifle her panicked breaths while awaiting the ambulance's response.

Amidst the chaos and panic, Bonnie stood at the edge of the crowd, paralyzed by shock and disbelief. She couldn't understand how this could have happened, but deep down she knew it was connected to her earlier vision after touching Kacie. Fear consumed her as she watched her friend lie unconscious and bleeding.

The crowd closed in on Kacie and the group, eager to get a closer look at the drama unfolding before them. It only added to Tyler and Eli's fury – their sister was hurt and these people were acting like vultures.

Tyler fiercely pushed the onlookers back, shouting. "Everybody back up!"

Eli's voice was shaking with anger as he snapped. "Give her some fucking space!"

Meanwhile, across the table from Tyler and Eli on Kacie's other side, Alex stood next to her prone body, trembling and crying as she examined the large wound on her neck. "It's her neck. Something bit her. She's losing so much blood."

As Roni backed away from the group, her hands shaking uncontrollably, Matt ran to his sister's side. "Roni?"

Despite their past tensions, Roni found solace in her brother as tears started to fall despite her best efforts. "Matty..."

Matt cradled Roni's head, both frozen as they gazed upon Kacie's inert, bloodied figure, a mix of shock and dread in their eyes.

Stefan and Levi, standing together among the bystanders, observed the scene. They shared a glance, recognizing the signs of a vampire assault.

Eli whispered to his twin sister desperately, begging. "Kacie. Kace, open your eyes. Look at me."

Kacie remained motionless, her condition causing Liv to become angrier by the minute at the shamelessly gawking crowed as she cried in pain, fear and worry for their friend.

As Stefan and Levi made their escape from the scene, Liv's gaze landed on them with confusion and suspicion. She couldn't comprehend why they were leaving when Kacie needed help.

Tyler stood by Eli's side as they desperately tried to wake their sister. "Kacie... Come on, Kace, wake up."

With Bonnie, the Donovans, Lockwoods and Gilberts once again facing another tragedy, their past traumas resurfaced all over again. Eliza was on the verge of breaking down as she watched her friends and family suffer once more. It was a nightmare they thought they had escaped, but now it was very much real again.

-

Salvatore Boarding House - Living Room

Nicola was sitting on one of the couches, going through the town records, physical from the town archives that Stefan had helped her get, along with going through digital archives on her laptop. She had spent the entire time the party was going on doing research for the investigation she, Stefan and Levi were conducting on the trauma survivors of Mystic Falls to see connections of the supernatural, while drinking from a bottle of bourbon.

Stefan and Levi opened the door, walking inside hurriedly.

Noticing their urgency, Nicola frowned as she lowered the bottle, setting it down. "What's going on?"

"Kacie Lockwood was attacked tonight, Nicola," Stefan told her.

Nicola looked up in surprise and alarm. "What?"

"Yeah," Levi answered. "It has to be Damon. Stef, please tell me that Nathan is on his way here and that you at least heard from Kaylin after your message."

"I heard from Nathan," Stefan answered. "He should be almost here. I don't know about Kaylin."

Knowing that now was not the time to talk about their investigation leads, Stefan quickly walked upstairs, trying to figure out what to do in the meantime about Damon until their siblings arrived.

He could only hope that Nathan and Kaylin were close to arriving after what happened tonight.

-

Stefan's Room

Stefan walked into his room, closing the door.

The crow flew into the room from the double-doored windows.

Stefan's gaze followed the crow, looking toward the balcony grimly. "Damon."

Standing in the window frame, Damon smirked. "Hello, brother."

-~-

The crow hawked on the balcony.

Damon was inside, looking around.

"Crow's a bit much, don't you think?" Stefan asked.

Damon glanced up at Stefan with a teasing smirk. "Wait till you see what I can do with the fog."

"When'd you get here?" Stefan asked tightly.

"Well, I couldn't miss your first day at school," Damon mocked. "Your hair's different. I like it."

Stefan attempted to keep his voice steady. "It's been 17 years, Damon."

"Thank God," Damon replied. "I couldn't take another day of the '90s. That horrible grunge look? Did not suit you. Remember, Stefan, it's important to stay away from fads."

Unamused, Stefan stayed on topic. "Why are you here?"

Damon stepped closer, putting on an act of innocence. "I miss my little brother."

"You hate small towns," Stefan pointed out. "It's boring. There's nothing for you to do."

Damon smirked. "I've managed to keep myself busy."

"You know, you left that girl alive tonight," Stefan told him. "That's very clumsy of you."

Damon turned to face him. "Ah. That can be a problem... for you."

"Why are you here now?" Stefan asked.

"I could ask you the same question," Damon told him. "However, I'm fairly certain your answer can be summed up all into two little words. Alex and Elena."

-

Party

The party had dispersed as an ambulance was here to take Kacie to the hospital, loading her into the back.

Eli and Tyler were standing with Alex outside of the ambulance as they waited, watching their sister worriedly.

"We'll text you once we know for sure, Alex," Eli told her.

Alex swallowed, nodding. "Okay."

Eli got into the ambulance with Kacie, letting Tyler and Alex talk alone.

Tyler looked at Alex. "Are you okay?"

Alex nodded unconvincingly, clasping her bloodstained hands. "I'm fine."

Tyler tilted his head knowingly. "Alex."

Alex released a broken sigh. "I've been better." She looked at Kacie's ambulance, shaking her head. "After what happened to my parents and Gabby, I can't lose my best friend. None of us should have to lose anymore than what we already have, Tyler."

Tyler showed a rare moment of vulnerability as he nodded in agreement, eyes glistening in pain. He couldn't lose his sister like they already lost their cousin and aunt. "I know." He took a deep, steadying breath. "But Kacie's strong. She'll be okay."

Alex bit her lip worriedly, nodding.

Tyler turned to the ambulance with Kacie and Eli, pulling himself in, the doors being closed, pulling away.

Alex watched sadly.

-

Elsewhere

Eliza walked up to Bonnie and Elena. "Hey. We're gonna go to Mainline Coffee, wait for news."

"I gotta take Alex, Jeremy, Ashley and Liv home," Elena told them.

Eliza nodded, looking at Bonnie. "Bon, what about you?"

Bonnie shook her head. "I'm just gonna go home. Thanks, Eliza." Eliza nodded, walking away. Bonnie started to walk away, slowing to a stop, turning to Elena. "Elena, there's no way I'm psychic. I know that. But whatever I saw, or I think I saw, I have this feeling..."

Elena shook her head in confusion. "Bonnie, what?"

Bonnie hesitated. "That it's just the beginning."

-

Salvatore Boarding House - Stefan's Room

Stefan and Damon's intense reunion continued within Stefan's room.

Damon was pacing. "They took my breath away. Alex and Elena. They're dead ringers for Valentina and Katherine. And I've seen their little sister. Little Liv. She looks just like Thea, doesn't she? What is it with these Gilbert Girls?"

Stefan was unamused with his taunting. "Stop."

Damon continued mockingly. "Is it working, Stefan? Being around them, being in their world? Does it make you feel alive?"

Stefan glared at him. "Alex and Elena are not Katherine and Valentina. Liv is not Thea."

"Well, let's hope not," Damon replied. "We both know how that ended." He stepped closer, enticing Stefan to feed. "We both know how that ended. Tell me something, when's the last time you had something stronger than a squirrel?"

