Damon signed the document and handed the pen to Mercedes for her to sign her own document.

She did and handed the signed last will and testament back to the attorney. Both she and Damon had enough assets to provide for Lessa for the rest of her life. It only seemed right that she get everything.

Standing outside the attorney office waiting for twin Damon lit a cigarette and watched as a young family of four came up to the office door. He held the door for them and waited as Mercedes came through the doorway after them.

"Are you sure about this? I know what I'm doing, but you've always been more selfish than me. It's okay not to want to do this." Damon said candidly to his sister.

Mercedes nodded, "I know what this decision means. You and I made a promise when she was born. We wouldn't let anything happen to her. Both of us are fucked because of what we were born with. I can never know if anyone every actually loves me for me or for my power. You can never truly trust anyone because you see through all their words into their heart immediately. Neither of us wants to have kids to pass this shit on to them. Giving it up for her, seems like the best decision. At least she might have a chance at a life." Mercedes said and put on her sunglasses as they walked to the car.

"Not after what has to happen to the wolf. She'll hate us for leaving her alone and without him she might not ever be happy again." Damon said somberly.

"She'll have the chance. That is more than we have." Mercedes finished the thought for her brother and they both nodded, agreed in making their decision.


Theo smiled as Lessa tugged on his hoodie over her t-shirt. Theo turned up the heat in the cab of the truck. Lessa smiled in thanks. Theo took her hand in his as he kept one hand on the wheel. He was happy that her temperature was back to normal.

"You ready for this?" He asked.

"Ready for what? You won't even tell me where we are going." Lessa complained as she looked out at the black night. They had been riding off road for about twenty minutes when Theo finally brought the truck to a stop.

Lessa stepped outside the cab and looked at the view in front of her in awe. The entire town lit up the sky from up here, but the light pollution didn't stop her from being able to see every single star in the sky.

"Theo, it's beautiful." She whispered as he came up behind her. Slipping his arms around her hips, she giggled when his fingers found her pockets in her jeans.

"What, my hands are cold." He joked as his breath came out in a white whoosh against the cold night. "Do you really like it?"

"Yes, of course I do. Being trapped inside forever and then being able to see this. It's better than perfect." She said as he continued to hug her.

Theo ran back around to the cab of the truck like a kid and hopped onto the hood. He patted the top of the hood for her join him. She did, with a little difficulty climbing the grill, but he outstretched his hand and tugged her up to be beside her.

Lessa snuggled against his chest as he opened his coat to cover both of them, "I love you, you know." Theo said quietly staring up at the stars. He couldn't look at her when he said. He might not be able to say the words if he was looking her. He still wasn't good at showing his emotions.

Less nodded against his chest, "I love you, Theo." She said in response and sighed as they laid and look up at the stars.

"If anything ever happens to me, Less, you have—." Lessa gripped the top of his shirt.

"Shhh….don't say that, please don't say that. Don't ruin this moment." She pleaded.

Theo hooked his finger under her chin and pulled her face to look at him, "I need you to hear this. I need to know you understand what I want."

"I don't want to talk about anything happening to you. I can't bear it." She said, tears starting to pool in her eyes.

He ignored her tears, though it was hard, "I need to know you'll move on."

She shook her head, "No. There, it's settled." She said trying to change the subject.

"Less, I—" He began.

"No, you're it. Okay, you shithead! You're it! You're mine and I'm yours! Shut the fuck up and kiss me." She growled tugging his head down to her lips.

Theo chuckled against her lips. He wanted to say the right thing. He didn't want her to be sad when he did what was needed, but he was kind of delighted in her declaration. He was selfishly happy that she would miss him, but he didn't want her to be sad forever.

Theo didn't think much about what happened next as Lessa deepened the kiss and he pulled her over his lap. Her hair framing their faces as she leaned down and tugged at his bottom lip with her teeth lightly.

"Theo, I want to have sex." She said gasping as he reached up and kissed her neck.

Theo froze, "You want to have sex? Now? Here?" He asked.

"Yes. I don't want to wait until after we get rid of all this shitstorm around us. I want to do it now." Lessa said pulling off his hoodie from her shoulders. He took the discarded hoodie and put it back on her shoulders.

"We are sitting in the middle of the woods, it's freezing cold and you want to have sex." He said incredulously.

"Yes." Lessa replied like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"On the top of the truck?" Theo asked still confused.

Lessa shrugged, "You're the expert, not me."

