A/N: Hey guys I'm back with a new update. This past week has been rough with all the finals and everything but I am now done. I might update this story sooner since I'm gonna have more free time.

Thank you guys so much for the reviews, favorites and follows and keep them coming :) This chapter is in Nora's POV and its just mainly on her thoughts on what happened. Enjoy and please if you can leave a review letting me know what I can improve on, is there anything you would like to see because remember I don't have a storyline planned out and I'm just making this as I go.

p.s Did anyone see that clip of Mary-Louise asking about Nora to Valerie *sobs*

Nora's P.O.V

You were in shock. Had Mary-Louise really chosen to believe him after everything Valerie had told us? Yes, Valerie wasn't the most honest person but this couldn't have been a lie. This was her child. You couldn't imagine what Valerie was going through, watching all of us side with Julian while she stood on the sideline, watching the man who ruined her life manipulate his way into ours.

When you sought out Mare in the staircase and saw her tear stained cheeks you knew she had done something bad. You could tell it was eating her from the inside. She told you what she had done and you just stood there in shock, trying to process everything she had said. You knew that she tended to make rash decisions, but you certainly hadn't expected this. You argued the fact that this was a different situation and that Valerie wouldn't lie, but she just retaliated by saying that this was coming from the person who had lied to us before and that this is exactly what Valerie wanted us to believe.

At that point, you knew that there was nothing you could say to make her believe. Standing there in silence, staring into her confused and angered eyes you felt a weight on your hand. The ring. The symbol that would unite us for eternity now felt like a symbol of manipulation. Watching the diamond shimmer, you realized what needed to be done. Slipping it off your finger, you heard Mare question what you were doing. Putting it on the table, you gazed into her green teary eyes, yours replicating hers and told her that you didn't want it. You didn't want any of it. Going down the steps, you heard her calling out for you in desperation. You never knew you could hear so much sadness in someone's voice, but there it was, crying out for you, needing you, just craving out for your attention. Without looking back, you continued down the steps, tears running down your face and her voice ringing in your ears.

Entering the room in which everyone was gathered, you noticed Lily gasping for air as there was a stake embedded in her heart. Everyone's face was in utter shock as to what just happened. Julian was in the corner shaking in anger and sadness, telling her how much he loved her and how they had already been unlinked.

As Julian ran out of the room, you led Lily to the sofa and removed the stake from her. Tears were clouding your eyesight as your bloody hands tried to remove the wood splinters that still seemed to be in her, but it was futile. Turning your gaze to Stefan, you asked what you should do, and he said that there was nothing that you could do and to just to say your goodbyes.

No, you weren't ready to say goodbye. You just were reunited after years of being locked away. This was the woman who took you in after everything, this was your mother. She was there when you needed her. Yes, she was strict but isn't that what a mother is; someone who loves you, protects you while at the same time enforcing rules knowing that they were for the best.

Holding Lily's hand, you didn't say anything, but she knew what you were trying to convey. Giving her hand a squeeze you stood up and walked out.

Once outside, you supported yourself by firmly grasping onto the door frame. It was then when everything came rushing in. Lily was dead and you had walked out of an important conversation with Mary-Lou.

Oh God, you gave her back the ring. She's probably thinking about how you don't want to marry her. That wasn't the case, you just couldn't keep that ring. You love Mary-Louise. You have and always will but you couldn't. It didn't represent your love. It just represented manipulation.

Taking a deep breath, wiping your tear stained cheeks, you stood up straight and proceeded to head to your room. You needed to lie down. So many things happened today and you just wanted it to be over. As if your feet had a mind of their own, they automatically led you to your room and as soon as you opened the door you heard glass shattering, heavy objects crashing, the thumps resounding from the walls.

Must be Julian, you thought as you entered and closed the door. What you didn't know was that it wasn't Julian downstairs, but rather it was Mary-Louise.

Flicking on the lights, you advanced towards the bed removing your heels as you went, sliding them away from you. You sat on the bed and while running your hand through your hair, you let out a much-needed sigh. What a day it had been.

Looking around the room, your eyes caught sight of a pink piece of stationary on the dresser. Curiosity got the best of you so you stood up and went to reach for it. Upon grabbing the note, a new set of tears formed. This time without the help of your blinking eyes, the tears automatically streamed down your face. A note from Mare. The handwriting neat and clear as always, but instead of her usual sharp letters you could see that they had a softer undertone to them. You brought the letter up to your face and proceeded to read.

My dearest Nora,

Today is the day I am going to ask you to marry me. It's been 133 since we have been together and I want the world to recognize that you are the love of my life, not just for the upcoming centuries but for eternity. You have always been the one for me and I hope you think that I'm the one for you.

Recently everything has been changing and that I've been acting much different. It's been hard for me to adjust to this new world and seeing you adapt so well and quickly makes me sometimes think how maybe one day you will leave me. I get so insecure knowing that I can't catch up with you and I can sense the frustration that you have with me. I don't blame anything on you, just on me, you're just trying to help.

Even though I'm still not used to everything, I can say that I do enjoy being able to show my affection for you more publicly. The things that you do to me Nora. The way your hair cascades over your shoulders in loose curls, the way you smile, and your eyes. Oh, your eyes, how they gleam up with excitement or danger when things go your way. Even after 133 years, you are still the most beautiful woman I have ever met. When I feel your presence my eyes automatically look for you. It's as if I can't function without catching a glimpse of you.

There are certainly not enough words in the world to express the feelings I have for you but the words that come to mind when I think about you are just simply three words. I love you. The most over-used words in the world but unlike everyone else, I mean it. You are my one true love, my everything.

Oh Nora, I can't wait to show you what I have prepared for you today. You should see the ring I bought for you. Not the one I would have chosen but due to our current living situation, it was the best I could find. I just hope you like it, it's not the size of the rock that matters but it's the meaning behind it, right? You deserve the best of everything and I plan on giving that to you forever if you give me the chance.

With so much love,

Mary-Louise

You didn't know how many times you read the letter, trying to memorize all the words. A tear landed on the note, ink mixing with water, smearing her signature. Trying to catch your breath, you placed the note on the dresser and let out a whimper. Now sobbing, all the events from today came back. The party, the proposal, the betrayal, Lily's death. This was all just too much. You needed some fresh air.

Grabbing the note, you slipped on some sandals and headed downstairs. Walking down the hallway, heading to the front door you caught a glimpse of the debris that was left in one of the rooms.

Exiting the house, you went down the porch and headed to the boardwalk by the river. It was the one place Mare wouldn't look for you, the one place that would remind her of what she lost. Reaching the boardwalk, you noticed someone standing there and to your surprise, she was there. From your angle, you could see that she was lost in thought as she hadn't noticed you walking towards her. Her eyes were blank; no emotion in them. You stood next to her and stared out into the river. Finally, she sensed a presence and looked to her right as you were just standing there. From your peripheral, you saw her just staring at you, eyes running all over your face. Without saying a word, she grabbed your hand and surprised by the action your hand twitched but instead of her letting go, she laced her fingers with yours.

Staring out into the river, both of you were thinking about what was about to come. One thinking of how they could fix this while the other thought if it was even fixable.