Stefan shook his head. "I know what you're doing, Damon. It's not gonna work."

"Yeah?" Damon asked. "Come on. Don't you crave a little?"

Damon hit Stefan provokingly.

"Stop it," Stefan warned.

"Let's do it," Damon urged. "Together. I saw a couple girls out there. Or just, let's just cut to the chase, let's just go straight for Alex and Elena."

Damon struck Stefan.

"Stop it!" Stefan snapped.

"Imagine what their blood tastes like!" Damon demanded. Stefan's eyes turned blood red as he looked into the mirror, veins protruding beneath. Damon watched him smugly. "I can."

Furious, Stefan glared at Damon, his vampire visage in full form. "I said stop!"

Stefan vamp-sped into Damon, tackling him through his window, making both brothers fall toward the ground outside.

-

Outside

As Damon vanished from sight, Stefan lay on the pavement amidst shattered glass.

Damon was leaning against Nicola's nearby car, unscathed, wearing a sly smirk. "I was impressed. I give it a six. Missing style, but I was pleasantly surprised. Very good with the whole face..." He growled tauntingly. "Thing." He chuckled. "It was good."

Stefan pushed himself to his feet, locking eyes with his oldest brother. "You know, it's all fun and games, Damon, huh? But wherever you go, people die."

Damon shrugged nonchalantly. "That's a given."

"Not here," Stefan declared firmly. "I won't allow it."

Damon tilted his head challengingly. "I take that as an invitation."

"Damon, please," Stefan implored. "After all these years, can't we just give it a rest?"

"I promised you an eternity of misery, so I'm just keeping my word," Damon stated calmly.

"Just stay away from the Gilberts and their friends," Stefan warned.

Damon seemed to notice something - or rather, the absence of something - on Stefan's hand. "Where's your ring? Oh, yeah, sun's coming up in a couple of hours, and, poof. Ashes to ashes." Stefan looked down at his bare finger, flexing it nervously. Damon chuckled, walking closer. "Relax. It's right here."

Damon held out Stefan's daylight ring. Stefan took it cautiously, sliding it onto his finger.

Suddenly, Damon transformed, his eyes turning blood red with veins pulsing beneath his skin as he grabbed Stefan by the throat, throwing him against the garage door with terrifying strength. Stefan hit the ground hard, rolling away in pain.

Like a predator closing in for the kill, Damon appeared next to his brother, his vampire visage fading away. But his gaze was more menacing than ever. "You should know better than to think you're stronger than me. You lost that fight when you stopped feeding on people. I wouldn't try it again."

Just then, Nathan Salvatore suddenly seemed to materialize out of thin air as he grabbed and flung Damon through the air, causing him to crash onto the ground and groan in pain.

Stefan looked up with relief to see his other brother standing there, ready to help.

Damon raised his head to see who threw him, looking at his other younger brother in surprise.

Nathan smirked at Damon. "Hello, brother."

"Nathan," Damon said in surprise, getting up, scoffing. "I should have known you would join the party."

Nathan tilted his head. "Not the only one."

With that, Stefan knew that their sister Kaylin was also present and ready to protect her brothers at all costs.

Damon's eyes widened slightly as he sensed another presence. He turned slowly to see Kaylin Salvatore standing behind him, her expression seemingly amused but exasperated with her brothers all the same, especially Damon.

Damon was shocked to see Kaylin, knowing that she rarely got involved with their family drama.

Kaylin smirked victoriously at Damon's reaction, rendering him speechless for once in his life. "You look like you've seen a dead girl." She tilted her head coyly. "Pun intended."

Damon finally recovered his voice. "Kaylin."

Nathan and Stefan smirked, knowing they had the upper hand over Damon for once.

Kaylin looked between the three before her, giving an impish smile. "Hello, brothers."

"Well, well," Damon drawled, trying to mask his surprise. "The whole family's here. How touching."

Nathan's expression hardened. "Cut the act, Damon. We know what you've been up to."

Damon held up his hands in mock innocence. "Me? I'm just here to visit my dear brothers and sister. Is that such a crime?"

Kaylin scoffed, crossing her arms, tilting her head in amusement; like Damon and Levi, she was more humorous than the other Salvatores, rarely taking things seriously. "Oh, please. You didn't even expect me to show up. Like, ever."

Damon pointed at Kaylin in acknowledgement as he glanced between her, Nathan and Stefan, pursing his lips. "You three got one over me this time, I'll give you that one."

Kaylin circled around Damon in warning as she gave a teasing smirk, though her threat was clear despite her almost nonchalant nature. "I'll always have one over you, big brother."

Stefan pushed himself to his feet moving to stand beside Nathan and Kaylin. The three of them formed a united front against their oldest brother.

Damon's eyes darted between his siblings, realizing he was outnumbered. But he wasn't about to back down or show any sign of weakness. Instead, he plastered on his trademark smirk despite his faltered confidence.

"Well, isn't this cozy?" Damon drawled, trying to maintain his nonchalant facade. "The whole family back together again. We should take a picture."

Nathan stepped forward, his voice low and threatening. "This isn't a game, Damon. You need to leave Mystic Falls. Now."

Damon raised an eyebrow. "Or what? You'll force me out? I'd like to see you try."

Kaylin moved to stand beside Nathan, her usual playful demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness. "We're not here to fight you, Damon. But we will if we have to."

"Oh, so it's three against one now?" Damon inquired.

Kaylin shrugged, her seriousness slipping back into an unfazed balance. "If it has to be. Just fair warning. If you don't stop, we are gonna stop you."

Damon placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. "Stop me? And here I thought you missed me."

Kaylin rolled her eyes. "Cut the act, Damon. We know about the attack tonight."

"Attack?" Damon feigned innocence. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Stefan stepped forward, his voice low and dangerous. "Kacie Lockwood. Ring any bells?"

Damon's eyes glinted with amusement. "Ah yes, the feisty little Lockwood girl. She does have quite the temper, doesn't she? Takes after her brothers in that regard. Such a fighter, that one. Didn't go down easy."

Stefan's fists clenched at his sides. "This isn't a joke, Damon. You could have killed her."

"But I didn't," Damon pointed out. "I left her alive. You should be thanking me."

Nathan shook his head in disgust. "Thanking you? For what? Terrorizing an innocent girl?"

Damon shrugged. "I was just having a little fun. No harm done."

"No harm done?" Stefan repeated incredulously. "She's in the hospital. Her family and friends are terrified."

"Details, details," Damon waved dismissively.

Kaylin's eyes narrowed into slits as she stood in front of Damon, her body tense with controlled frustration; she rarely lost control to anger or fury, which made her even more formidable when she did things completely in her control.

She knew her brother thrived on threatening situations, but this time she would not back down.

With a calculated smirk, Kaylin swung her arms at her sides, the movements almost playful but with a deadly undertone. "You know, Damon... you may think you're the biggest and baddest vampire around, but don't forget who ruled Chicago with all its supernaturals. How do you think I was able to do that? They knew better than to cross the Queen of Torture." She raised her chin defiantly, her smirk transforming into a twisted, winning smile that sent shivers down Damon's spine. "They always ended up paying dearly."

Despite her playful and seemingly childlike demeanor, Kaylin radiated a palpable aura of power and control, her smug words hanging in the air like a tangible threat, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind about the danger that surrounded her.