"No, I'm not screwing you on the hood of the truck. You're first time needs to be at least in a bed." He said and began to climb down.

Lessa followed him sliding down the side of the truck to land on her feet. She couldn't climb, but she pounced like a damn cat. Pushing him up against the truck she pushed a finger into his chest, "Listen mister. You and I are going to be together forever. But I don't know how long our forever is. So I wanted to have sex, and I want to have it now."

Theo rolled his eyes and opened the cab of the truck, "Get in the truck." He commanded.

Lessa put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot.

"Less, get in the damn truck." He repeated.

Lessa growled something inarticulate and shoved Theo up against the side of the truck. Theo was taken aback by how strong she was, he had never seen this side of her. Lessa began to unbutton his jeans, "Theo just say yes, please just say yes." Less pleaded.

Theo was trying to come up with a decent argument when her hand snaked into his pants and wrapped around his cock. Theo froze as she stroked him lazily. Theo couldn't help the moan that came out of his mouth as she continued to touch him.

"Is that a yes?" Lessa teased.

"Goddamnit." Theo cursed and moaned again as her other hand moved under his shirt to caress his abs. "Fuck it." He groaned and slipped his hands under her butt and pulled her up against him. Lessa reflexively wrapped her legs around his waist. She gasped as he ground his hardness against her jean covered core.

Lessa moaned as he swiveled his hips against her, "Fuck." Theo cursed again. "Why won't you let me be the good guy." He begged, his bottom lip trembling from how much he wanted to be inside her right this minute.

Lessa looked up and met his worried eyes, clouded with pleasure, they were still worried for her, "I want you, Theo. Just you." Theo nodded and kissed her as he shoved off his boots and jeans. He helped her kick off her own boots and threw their discarded clothes in the front seat of the truck.

Lessa was already waiting in the back of truck laying against the armrest of the other side when Theo closed the door behind them. Theo had to take a minute to take in the scene. They were both panting with nerves and want. Lessa laid with her legs turned slightly to the left in only her bra and panties. Theo was bent over with only his boxers on.

Less looked completely at ease, like she was just waiting for Theo to bring her a glass of wine, "How are you not nervous?" Theo asked. He was about to jump out of his skin. Not only was this the girl of his dreams, this was her first time, he couldn't fuck this up. I won't fuck it up for her. I swear. He promised himself. But Lessa just laid there waiting, not nervous at all.

Sitting up, she scooted her legs around his hips and tucked her feet against his calves, "I'm not nervous because it's you. I trust you, Theo. Always." Theo leaned his head down so his forehead touched hers.

"No matter what I do, this might hurt. And I don't want to hurt you." He breathed against her hair it fluttered around her face.

"Do you want me to be with someone else for my first time?" She suggested.

"If you touch another man, I'll rip his arms off and make him eat his own dick." Theo growled against her neck.

"Doesn't really seem fair, as I would be touching him too. Guess we're at a standstill. Oh, wait, look, not a standstill anymore, " Lessa teased and began to help ease his briefs down.

Theo placed his hand on hers to stop, "Oh no, you may be better at tactical assaults, but this is my foray. I get to take the lead on this one." He said and hooked his own thumbs under her underwear and pulled gently as she lifted her hips for him to make it easier.

Lessa smiled as he tossed the under garments in the front seat. Theo looked at her bra and couldn't help the smile it produced, "Front closure. Nice." He teased back and flipped the clip open to release what he knew it was holding back.

Lessa spilled out from the cups and Theo had to practically bite his fist. She was beautiful, all of her. But he wanted to touch every part of her and be inside her that very minute. But he had to take it slow.

Leaning upwards he kissed her until he knew she was dizzy. He waited to move downward until he felt her hands slide up and down his back. He ran his thumb along the underside of one breast and was delighted in the quick and surprised gasp that left her lips.

Leaning down next he kissed one nipple then other. He made sure to always be tugging on one lightly if he was suckling at the other. He liked trying to get her to make different sounds. When he felt her hand in his hair, urging him on for more, he couldn't help but nip a little. She jumped from surprise, but then her body begged for more. Sliding down he kissed along the curve of her hip as it shuddered against his touch.

Lessa threw her head back and almost cracked it on the armrest when Theo gripped her ass hard, but not too hard. She wanted to touch him, play with him, but he had the reins this time. Her hands convulsed on his biceps as he played with her breasts, taking his time, licking his way downward, but always coming up for a kiss before he moved on.

Theo tugged at the small pearl that emerged from other lips when he kissed her inner thigh. Only his hand on her stomach stopped her back from arching completely. He wrapped each arm around a thigh and slowly parted her thighs.

Lessa shivered in anticipation as she felt Theo's breath on her inner thigh. Theo was trying so hard not to rush her. He wanted it to be as special as possible in the back of truck cab. She deserved so much better than him, and he would not let this be bad memory for her.

Rolling his eye upwards he silently asked for permission to do this to her. Lessa bit her lip and nodded meeting his gaze. She tried not to split her lip as she bit it harder as his pink tongue disappeared between her legs and she felt him kiss her there.

It was a different kind of kiss entirely. Theo was an expert at kissing her lips, but he was a different kind of expert down there. It was taking all her self control not to scream. She gripped the leather of the seats between her fingers and held on for dear life as Theo tongue fucked her to oblivion. She couldn't stop the scream as she came for him, but he didn't stop. He kept licking, sucking and tugging on her flesh until she came for the second time. When the first orgasm overtook it was like a muscle inside her snapped. As she came for the second time, he inserted his two first fingers and stretched her gently.

Theo kept toying with her senses as he came back up to her face to kiss her deeply. Her body still shivering with aftershocks as he continue to pet and coax her to relax. Lessa looked down at their bodies and saw that he had discarded his briefs.

Theo put a foil packet between his teeth and ripped all the while touching her, petting her, and kissing her. His hand disappeared between her legs once more tugging and stretching and teasing her.

"That's it, Less. Come for me, come on babe. Come again." He coaxed all the time playing her body like an instrument that he wanted a particular note from.

Lessa gripped Theo's bicep as her body gave into the gentle rhythm of the third orgasm. As her body continued to spasm, Theo spread her legs and thrust his body into hers. Lessa felt the intrusion slightly, but nothing horrible. It took all of Theo's physical control not to thrust again. He waited until Lessa's body was stretched and ready from him.

"You okay?" Theo asked. His bangs falling onto her forehead as he held himself above her.

Lessa nodded and leaned up to kiss him softly. Theo returned the kiss and began to move. It was a different kind of sensation. He was a master as using his body as a weapon, but in this situation it was more of a dance. Lessa moved and Theo moved in reflex to her.

The intimacy of him matching her gaze as he moved his hips in circles against her made her writhe beneath him. Lessa hooked her legs around the back of his thighs and used the leverage to move with him. Theo ground his teeth, trying to hold out as long as possible. He wanted her to go first, to give in, but he was losing grip, losing control as her hands gripped his shoulders first, then trailed along his back and finally down to his ass. As her fingers dug into the flesh there he lost it.

Lessa cried out his name as he panted and shuddered against her. Her name a sigh on his lips. Theo kept shuddering against her, his face hidden in her neck and hair. Lessa continued to pet his back and then she reached up to bring face to hers.

"Thank you." She said gently and kissed him first on the nose then the lips. Theo rolled to the side slightly. There wasn't much room in the back seat of the truck, so he was mostly propped up on his side. He pulled Lessa into the crevice of his arm.

"Whoa." He said still breathy from what had taken place between them.

"You okay?" Lessa asked sheepishly, "Was it okay?"

Theo chuckled, "Oh, it was better than okay. Trust me." He said and placed his jacket over her naked form afraid she would catch a chill.

Lessa snuggled closer, putting her hand on his chest, "Love you, Theo." She murmured as sleep took her under. Theo reached up and locked the cab of the truck as they both fell asleep.

Lessa woke up in the back of the cab. Theo wasn't beside her anymore and his clothes were gone. At least the briefs and jeans. Lessa stretched her legs, she was sore, but not hurt. She bit her lips as she thought about what they had done and then she pursed her lips. She hadn't gotten to play with Theo the way she had wanted.

There is always next time. A sneaky voice said inside her head. And the voice was right. Shimmying into her jeans and shirt she sat up and looked around.

Theo was leaning up against the driver side of the truck. And she dropped her jaw at what she saw he was doing. Smoking of all things. Theo pulled the butt out of his mouth as she climbed out of the truck, "I didn't know you smoked." She said surprised.

"I don't usually. Only when I get nervous." He explained after taking one last drag and then throwing the butt away.

"What are you nervous about?" Lessa asked, pulling his hoodie she had borrowed tighter around her midsection.

Theo shrugged, "Girls always feel differently after they have sex. Some are cool, but some freak out. I was afraid you would feel different after you woke up."