Damon's eyes widened slightly at Kaylin's words, a flicker of unease crossing his face before he masked it with his usual smirk. But there was a new wariness in his gaze as he regarded his sister. He knew his sister's reputation well - the Queen of Torture was not a title given lightly. For a brief moment, doubt crept into his mind about whether he had underestimated Kaylin's willingness to get involved.

"Well, well," Damon drawled, though his tone lacked its usual confidence. "Looks like little sister has grown some fangs of her own."

Kaylin's smile remained fixed, but her eyes glinted dangerously. "Oh, I've always had fangs, Damon. I just choose when to use them."

"Is that a threat, Kaylin?" Damon asked, his tone light but with an undercurrent of tension.

Kaylin shrugged nonchalantly. "Not a threat, Damon. A promise." She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "I may not have been around for a while, but don't think for a second I've gone soft. You hurt anyone else in this town, and I'll show you exactly why they called me the Queen of Torture. Trust me, brother, you don't want to test me on this."

A tense silence fell over the four siblings as Damon and Kaylin stared each other down. The air crackled with tension, neither sibling willing to back down.

Finally, Damon broke the silence with a low chuckle. "Well, well. Looks like the whole family's grown a backbone while I've been away." His eyes darted between his siblings, assessing the situation. "Fine. You win this round. I'll play nice... for now."

Knowing they couldn't physically make Damon leave on their terms, this was the best compromise they could reach for now. They knew it wasn't going to be that easy, but Stefan and Nathan also knew that Kaylin would make good on her promise if Damon stepped out of line, glancing from Damon to Kaylin.

Having heard the commotion from inside, Nicola and Levi walked outside.

"What the hell is going on?" Nicola asked.

Nicola and Levi stared in shock at the scene before them - all four Salvatore siblings together for the first time in so long. The tension in the air was palpable as Damon faced off against Stefan, Nathan and Kaylin.

"Well, well," Damon drawled, his smirk returning as he turned to face the newcomers. "If it isn't the wonder twins. Come to join the family reunion?"

Levi's eyes darted between the siblings, assessing the situation. "What the hell?"

"Oh, nothing much," Damon replied casually. "Just catching up with my dear brothers and sister." He turned to his sister after her threat. "Isn't that right, Kaylin? Have you met Nicola and Levi already, or did you just leave that to Stefan and Nathan?"

Not taking the bait, Stefan, Kaylin, Nathan, Nicola and Levi glared at Damon.

Kaylin's eyes never left Damon as she addressed Nicola and Levi. "Everything's under control. Right, Damon?"

Damon gave a slight smirk to conceal his nervousness, nodding, knowing he had to play along for now. "Absolutely."

Nicola and Levi stared at them in shock; in all the time they knew Stefan, Nathan and Damon, they had never known Damon to be so easily controlled like he was by Kaylin in that moment.

Even as the tense standoff between the Salvatores continued, with Damon's usual cocky demeanor faltering slightly in the face of Kaylin's threat, he was not ready to fully back down. Though he was all too eager to continue taunting his family, even if he couldn't do anything against them now.

"So, Nikki, Levi, how old are you two now?" Damon quipped. "Last time I saw you, you two were six. Been a long time."

Nicola stared him down with a cold look. "Could have gone longer if you ask me, Damon."

Nicola and Levi shared a tense look, knowing they likely would have to use their training now that Damon was officially in town.

Damon looked amused by their exchange regarding him. "You two expected me, didn't you?" Despite their silence, Damon smirked. "Of course you did."

"Well, look at that," Levi remarked sarcastically. "Darkness arrives to Mystic Falls."

Damon's smirk widened at Levi's sarcastic comment. "Oh, I'm just getting started. The real darkness is yet to come."

Stefan took a step forward, his voice low and warning. "That's enough, Damon. You've made your point. Now leave."

"Leave?" Damon replied with mock innocence. "But I've only just arrived. Besides, I have so much catching up to do with my dear family." His gaze swept over the group, lingering on Nicola and Levi. "Including our honorary little siblings here."

Nicola's eyes narrowed. "We're not your siblings, Damon. And we sure as hell aren't here to catch up with you."

"Ouch," Damon clutched his chest dramatically. "You wound me, Nikki. After all we've been through together."

Nicola rolled her eyes, glaring at Damon, unamused.

Nathan's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I think you've overstayed your welcome, brother. This is Nicola and Levi's home. It's time for you to leave."

Damon held up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. But remember, I do have an invite inside. Can't keep me out forever."

Kaylin raised her eyebrow challengingly. "You wanna bet?"

Still shaken by Kaylin's threat and determined not to show it, Damon plastered on his signature smirk, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I can tell how fun staying in town with family is going to be. And as entertaining as this has been, I think I'll take my leave now. So many people to see, so little time."

Before anyone could respond, Damon winked before vanishing into the night with vampire speed.

As soon as Damon vanished, the tension in the air dissipated slightly. The remaining Salvatores exchanged wary glances, knowing this was far from over.

Kaylin's threatening demeanor melted away as she returned to her usual charming, teasing and laidback self. With a dramatic sigh, she clapped her hands. "Well. That was a fun family reunion. Should we do it again next century?"

Despite the gravity of the situation, Levi couldn't help but chuckle at Kaylin's comment. "I vote for two centuries. Give us time to recover."

Kaylin smiled slightly at Levi in return, shaking her head in mock disappointment regarding Damon. "He never changes, does he?"

Stefan shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "No, he certainly doesn't."

Nathan ran a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. "This complicates things. This isn't over. Damon won't give up that easily."

Levi frowned. "So what are we going to do now? We can't just let Damon run around town attacking people."

Nicola nodded in agreement, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "He's right. We need a plan. To be prepared."

"And we will be," Stefan assured. "Let's just give it a night and think in the morning. It's been a long day."

The other Salvatores nodded in agreement.

Nathan and Kaylin walked closer to Stefan.

Stefan's eyes showed a rare light as he smiled slightly. "Thank you for coming, Nathan. And you, Kaylin, I didn't expect to see you. You didn't answer my message."

Kaylin playfully raised her eyebrows in innocence, speaking in a 'duh' voice. "Well, it's been years, Stefan. I've missed my big bro." Se glanced at Nathan with a sly smile. "And about your message, I didn't need to hear it, because Nate and I were traveling together when you called him."

Stefan smiled, wrapping his arms around Nathan and Kaylin's shoulders. "At least I'm happy to see two of my siblings."

Nathan chuckled as he returned the embrace. Kaylin wrapped her arms around Nathan and Stefan with a small smile. Nicola and Levi watched them for a moment, moved by the siblings' reunion as they exchanged a look with a mix of emotions.

As they pulled away from the hug, Nathan assured his brother. "Don't worry, Stefan. Kaylin and I got your back if anything goes wrong with Damon." Stefan smiled gratefully. Nathan turned to the twins, giving the two a warm smile. "Nicola. Levi. Nice to see you both again."

Levi nodded warmly in return. "Hey, Nathan. Same here."

Nicola waved slightly before her gaze focused on Kaylin, the one sibling she hadn't met yet, curious yet reserved about her ancestor. "Kaylin."

Kaylin smirked confidently, tilting her head in acknowledgement. "The one and only. It's nice to finally meet you, Nicola. And hello again, Levi."

Stefan, Nathan and Nicola exchanged surprised glances before turning to look at Kaylin and Levi curiously.

Nicola frowned in confusion. "Wait, do you two know each other?" She turned her gaze to Levi with a warning look. "How is that possible since Kaylin never came back to Mystic Falls while we were growing up?"

Kaylin made an 'ooh' look as she let out a knowing laugh, leaning in conspiratorially toward Levi. "You haven't told her, have you?"

Levi laughed nervously, avoiding eye contact with his twin, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh, no. But I had a feeling it would come out eventually." He hesitated before sending a look toward Nicola. "Funny story."

Nicola turned to Levi with an incredulous look. "What the hell is going on?"

Levi cleared his throat awkwardly. "Well, you know those games that the football team traveled for? On one of those trips, I found Kaylin, out of pure curiosity. Just wanted to meet our ancestor. And we ended up hanging out."

Kaylin chimed in with a smirk. "Partying is more accurate." She winked at Levi playfully. "We had a blast, didn't we, Levi?"

Levi nodded enthusiastically, pointing at Kaylin. "Absolutely."

Stefan and Nathan shared a look, slightly amused.

Nicola scoffed in shock and disbelief at the revelation before letting out an exasperated sigh. "Great. Now all of the Salvatores are in Mystic Falls, living under one roof. This should end terribly." She turned to glare at Levi. "And you lied about not knowing Kaylin."

Stefan, Nathan and Kaylin watched with amusement as Nicola scolded her twin.

Trying to diffuse the tension, Levi joked sheepishly. "Hey, it depends on how you define lying."

Nicola rolled her eyes in frustration as she gave her twin a dubious look. "The actual definition of lying is not telling the truth. How the hell else could you define it?"

Levi awkwardly gestured with his hands to explain himself. "I meant reclining in a horizontal position."

Frustrated, Nicola threw her hands up in defeat. "I'm done. I'm out."

Levi nodded sheepishly as his gaze flicked to Stefan, Nathan and Kaylin. "Can't blame her. She's not wrong."

Stefan, Nathan and Kaylin couldn't help but chuckle at the situation unfolding between the twins.

Nicola shook her head in exasperation at her brother's antics. "Unbelievable. I'm going inside to do more research. Someone has to stay focused around here."

Nicola walked toward the house.

Levi sighed, calling after her. "Come on, Nikki! Don't be like that!" Nicola walked inside and closed the door behind her. Levi winced slightly. "Yeah, she's definitely mad at me. I should probably go talk to her."

Kaylin smirked, patting Levi on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll smooth things over with her later. Twins can't stay mad at each other for long, trust me."

Stefan raised an eyebrow at Kaylin. "And how exactly would you know that?"

Kaylin's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Oh, I have my ways, big brother. Let's just say I've had some experience with twins over the years."

Nathan shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Probably not the kind of experience we want to hear about."

Kaylin winked at Nathan. "Probably not. But it was fun."

Stefan cleared his throat awkwardly.

Levi chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, I'm sure Nicola would love to hear all about your 'experience' with twins, Kaylin."

Kaylin grinned.

Nathan pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. "Okay, children."

Kaylin gave Nathan a weird look that Levi smirked at.

Nathan sighed. "We still have a Damon-shaped problem to deal with."

"And we'll figure that out in the morning like we said," Kaylin replied. "I've already made it clear to Damon what will happen if he steps out of line, but we'll be prepared for anything. Tonight, let's just get some rest and deal with it all in the morning."

Stefan, Nathan and Levi nodded in agreement.

"Okay," Stefan agreed.

Kaylin perked up again as she turned to Levi with a wicked smile, tilting her head. "So... where's my invite?"

With a grin, Levi led the way to the front door of the Salvatore boarding house, a grand structure that loomed before them in the moonlight. The old wooden door creaked as he pushed it open, revealing the spacious entryway beyond. Dark wood paneling lined the walls, adorned with antique paintings and ornate sconces that cast a warm glow over the space.

Levi turned to Kaylin with a flourish, gesturing dramatically into the house, his voice taking on a mock-formal tone. "Welcome to Casa Salvatore, where the drama never ends and the bourbon flows freely." He winked at his ancestor. "Kaylin Salvatore, as one of the current residents of this fine establishment, I hereby cordially invite you to enter our humble abode."

Levi swept his arm dramatically toward the open doorway, bowing slightly as if ushering in royalty.

Kaylin's eyes sparkled with mischief and amusement as she stepped over the threshold. "Why thank you, kind sir. How very gentlemanly of you."

-

Inside - Foyer / Living Room

As they entered, Kaylin took in the grand foyer with an appreciative whistle. "Nice digs. You guys certainly know how to live in style."

Levi grinned. "Wait until you see the library. And the liquor cabinet."

Stefan and Nathan followed them inside, shaking their heads in amusement at Kaylin and Levi's antics.

Nicola looked up from the couch in the living room ahead of them, researching on her laptop while drinking from a bottle of bourbon.

"Make yourself at home," Stefan told Kaylin. "There's plenty of room."

Kaylin smirked. "Don't mind if I do. I'll be doing my room up nicely." She glanced around the living room, her gaze landing on Nicola, sending her a small smile. "But first things first, where's that bourbon you mentioned?"

Levi laughed.

Nicola raised her bottle. "Right here."

Nicola took a drink.

Kaylin grinned. "I knew I liked you already."

Kaylin walked over to the couch, flopping down next to Nicola as she reached for the bottle.

Nicola looked at Kaylin curiously for a moment before handing it over.

Kaylin smiled before taking a drink.

Stefan, Nathan and Levi looked at them in amusement, not surprised that even with the complete opposites in Nicola and Kaylin's personalities, they would have an instant connection.

Nathan chuckled, looking at Kaylin. "Well, since you've already got acquainted with Levi and you two seem close already, I think you and Nikki are going to be very close too."

Kaylin smirked, winking in return as she took another swig from the bourbon bottle. "Oh, I have a feeling Nikki and I are going to be the best of friends." She turned to Nicola with a mischievous glint in her eye. "What do you say, Nikki? Want to hear some embarrassing stories about our brothers here?"

Nicola's eyes lit up with interest, a small smile tugging at her lips despite her earlier frustration. "Now that sounds like fun."

Levi's eyes widened in mock horror. "Oh no, what have I done? I've unleashed a monster."

Stefan chuckled, shaking his head. "I think we're all in trouble now."

Nathan nodded in agreement, a wry smile on his face. "We should probably hide the rest of the bourbon before these two get started."

Kaylin waved the boys off, settling into the couch next to Nicola as she handed her the bottle back.

Nicola took the bottle. "So you're the infamous Kaylin Salvatore. I've heard stories, but never thought I'd meet you in person."

Kaylin raised an eyebrow, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "All good things, I hope?"

Nicola snorted. "Depends on your definition of 'good'."

Nicola took a swig.

Kaylin laughed. "Fair enough. I'm sure my brothers have painted quite the picture."

"You could say that," Nicola replied dryly. She hesitated for a moment. "They said you were the Queen of Chicago. That you ruled over all the supernaturals there."

Kaylin's expression turned slightly more serious, though her eyes still held a hint of amusement. "Ah, yes. My reign in the Windy City. Those were some interesting times. A lot of which I don't remember, but..."