Lessa leaned against the truck beside him, "Well, I do feel different. A little sore, but not bad. I still love you, if that's what you mean."

"You do?" Theo asked, completely serious.

Less smiled, "Of course. You took care of me, like you always do." She said sweetly and kissed him on the lips lightly.

Theo smiled and watched as she walked around the to the passenger side, "But now I want chocolate ice cream. Preferably with cookie dough or mint, or both."

The hopped into the cab and turned the engine over, flipping on the heat as he did, "It's barely 30 degrees outside, and you want ice cream?"

Lessa thought for a second, "Ice cream, side of hot chocolate please." Theo shook his head and drove them home.


Damon and Mercedes looked up from the couch as Lessa and Theo were laughing as they came in through the kitchen.

"What have you two been up to?" Mercedes asked suspicion coloring her voice.

"We went to dinner and movie." Lessa blurted out before Theo could come up with a good excuse.

"What movie?" Damon asked.

"Something about giant spiders." Lessa lied quickly heading towards the fridge. She grabbed the mint chocolate fudge ice cream from the freezer. Theo was actually impressed with how she didn't miss a beat with her siblings.

"They had sex." Mercedes turning back around to face the t.v.

"MERCY!" Damon and Lessa both said at the same time.

"What? They did. You can't hide these things from me, baby girl. Remember? I have the fuck power." Mercedes said and twirled her fingers.

Damon held his head in his hands for a minute, "Just keep it down, okay?" He begged and motioned for the two teenagers to go towards the bedroom. On the way through the living room, Lessa kissed both Mercedes and Damon on the cheek.


Theo threw Less on the bed and then flopped onto it himself, "Now, this is a good date." Theo joked and popped open the mint chocolate fudge ice cream and held the spoon up to Lessa's lips. She curled them around the spoon and made a sound that should've never left her lips.

"I'm a little intimidated. I didn't make you sound like that." Theo said. It was very similar to the sounds she had made in the truck, but a little less inhibited than she had been earlier.

"You're good Theo, but this is mint chocolate fudge. It's a whole other level of good." Theo smiled as he fed her another spoon full and took a spoonful for himself. He nodded in defeat, it was pretty good.

Theo saw that he had spilled some against his chin, but Less stopped him from wiping it away and licked it away.

Once she finished cleaning him up, Theo looked at her, "Screw the ice cream." He said and put the carton on the nightstand as he pulled Lessa over his lap.

Lessa squealed in delight as he began to pull her clothes off.


Mercedes and Damon both tried to ignore the sounds coming from that bedroom.

"I call the bedroom upstairs tonight." Damon said fist pumping his victory.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" Mercedes asked, suddenly somber. "She really loves him."

"She has to be. There isn't another way." Damon said.


Mateo Moretti looked at his great grandmother's journal. She had been gifted with healing as well, just like his wife was. Looking at her notes he looked up cures as he coughed up blood.

Reading aloud he recited in Italian what she had written, "Only the soul eater can take the rot back." Only Less could remove what she had done to him.

"Tekken." Mateo commanded the Asian hunter to come to him.

Tekken, who looked nothing like his name. He looked like a supermodel that had leapt off the pages of an exotic photo shoot and dressed completely in leather.

He took a knee behind Mateo, "Sir?"

"Don't kill her. I need Alessandra alive. Is that understood?" Mateo asked coughing up more blood. The pins and needles in his hands and feet getting worse by the second.

"Yes sir." Tekken nodded.

"Bring the wolf too. He might be of use in persuading her." Tekken nodded and melted back into the shadows.


Theo laid looking up at the ceiling. Lessa had fallen asleep next to him after they made love for the third time that night. She had exhausted herself looking up ways of bonding to the Nemeton all day, but wasn't having much luck. Theo unsheathed his claws and held them up against the darkness of their room.

He swore he could see the blood of those he had killed dripping from the deadly tips. The last time he had been making love to Lessa he felt his fangs coming up past his lips, his eyes turning yellow and his claws digging into the soft flesh of her hips.

Less sat atop Theo, his face buried in her chest as she rode him until she couldn't figure out where he ended and she began. She felt his claws prick at the soft skin of the curve of hips.

She felt his teeth lightly graze her collar bones. Theo was losing himself completely in her and their love. She felt him tense beneath her, trying to reign himself back under control. Make his wolf go away.

She looked down at him and took his face in her hands, made him look those yellow hazy eyes look at her, "It's fine, Theo. I don't mind."