Nicola leaned forward, genuinely curious. "What was it like? How did you manage to control an entire city of supernatural beings?"

Kaylin took another swig from the bottle before answering. "It wasn't easy, I'll tell you that. Vampires, werewolves, witches. They all have their own agendas, their own power struggles. The key was to make them all fear you more than they feared each other."

"And how exactly did you do that?" Nicola inquired.

Kaylin's eyes gleamed as a slow smirk spread across her face. "Let's just say I earned my title as the Queen of Torture for a reason. I made examples of those who crossed me. Word spread quickly after that."

Nicola raised an eyebrow, both impressed and slightly unnerved. "I can imagine. But why Chicago? Why not somewhere else?"

Kaylin shrugged. "Chicago had a certain charm to it. The jazz, the speakeasies, the constant flow of booze and blood during Prohibition. It was a vampire's paradise." For a moment, her expression turned wistful. "Plus, I needed to get away from my brothers for a while. Forge my own path, you know?"

Nicola nodded in understanding. "I can relate to that. Family can be... overwhelming." She rolled her eyes sarcastically. "This one more than most."

Kaylin laughed. "Exactly." She leaned back, her demeanor lightening again. "But it wasn't all blood and torture. There were some pretty wild parties too. The 1920s were a hell of a time to be in Chicago."

Nicola couldn't help but smile, intrigued by Kaylin's stories. "I bet. Sounds like you've lived quite the life."

"Oh, I have," Kaylin replied with a wink. "And I've got plenty more stories where that came from. But enough about me. What about you?"

Levi chuckled. "Kaylin, you may be the life of every party, the wild child of the century. But Nikki? She's the solitary soul, the hermit of the high-rise."

Stefan and Nathan smirked slightly in agreement, nodding.

Kaylin nudged Nicola playfully. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you've never caused a little trouble yourself. I know Levi said you were the opposite of me and him, but I bet there's a little bit of us in you somewhere."

"Hard to do that when these are her castle walls," Levi remarked.

Nicola shot Levi a look, narrowing her eyes in a way that conveyed she was still not happy with him, but a bit more laidback at the moment. "You're not helping."

Kaylin's eyes lit up with interest. "Oh, castle walls, huh? Sounds like someone needs a jailbreak." She leaned in closer to Nicola, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Come on, Nikki. Let's ditch these buzzkills and go paint the town red. I bet you've got some wild stories of your own just waiting to be unleashed."

Nicola hesitated, glancing between Kaylin's eager expression and the boys' amused faces. For a moment, a flicker of curiosity and skepticism passed across her usually stoic features. She shook her head, taking another swig of bourbon.

"I... I don't think that's a good idea," Nicola said.

Kaylin wasn't deterred. She knew even if she didn't get to take Nicola out on the town tonight, she would eventually. "Alright, another time then. Just saying, I'm even more interested. A hermit, huh? There's always a story behind that." She leaned in closer to Nicola, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Come on, spill. What made you retreat from the world? Bad breakup? Magical mishap?"

Nicola chuckled, taking a swig of bourbon. "Nothing that exciting, I'm afraid. I just... prefer my own company. And my books." She gestured to the laptop. "There's a whole world of knowledge out there, and I'd rather explore that than deal with... people."

"Ah, a scholar!" Kaylin mused. "I can respect that. Though I must say, you're missing out on some of life's greatest pleasures by hiding away in here." Her eyes gleamed with mischief. "But don't worry, we'll change that soon enough. I have a feeling you and I are going to have some grand adventures together, Nikki."

Nicola raised an eyebrow skeptically. "I wouldn't count on it."

"Oh, come on," Kaylin cajoled. "Where's your sense of adventure? Live a little!"

"I prefer to live vicariously through my research," Nicola replied dryly.

Levi chuckled. "Told you she was a tough nut to crack."

Kaylin shot him a look. "Challenge accepted, dear nephew." She turned back to Nicola with a grin. "Mark my words, little niece Nikki, by the time I'm done with you, you'll be begging me to take you out on the town."

Nathan shook his head in amusement. "Don't scare Nikki away too soon, Kaylin. You just met her."

Kaylin's eyes twinkled mischievously as she turned to Nicola. "How about we compromise? A girls' night in? We can raid the liquor cabinet, swap stories. I can turn on the music and dance the night away. I'm always having impromptu house parties. So much fun. You can join if you want."

Nicola hesitated, glancing between Kaylin's eager face and their brothers' amused expressions. After a moment, she sighed and gave a small nod. "I suppose that wouldn't be too terrible."

Levi grinned, clapping his hands together. "Well, ladies, it seems you have plans for the evening. Shall we gentlemen make ourselves scarce?"

Stefan nodded, a hint of relief in his voice. "Probably for the best. I have a feeling things might get a bit... wild."

Nathan chuckled. "Don't burn the place down, alright?"

Kaylin's eyes lit up with mischief. "No promises!"

As the boys made their exit, Kaylin hopped up from the couch, pulling Nicola along with her. She made her way to the ornate wooden cabinet in the corner of the room, throwing open the doors with a flourish.

"Now this is what I'm talking about," Kaylin said appreciatively, eyeing the rows of expensive liquor bottles. She pulled out a bottle of top-shelf whiskey and a bottle of vodka. "Pick your poison, Nikki."

Nicola hesitated for a moment before reaching for the whiskey. "Might as well go all out. Mystic Falls might be going down in flames soon enough."

Kaylin grinned approvingly. "That's the spirit! Now, let's get this party started."

(Song) Dance in the Dark - Au/Ra

Kaylin sauntered over to the stereo system, fiddling with the controls until music filled the room. Kaylin started swaying to the rhythm, drink in hand, as she made her way back to Nicola.

"Come on, Nikki, let's see those dance moves," Kaylin encouraged, holding out her hand.

Nicola hesitated, clutching her whiskey glass. "I... don't really dance."

Kaylin tilted her head. "Nonsense! Everyone can dance. It's all about feeling the music." She took Nicola's free hand, gently pulling her to her feet. "Just move with the beat. Like this."

Kaylin demonstrated, her body flowing gracefully to the music.

Nicola watched Kaylin's fluid movements with a mixture of awe and trepidation. She took a large gulp of whiskey, feeling the burn as it slid down her throat. With a deep breath, she tentatively began to sway, her movements stiff and awkward compared to Kaylin's natural grace.

Kaylin beamed encouragingly. "There you go! Just let loose and feel the rhythm."

As the song progressed, Nicola gradually relaxed, her movements becoming less rigid. The alcohol was starting to take effect, warming her from the inside and lowering her inhibitions. A small smile tugged at her lips as she found herself actually enjoying the moment.

"You're a natural!" Kaylin exclaimed, twirling around Nicola. "See? I knew you had it in you."

Nicola laughed, the sound surprising even herself. "I wouldn't go that far." Despite Nicola's words, there was a lightness in her tone that hadn't been there before. Nicola had been sipping on bourbon basically all night, so she wasn't much surprised. "I must be drunker than I thought."

As the night wore on, the two danced, drank, and talked. Kaylin regaled Nicola with wild stories of her adventures through the centuries, while Nicola shared some of the more interesting tidbits from her research. The alcohol flowed freely, and with it, Nicola's usual reserve began to melt away.

"You know," Nicola said, her words slightly slurred as she flopped back onto the couch, "I never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually having fun."

Kaylin grinned triumphantly, plopping down next to her. "See? I told you! There's more to life than just books and research, Nikki. And believe me when I tell you that this is only the beginning."

(End of Song)

-

Party

In the aftermath of the party coming to a horrific end, Liv, Alex, Ashley and Jeremy were sitting on a table, all in shock and horrified after seeing Kacie like that.

Liv was holding an icepack to her twisted ankle.

Ashley looked down, completely overwhelmed, not just with Kacie, but also with Roni and all that entailed.

Elena walked up to her siblings. "You guys okay?" None of them could bring themselves to answer after the trauma of the night. Elena nodded knowingly, sadly. "I called Jenna. She's on her way."

Jeremy was about to take a drink from the beer.

Alex looked at him. "Those people in uniforms? Last time I checked, they're the police."

Jeremy rolled his eyes, finishing his drink, tossing the bottle behind him.

Elena looked hurt. "People are going to stop giving you breaks, Jer. They just don't care anymore. They don't remember that our parents and sister are dead, because they've got their own lives to deal with. The rest of the world has moved on. You should try, too."

"I've seen you in the cemetery writing in your diary," Jeremy told her. "Is that--is that supposed to be you moving on?"

Ashley looked down, shaking her head. "Gabby, Mom and Dad wouldn't have wanted this."

Liv swallowed, looking down. "None of them would have."

Liv's words hung heavily in the air with all that they and their friends had lost, none of the siblings aware that their lives of darkness had just begun.

Alex wrapped an arm around Liv and Ashley on either side of her, as her little sisters leaned into her side, laying their heads on her shoulders.

Elena and Jeremy looked at them sadly, sighing heavily.

-

The Grill

(Song) Siren Song - Bat For Lashes

Eliza and Caroline sat together at a table.

"Are you sober yet?" Eliza asked.

Caroline looked up, moaning her answer. "No."

"Keep drinking," Eliza told her. "I gotta get us home before Mom flips."

"Why didn't he go for me?" Caroline asked. "You know, how come the guys that I want never want me?"

Eliza shook her head. "I'm not touching that."

"I'm inappropriate," Caroline told her. "I always say the wrong thing. And... Elena always says the right thing. She doesn't even try! And he just picks her. And she's always the one that everyone picks, for everything. And I try so hard, and... I'm never the one."

Eliza gave her a sympathetic look. "It's not a competition, Caroline."

Caroline looked up. "Yeah, it is."

-

Hospital - Kacie's Hospital Room

Tyler and Eli were sitting at the hospital with Kacie.

Kacie was sleeping on the bed, in a hospital robe, a bandage over her neck and a IVs in her arms. She slowly woke up.

Tyler leaned forward, whispering. "Kacie... Hey. Hey, it's okay. You're gonna be okay."

Kacie could barely speak above a whisper. "Ty. Eli--"

Eli shook his head. "Hey, don't try to talk, okay? You're fine."

"Vampire," Kacie told them.

Tyler and Eli frowned in confusion.

(End of Song)

-~-

Gilbert House - Alex's Room

(Song) Never Say Never - The Fray

Alex was sitting on the window seat, writing in her diary.

Alex: (voice over) "Dear diary, I couldn't have been more wrong. I thought that I could smile, nod my way through it; pretend like it would all be okay."

-

Salvatore Boarding House - Stefan's Room

Stefan was sitting on his bed with his diary.

Stefan: (voice over) "I had a plan."

-

Nathan's Room

Nathan was looking outside his window, looking down at his hands, showing the same picture that Stefan had of Katherine and Valentina.

Nathan frowned, placing the picture on the desk, walking away.

-

Living Room

Kaylin conned Nicola into dancing and drinking with her some more, just making sure they were having fun and releasing pent-up energy.

Levi watched them from the doorway with a small smile. He was impressed yet unsurprised that Kaylin had gotten Nicola to party with her in the confines of their own home, slowly trying to bring her out of her shell. He knew that it wouldn't be that easy with everything else, but he was happy that he had someone to help him make sure his twin's life wasn't confined to the walls of the boarding house forever.

Stefan: (voice over) "I wanted to change who I was; create a life as someone new, someone without the past."

-

Stefan's Room

Stefan got up from the bed, walking to the desk.

Elena: (voice over) "Without the pain."

Stefan put the diary on the desk, walking out of the room.

Alex/Elena/Stefan: (voice over) "Someone alive."

-

Gilbert Residence - Living Room

Jenna walked into the living room, looking at Liv sitting on the couch, facing away from her. Jenna leaned against the doorway, watching her.

Alex: (voice over) "But it's not that easy. The bad things stay with you."

Liv was looking at a picture of their family. She had tears in her eyes, touching the glass over Gabriella's face. She had struggled to be strong for so long, and she didn't know if she could keep doing it.

Stefan: (voice over) "They follow you."

-

The Grill

Eliza and Caroline were still sitting at their table.

Eliza stood, walking away, looking at her phone, revealing Damon behind her, sitting a few seats away.

Damon turned his head to look at Caroline.

Stefan: (voice over) "You can't escape them, as much as you want to."

Caroline looked up to meet Damon's gaze. After a moment, they smiled at each other.

-

Gilbert House - Elena's Room

Elena was writing in her diary on her window seat.

Elena: (voice over) "All you can do is be ready for the good. So when it comes, you invite it in, because you need it. I need it."

Elena looked outside her window to find Stefan. She pushed the blankets away and got up to walk downstairs.

-

Foyer

Elena opened the front door to face Stefan.

"I know it's late," Stefan told her. "But, uh... I needed to know that you were okay."

Elena shook her head a little. "You know, for months, that's all anyone's wondered about me. If I'll be okay."

"What do you tell them?" Stefan asked.

"That I'll be fine," Elena answered.

"Do you ever mean it?" Stefan asked.

"Ask me tomorrow," Elena told him, taking a deep breath, stepping a side. "It's warmer in the house. We can talk. Would you like to come in?"

Stefan nodded. "Yes."

Stefan entered Elena's house, slowly stepping inside.

Elena closed the door.

(End of Song)

-

Parking Lot

A man named Joshua walked towards his parked car, opened the door and climbed into the driver's seat. As he turned on the engine and began to drive away, he suddenly saw a cloaked figure standing in front of his car, causing him to slam on the brakes.

Joshua looked up in confusion at the figure, who simply tilted their head and watched him intently.

Before Joshua could react, the cloaked figure swiftly moved to the side of the car and pounded on the window with a gloved hand.

Joshua's heart raced as he fumbled to lock the doors, his mind racing with fear and confusion.

The cloaked figure leaned in closer, their face hidden within the shadows of their hood, and spoke in a low, raspy voice.

"You cannot escape your fate, Joshua," the cloaked figure whispered ominously. "You are marked, and no amount of running will save you."

Joshua's hands shook as he gripped the steering wheel, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. He glanced around frantically, searching for any means of escape. But the cloaked figure seemed to anticipate his every move, always one step ahead.

The cloaked figure punched through the window and leapt into the car, causing Joshua to scream in shock. The figure then forcefully threw him out of the car and onto the street.

Joshua quickly got up and tried to run for safety, while the cloaked figure watched calmly from a distance.