Theo's shuddered against her, shaking his head he broke his gaze from her, "No, I don't want to hurt you." He could smell the blood from where his claws pricked at her lighlty.

Lessa sighed, he would not believe she enjoyed it when he lost control. It meant she was doing something right. Ignoring his mewing protests, she placed her hands over his claws and made his hands grip her tighter.

She gasped in pleasure at the pain. It was a light pain, melded in with the pleasure of him rocking against her. In this time, this place with him, it wasn't hurtful, it was fun.

"Theo, it doesn't hurt. Let go, I promise, I can take it." Her voice full of wanton need. Theo looked up at her. She was lost in the pleasure of his tight hold. He could smell her desire, feel it in the way her thighs tensed as his claws dug in tighter.

He did as she asked and was rewarded when she screamed his name and came in time with him. He bit her lightly on the shoulder as he shuddered inside of her. He didn't break the skin, but it left a mark on her pale skin. He smiled, she really didn't mind that part of him.

Theo looked to the side. Lessa's back was uncovered as she sleep on her stomach. He saw the claw marks on her skin. Light cuts, and the bruise where he had bit her. Lessa had said they didn't hurt, but they had to. He had hurt her.

Lessa's hand shot out without warning and grabbed Theo's hand, claws and all. She pulled his hand into her chest and curled her body around it, "Stop thinking so hard, you stupid wolf. I can't sleep." She murmured against his hand. Kissing the claw lightly she curled tighter around it. Even in her sleep, she felt his stress, his worry. And she didn't care about his wolf, she loved it as much as she loved him.

Theo stared at her. He loved her so much and a different worry crept up to hide behind his eyes as she snuggled closer. How could leave her to this world? He knew the horrors of this world and he didn't want her to have to face it alone. He wanted to be by her side, protecting her, loving her. An image of a little girl with her hair and his yellow eyes gazing up at him and say "dada" came out of nowhere.

Theo couldn't stop it, the tears slid down his face. He would never have that with Lessa. She would move on, have children with someone else. Suddenly, it hurt to breathe, it hurt to be next to her, knowing he would have to leave her.

Lessa pulled his hand tighter to her breast, "Rest, Theo. I want to sleep." She grumbled sleepily. He nodded and quieted the panic. If he kept having these thoughts he might choke the moment she needed him. That moment would come and he would be strong for her, but he couldn't lose it now. He couldn't let her down.

Shutting down everything he looked at her and let her calm seep into him. He would do it for her, for her, he would walk through hell alone.


Damon looked over the plans once more.

"Can I get you more coffee, honey?" The waitress asked breaking Damon from his thoughts.

"I'm good, thanks." He replied and she moved onto a different customer.

Damon sipped the water and watched as Scott McCall came waltzing through the door. He seriously doubted the kid often went to the dinner. He looked like he had just stepped out of a Abercrombie catalogue. The young wolf sat across from Damon.

"I can take in Lessa, but my pack doesn't trust Theo. I can't bring him in." Scott said and shook his head when the waitress asked if he wanted anything.

"They're a package deal. You can't get her without him." Damon said without hesitation.

Scott sighed, "It's the best I can do."

"Do you know that I am literally giving up everything to protect this town. Mercy and I can combine our powers and create a shield, or more like a veil at this point. It will only allow supernaturals or people okay with the supernatural through it to settle in Beacon Hills. Everyone else will feel the urge to leave. If I'm willing to do that, you can find a way to get your pack to accept Theo along with Lessa." Damon said not allowing for argument.

"I'll try. Are these the rings?" Scott picked up one of the rings with black amber centered in the middle.

Damon nodded, "The only thing you have to do is wear them. They're connected to Lessa. Made from her petrified blood. That's your only part in the plan. You may feel a little woozy after she draws on you, but it won't kill you." Scott nodded and took the bag of rings Damon handed him.


"You ever think about kids?" Lessa asked Mercedes as she stirred the tea that was still steeping.

"Not really. Not in my plans. What about you pipsqueak? You want little mini-me's running around?" Mercedes asked, oiling up her gun at the kitchen table.

"Sometimes. I think I'd like a little boy who looks like Theo." Lessa couldn't help but smile as she thought of it.

Mercedes snorted, "He better put a ring on it, before you start popping out kids. Mama would've insisted" Mercedes pointed her oiling rag at Less, "So, I'm insisting on it."

Less nodded at her sister's antics and continued to stir the tea. It was a concoction of herbs that should help her connect with the Nemeton. Tomorrow was d-day.