-

Alley

Joshua's heart pounded in his chest as he stumbled into the dark alley, hoping to evade the mysterious cloaked figure that had been stalking him. The oppressive darkness seemed to swallow him whole as he pressed himself against the cold brick wall, trying to slow his ragged breaths. But before he could even gather his thoughts, a soft whisper filled the air around him.

"You can run, but you cannot hide," the voice taunted, sending shivers down Joshua's spine.

Joshua tried to peer into the shadows, but the cloaked figure was already upon him, moving with an unnatural grace that made his blood run cold.

The cloaked figure's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she cornered Joshua in the dark alley. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, fear coursing through his veins. With nowhere left to run, he turned to face the figure, his breath coming out in short, ragged gasps.

The cloaked figure took a step closer, the dark cloak billowing around the figure like a shadowy shroud. In the dim light filtering through the alley, Joshua could see the glint of sharpened steel in their hand. He knew he was no match for the figure, knew that his only chance lay in outsmarting them somehow.

Desperation clawed at him as he searched for a way out, but the walls of the alley seemed to close in around him.

The cloaked figure smiled cruelly, a predator toying with its prey.

"Who are you?" Joshua managed to croak out, his voice barely above a whisper.

The cloaked figure tilted her head slightly, eyes shining with a green glow, voice dripping with malice. "That doesn't concern you."

Joshua's heart raced as he desperately tried to think of a way out of this situation. He couldn't let himself be killed by this mysterious figure, not when there was so much left for him to do in his life.

But before he could even make a move, the cloaked figure lunged at him with surprising speed, the blade aimed directly at his heart. Joshua's reflexes kicked in and he managed to dodge the attack, but not without a slash across his arm.

Pain shot through his body as blood dripped down his arm. He stumbled backwards, trying to create some distance between them. He needed to find a weapon or some sort of advantage if he wanted to survive this encounter.

As the cloaked figure advanced on him once again, Joshua quickly scanned his surroundings and spotted a metal pipe lying on the ground nearby. With the last ounce of strength in his injured arm, he reached for it and swung it at the cloaked figure.

The pipe collided with her side, causing her to stagger back in surprise. Taking advantage of her momentary distraction, Joshua turned and ran as fast as he could down the alleyway.

He could hear the sound of pursuit behind him and pushed himself harder, adrenaline giving him an extra burst of energy. But just when he thought he might make it out alive, something unexpected happened.

The cloaked figure appeared in front of him.

Joshua's heart sank as he came face to face with the cloaked figure once again. He skidded to a stop, his body tensed and ready for another attack.

The cloaked figure scrutinized Joshua with an unwavering gaze, sending a chill down his back. Her eyes, concealed beneath the shadowy fabric, appeared to emanate an unearthly green glow. She reached out and grabbed Joshua by the throat, pinning him against the nearest wall.

"Please," Joshua gasped, but his words came out as nothing more than a whisper due to her tight grip on his neck.

To his confusion, the cloaked figure suddenly released him. A glimmer of hope crossed Joshua's face before it was quickly extinguished as the cloaked figure swiftly swung her curved dagger at his throat. The blade sliced through his skin, causing searing pain and making him gasp. He could feel his glowing green life force draining out of him through the wound.

As the cloaked figure opened her mouth, Joshua's life force flowed into it like a stream. His eyes sunk into their sockets, his cheeks hollowing like a deflated balloon. His once vibrant body now resembled a lifeless husk. His hair started to thin and turn white, while his once taut skin began to wrinkle and sag. Minutes felt like years as he aged rapidly, his attempts to fight against it growing weaker by the second.

Finally, the transfer came to an end as the cloaked figure let go of Joshua. His skin was pale and thin, clinging tightly to his bones. His vacant eyes stared up at the sky, deeply sunken into his skull. He looked like a desiccated corpse, drained of all vitality and energy.

The cloaked figure stood over the Joshua's body, her heavy breaths visible through the darkness. Its eyes glowed a bright green as it watched its target with satisfaction.

Suddenly, clapping could be heard behind the figure. It turned to see Damon standing at the entrance of the alleyway.

"Well, well, you're improving quite nicely, my little acolyte" Damon remarked. "For a baby Succubus, at least."

As the cloaked figure pull down her hood, Roni's face was revealed, her green eyes still glowing as she smirked confidently as the glow faded. "An acolyte is only as skilled as their teacher."

Damon's lips curled into a prideful smirked. "That's right, I am an excellent teacher."

Roni's smirk widened as she stepped over the dead man, her boots sounding on the cobblestone. "Besides, I wouldn't call this my best work. He was... disappointingly easy."

Damon chuckled, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. "Don't get cocky now, V. There's still much for you to learn."

A high rushed through Roni's veins after her meal, temporarily erasing all of her pain and anger over the last few days, especially tonight.

Roni laughed, the sound echoing off the brick walls, her green eyes sparkling mischievously. "Oh, I'm well aware. But tell me, how many of your other students managed to drain a man twice their size without breaking a sweat?"

Roni gestured to the Joshua body on the ground, his desiccated form staring right back at them.

Damon glanced at the man, then back at Roni. He walked towards her, his eyes taking in the chaotic scene. "You've made quite a mess. Weren't you the one who constantly preached about being discreet?"

Roni rolled her eyes, the last traces of the green eyes and energy fading. "Relax. No one comes down this alley at night."

"Not bad," Damon conceded with a nod. "But don't underestimate our enemies. Some may not be as easily overpowered as this one."

The alley seemed to grow darker, shadows deepening around them.

"Also still an acolyte, am I?" Roni asked, her voice low and sultry. "I think I've outgrown that title, don't you?"

Damon chuckled, his eyes gleaming with pride and amusement, his voice low and smooth. "Perhaps, little bird. But never forget that there's always someone stronger, someone smarter, someone who can outwit you."

Roni's lips curled into a smirk as she stepped closer to Damon, her tone sarcastic. "Let me guess like you, you mean?"

Damon raised an eyebrow, a smirk mirroring hers on his handsome face. "Exactly."

Roni's face lost all traces of amusement as the effects of the chi wore off and were replaced with anger. She glared at Damon. "You're hardly the model vampire for self-control."

"Because that's for losers," Damon responded.

As the rush and high faded, Roni remembered how furious she was with Damon for tonight's stunt. "What were you thinking, attacking Kacie? That wasn't part of the plan."

Damon rolled his eyes, knowing this would come up the second Roni wasn't influenced by chi. "You said it yourself. Body after body they can ignore and cover up. But an attack on a member of the Founding Family, especially the mayor's daughter?"

"Yeah, but we discussed taking out a Fell, not a Lockwood," Roni reminded him. "Kacie is innocent and my friend."

"I will feed on whoever I damn well please, Roni," Damon retorted. "Besides, wasn't it Miss Kacie's father who made sure you got sent to juvie to cover up his niece's tracks?"

Roni crossed her arms, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "That's not the point, Damon. We have a plan and you can't just go off and do whatever you want."

Damon scoffed, clearly uninterested in abiding by someone else's rules. "You can't deny that the thought of Mr. Lockwood's misery brings you some joy."

Roni stared him down with a serious glare. "Richard, yes. Kacie, no. She is still my friend, and if you hurt any of my friends again..."

"What exactly are you going to do?" Damon asked in amusement.