Theo stood next to the Nemeton as Damon explained the ritual and what Theo would need to be prepared to do.

"What will this hell be like?" Theo asked as he crouched next to the stump which still felt evil.

"Not sure. It's a personal experience. Probably your worst nightmare." Damon said drawing the symbols in the earth.

"Great pep talk." Theo joked, but he felt the lump in his throat.

"Not meant to be cheery." Damon replied and continued to focus on his task at hand.


Less looked up at the full moon from the patio. Damon was inside checking his ammo as Mercedes put on her kevlar.

"You ready for this?" Theo asked as he wrapped his arms around Less from behind. His forearms resting easy on her shoulders.

Lessa nodded, "Once we do this, we'll be protected. We can have a life." She said cheerily.

Theo nodded calmly and rested his chin atop her head, "I love you." He whispered.

"Love you too." She replied reflexively. Theo turned to go inside, but Lessa stopped him. She noticed a bloody imprint under white t-shirt.

"What's that?" She asked curiously, the blood was underneath his t-shirt. As if it had bled through.

"Nothing, just a little tattoo to get ready tonight." Lessa tried to lift his shirt to see, but Theo pushed her hands away.

"Nothing to see, there missy." Lessa was going to laugh until she saw the terror in his eyes.

She can't see. If she sees, and understands I might not be able to go through with it. If she asks me to stay, I might not able to do it. Theo's thoughts filtered into Lessa's mind as if he had said the words aloud.

"What are you talking about?" She asked.

"I didn't say anything." Theo said.

Lessa pushed his hands away and jerked the shirt up. On his lower hip, his skin had been carved away and a brand was now blistered into the muscle. She knew the symbol, had seen it many times in druid scripts she had read. It read "Sacrifice".

"Why do you have that brand on your skin?" Lessa asked, when Theo didn't answer she turned to her brother who had just stepped out to stand beside Theo followed by Mercedes who locked the door behind her. "Why does Theo have the symbol for sacrifice branded onto him? You can't undo a brand. It's a permanent etching into the skin. Damon? Did you brand him?"

"Lessa, I think—." Theo started, but stopped when Damon put a hand on his shoulder.

"She has the right to know." Damon said. Mercedes couldn't meet her sister's eyes.

"The right to know what?" Less said panic lacing her voice.

"In order for this spell, ritual, whatever you want to call it to work, it requires sacrifice. Both in blood and spirit. Theo is the spirit." Damon explained as if he was reciting a recipe for chocolate chip cookies.

"Spiritual sacrifice? What does that mean? Stop beating around the point." Lessa commanded.

"I'm the engine in this equation Lessa. Werewolves are impenetrable to most sicknesses and live longer than most humans, because we can heal. The Nemeton needs something to feed on forever to keep the spell going. That's me, it's going to feed on me." Theo explained.

"I know that. The ritual requires me to tie it to myself to execute my power. But it should only involve you to activate, not keep it going. That requires a perpetual unending sacrifice. You can't do that and still be alive." Lessa said, she knew where this was going and she wasn't going to like it.

"He'll be sealed inside his body. His mind and spirit being the sacrifice." Damon said.

"He'll be in hell. Purgatory. He won't be alive, not really, just breathing. How could ask him to do this?"She shouted at Damon. She turned to Theo, taking him by the shoulders, "What did he say? Did he say it would be a noble sacrifice? Did he say you had to do it for me? He was wrong, you don't have to do it for me. I say who does what for me. Theo, talk to me." She said shaking his shoulders.

Theo looked at the ground, "The brand is already in place. It's done." Theo said not meeting her eyes. If he met her eyes he'd break.

"No, it's not done. Nothing is done until I release my power. We can leave. We're leaving." She grabbed Theo's hand and tried to drag him back into the house to pack.

Theo let her drag him as far as the bedroom and then she began to sling clothes across the bed to pack, "Less."

She ignored him and kept picking out clothes they need for the trip, "We're not doing this. I'm not losing you."

Theo placed his hands on the bedspread, fingering the lace there, "Your'e not losing me. You could never lose me. I've got to do this." Theo said.

"No, no you don't have to. Not for me. Not for this shitty little town. We're leaving." She said frantically throwing more clothing onto the bed.

Theo avoided being hit by a pair of stray undies and sidestepped her next throw as she grasped at straws. He took her by the shoulders, "Less, look at me."

"No." She said and closed her eyes.

Theo maneuvered her to the edge of the bed where her legs collapsed out from under her. Theo went to his haunches in front of her, "You said it yourself babe. We'll be hunted for the rest of our lives. I don't want that for you." He said taking her hand in his and kissing the back of it gently. "I want you to be able to marry someone who can give you children, without these." Theo's eyes glowed yellow in front of her.

Less took his face in her hands, "I don't care about you being a wolf. I love all of you."

Theo smiled sadly, "I know that. And I love you so much for that. But you saw Damon's memory of Amber. You remember that, right?" She nodded, tears starting to slide down her cheek. "Those hunters killed kids. If you have them with me, they'll kill our kids."

"No! No, I'll keep them safe. I can keep them all safe. I can keep you safe." Lessa cried as the tears came faster.

Theo met her eyes, tears sliding down his own face, "You can't save me from the world, Less. Eventually they would find us. And they would kill you, for loving me. I can't let that happen. This way, I know you'll always be safe." Theo said, his voice getting caught in his throat. "Let me be the good guy, this time. Let me save you."

Lessa hugged Theo around the neck as he stood up. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, "I don't want to be safe without you." Her broken whisper making it hard for him to keep his promise.

"You'll think differently when you see that little girl looking up at you. You'll hold her and tell her the world is safe and you won't be lying. She won't end up face down in a forest, shot in the back. She'll grow up to be as beautiful as her mom." Lessa cried as she hugged him tighter, she couldn't speak, she could barely breathe with the thought of him doing this.

"Let me do this, please. Please, please, Less. Let me be the good guy." Lessa hated to do it, but she wouldn't take this act away from him. She nodded against his chest and he sighed in relief. Theo released her and they walked to the patio.

Damon and Mercedes waited silently, "Everything squared away?" Damon asked without flinching.

Theo nodded. Mercedes took in the environment as Theo sniffed the air. "They're not far behind." He said tightly.

Damon nodded. He expected his father to send his best hunters to either kill them or capture them.

"Let's go."


Theo stood to the side of the Nemeton, as Lessa and Damon said the enchantments.

Mercedes came to stand next to Theo, "We won't be leaving this forest alive. Only she will." She said crossing her arms.

Theo looked at Mercedes in surprise, "You didn't tell her?"

Mercedes shook her head, "She'll be taken care of. She's strong. She'll make it." Mercedes said, a single tear sliding down her cheek.

"Did you and Damon say goodbye?" Theo asked looking back at Lessa who was locking her hand into a strip of rawhide that Theo knew to be enchanted as it was wrapped around the Nemeton.

"We don't need to. She knows everything we would say." Mercedes explained. "Do your part puppy and I won't feed you your balls."

"Take a sugar frosted fuck off the end of my dick, you horse-humping bitch." Theo said and winked when he did.

"Better puppy. Better." Mercedes commended him on the comeback and patted him on the back.

Less hissed in pain as Damon sprinkled white powder over the rawhide tie. It tightened around her wrist and linked her to the Nemeton. Her eyes bled to teal blue. "Ready?" Damon asked.

Theo and Mercedes nodded wordlessly.

"Ready." Lessa said. She drew on the power of the rings and felt Scott and his pack add their power.

Theo took fire from the hunters to the right as the left opened fire too. One bullet hit him square in the chest as the other tore into his lower right lung.

Damon was shooting out shot after shot, taking down hunter after hunter. They just kept coming. They weren't shooting to kill though. To wound or incapacitate. Not to kill.

Mercedes was taking a beating, but laughing like a banshee as she kicked left, right and delivered deadly uppercuts and jabs to as many hunters as she could reach. Theo limped over to where the Nemeton sat. He laid down against the dark stump. A stray bullet caught him in the stomach. He just had to survive until his part of ritual and then he would heal up nicely.

Damon stood next to his twin. Mercedes mouth was filled with blood, her left eye was swollen purple and a few of her teeth littered the ground in front of them, but she still giggled like a school girl as she continued to fight.

Crawling to right, Theo laid against Less, his chest in her lap, his head on her leg. Lessa opened her closed eyes and looked down at Theo. She was sitting with her legs spread strapped to the Nemeton. Her left hand was still magically bound to the Nemeton. Nothing could break the bond, her brother had made sure of that. While the other hand rested on Theo's blood covered chest. She had her hand curled in a fist in his t-shirt. Refusing to let go of him. Her father's guards had gotten a couple of their shots to hit him square in the chest, but he was healing fast. He would survive the gunshot wounds, and would regret his healing then.