Roni didn't have an answer yet, not knowing how she would stop him as of tonight when she still needed him, and he still needed her. That didn't mean she wouldn't find a way.

Damon hummed. "That's what I thought." He smirked, his voice laced with amusement. "Speaking of your little friends, how was your first day of school?"

Knowing that for now, she had to let it go, Roni rolled her eyes and shrugged. "Boring. But it's only the first day, so I can't really judge yet."

Damon arched an eyebrow. "Did anyone suspect anything? About us, I mean."

"What exactly are they supposed to suspect?" Roni replied sarcastically. "That I'm teaming up with a murderous vampire to wreak havoc and get what we want?"

"You forgot to mention handsome," Damon added playfully.

Roni couldn't help but let out a laugh despite her anger. "Please, they're completely clueless."

Damon chuckled along with her, but then his expression turned serious. "But we can't let our guard down. We have to make sure no one catches on to our little arrangement."

Roni nodded in agreement. "Don't worry, I know how to play innocent when needed."

"I'm sure you do," Damon said with a smirk. "You've certainly fooled everyone so far."

Roni rolled her eyes. "It's not that hard. They all think I'm just a ditzy outcast that thanks to drugs and a bad past can't tell her elbow from her ass."

"Little do they know you're chi sucking genius Succubus," Damon mused, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. Salvatore," Roni teased.

"On the contrary," Damon said with a smirk. "I think it's gotten me exactly where I want to be."

Roni's smile faded as she spoke, her voice urgent. "We need to act fast. The Council will start acting soon, and Levi, your young nephew, has been asking too many questions. This means Stefan must also be growing suspicious, and your niece Nicola won't be far behind. And judging by your tardiness, I'm assuming Nathan and Kaylin have made themselves known?"

Damon gritted his teeth at the mention of his family, eyes flashing nervously at the mention of Kaylin's name, which Roni noticed. "I'll handle my family. They won't interfere with our plans."

"You'd better," Roni warned, her eyes narrowing. "We've come too far to let sentiment get in the way now."

Damon glared at her, causing Roni to look away.

"I said I'll handle it," Damon growled. "My family won't be a problem."

Roni nodded, composing herself. "Very well. Now, about the artifact. Have you managed to secure it?"

Damon reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, intricately carved wooden box. "It wasn't easy, but I got it. The guardian put up quite a fight." Roni's eyes gleamed as she reached for the box, but Damon pulled it away. "Not so fast. We had a deal, remember?"

Sighing, Roni produced a paper from her pocket as she handed him to it. "A list of all active members on the Founder's Council as requested. Nicola and Levi's dad Zach's name is on it."

Damon took the paper, not surprised, nodding. "I'm not surprised. Nikki and Levi's father did always take after the rest of the family, wary of me and my siblings. Apparently the twins are the only two that care about building a connection with Stefan, Nathan and Kaylin."

"Feeling left out of the family reunion because of your psychotic ways?" Roni asked teasingly.

Damon hummed sarcastically. "Hmm. Looks like your little game with Tyler Lockwood has its benefits."

"As I said, I play to win or I don't play at all," Roni replied confidently.

Damon smirked. "Well, then, let's get started."

Roni smirked over her shoulder before striding off, her cloak swirling in the cool night air. Damon kept pace behind her as they entered the town square and blended into the shadows.

-

Gilbert House - Ashley's Room

(Song) Running Up That Hill - Placebo

Later that night, after Stefan had already left the Gilbert house and all the siblings had went to sleep, Ashley was shown in her bed, tossing and turning from a nightmarish vision.

-

Ashley's Nightmare

Day - Woods

Ashley appeared in a barren forest, looking around in a confused haze.

A mirror image of Ashley seemed to appear before her. "Ashley."

Ashley turned around in confusion, swallowing as she looked at the version of herself before her. "Who are you?"

"Althea," the mirror image replied, her voice echoing and dreamy. "Come. Follow me."

As Althea led Ashley through the dead trees, Ashley felt compelled to follow.

Through a haze of light fog, they could hear a baby's cry and a woman's soft humming.

Ashley and Althea reached a clearing through the mist.

In the clearing, another mirror image of Ashley sat with a baby in her arms, humming and singing softly as she rocked the infant to sleep. She was covered in dirt and blood, wounded.

Ashley was lost in a cloud of confusion, in a daze.

"Do you know who she is?" Althea asked softly.

"No," Ashley answered.

"Erika," Althea breathed.

Despite Erika's pain, she gazed at the baby in her arms. "Very well. I will tell you the story of the warrior made to kill the invaders. The invader she fell in love with. Althea's story."

A nightmarish blurring effect took over Erika's face with a whooshing sound as she groaned in pain, gasping as she turned her head away. She pressed a hand to her side, crying out.

Ashley frowned in concern, unnerved by the scene before her. "She's dying."

Althea glided toward Erika as if like a spirit, kneeling next to her; the two mirror images of Ashley looked toward her, and Ashley became even more uneasy after seeing two people who were clearly not her look like her, gazing at her with such intensity that it drove a shiver down her spine.

Erika returned her gaze to the baby. "You could have united our races. And now, my sweet daughter..." She placed the baby on the ground, her voice turning distorted and deep. "You will destroy them."

Rising to her feet in an instant, Erika gripped Ashley by the throat as she dangled her from the ground.

Ashley gasped, struggling. "No!"

Erika and Althea's voices overlapped in a haunting echo, eyes rolling back into their skulls. "You cannot help us. Child of our blood. Child of wrath. The time of contempt is nigh. The world will die amidst the frost and be reborn of the new sun. Reborn of our blood, of the seed that has been shown." Gradually, an eerie red nightmare quality filled the air around them like suffocating mist. "A stone that will not sprout, but will burst into destruction."

Ashley clawed at Erika's hand, gasping for air as her vision began to blur. The forest around them seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, the red mist swirling and thickening.

Suddenly, a piercing wail cut through the air. The baby on the ground began to cry, its tiny fists balled up in distress. Erika's grip loosened, and Ashley fell to the ground, coughing and gulping in air, When she looked up, Erika and Althea had vanished. Only the baby remained, wailing on the ground where Erika had placed it.

The red mist swirled around Ashley, thickening with each passing moment. She crawled towards the infant, her limbs heavy and uncooperative. As she reached for the child, the mist coalesced into writhing tendrils that wrapped around her arms and legs.

"No!" Ashley cried, fighting against the ethereal bonds. "Let me go!"

The tendrils tightened, pulling Ashley away from the crying infant. She struggled against their grip, her fingers barely grazing the edge of the blanket wrapped around the baby. The child's cries grew louder, more desperate, as if sensing Ashley's retreat.

"Please," Ashley begged, her voice hoarse. "I have to help the baby!"

But the mist was relentless, dragging her further and further away. The forest began to fade, replaced by an impenetrable darkness that threatened to swallow her whole. The baby's cries echoed in her ears, growing fainter with each passing second.

Just as the darkness was about to consume her completely, Ashley's nightmare ended with a jolt.

-

Now

Night - Gilbert House - Ashley's Room

Ashley jolted awake with a gasp. She sat up in bed, her heart pounding in her chest, her nightgown damp with sweat. She was terrified of the nightmare but had no idea what it meant or it meant anything at all.

(End of Song)

-~-