What had him immobile was the Nemeton. It was requiring the sacrifice. The lives of the twins and Theo's sanity were the sacrifice. Theo had known this, and looking into her eyes made it easier to accept. But he was still scared shitless. For all the bravado he had spewed, he was as terrified as the twins, but none of them mattered. Lessa did, only she could save the town and the people to come. Only her power could obliterate two-face.

Damon took Mercedes' hand as their powers ignited. What their father never understood about them. Separated they were still powerful. Together, fighting against one enemy their power was impenetrable.

Mateo Moretti stood next to his three most lethal lieutenants. They had semi-automatic rifles in their hand aimed at the twins and Lessa. And their army behind them stood at command with their own weapons.

"Take her alive, the rest can die." Mateo commanded.

Without hesitation the entire lot opened fire on the Nemeton. Damon and Mercedes gritted their teeth as their power flared. A huge circular shield formed around the Nemeton and Lessa. Like a giant bubble of shimmering power. Shielding them all from waves after waves of bullets as the metal disintegrated upon impact.

"Mercy, how you doing?" Damon asked.

Mercy cackled and screamed louder as her power tore through the ranks of her father's loyal soldiers.

"Is that the best you got you sonofbitches!" She screamed.

Lessa looked down at Theo, "You don't have to do this! Theo! Theo, look at me, you don't have to." Lessa said her heart in her throat.

He smiled at her, his teeth bloody, his body broken, but healing and he grasped her hand that laid on his chest tighter.

"Less, I promised you nothing would ever hurt you. I meant that." Theo curled his hand into a fist and felt his claws unsheathe as they dug into the flesh of his palm. His gritted his teeth.

"Kiss me, Less." He begged. Lessa tried to stop the tears from falling but she couldn't and they fell as she kissed him gently on the lips.

"I love you." She whispered in his ear as she hugged him tightly, cradling his form the only way she knew how. Theo couldn't return the embrace very much but he knew he at least had to tell her.

"You saved me, you're everything and you always will be. I love you, Less." Theo's whisper was ragged as he let the pain cascade over his being.

"THEO? You ready?" Damon screamed against the wind as the Nemeton pulled power from the earth and it began to swirl around them.

Lessa looked up and saw Mercedes stagger as Damon helped her stand slightly off kilter, he and she were draining themselves maintaining the shield.

"Ready when you are dipshit!" Theo shouted back smiling as blood foam came foaming out of his mouth from a pierced lung.

Lessa knew that look on her brother's face, he had made a grim decision and was going to follow through.

"Love you, Mercy." Damon said as he embraced his twin.

"Screw you, fuckhead." Mercy joked as she returned her brother's weak hug.

Lessa continued to cry and the tears began to be wrenching sobs, they were sacrificing themselves. And she couldn't do anything to stop it.

"No! No! Not you two too!" Lessa screamed as her power burst forth trying to heal them. She tugged at the damn rawhide that kept her tethered to the Nemeton. Unable to save them.

Damon new this had to happen. She had to try to heal everyone and they had to sacrifice themselves in order to save the town. Lessa would only truly unleash her true power if they were in danger. If she was pushed to the breaking point of losing everyone, the power would come forth. And it did, it was beautiful.

As Lessa's healing reached them, Mercedes and Damon met each other's gaze and let their hands go. The shield bubble shuddered and left them exposed as it shrunk and centered around Lessa and Theo and the Nemeton.

Lessa watched helplessly as her power was useless to help her siblings as the bullets tore through them like meat. They both fell to their knees and face down into the mud of the forest.

"No!" Lessa screamed and Theo knew this was his moment.

He raised his bleeding palm and slammed it into the Nemeton's ringed tops. The Nemeton flared to life as it amplified Lessa's power healing the panic and fear in Beacon Hills. The Nemeton ate at Theo's brand. Linking it to him. Theo's back bowed in Lessa's arms as the Nemeton took what it required. His sacrifice.

Lessa pulled Theo in a fierce embrace and tucked her face into his neck as his body shuddered from being thrown into the hell his mind created. This was his price. Not death, not pain, but fear and terror for the rest of his life. Separated from her, but he knew she would survive. She had to survive. His Less would always survive for him.

A scream was torn from his throat as the pain cascaded through his body. Lessa held him tighter, "I'll always be here, Theo. You're mine and I'm yours." Theo went limp as his soul and mind were locked inside the cage of his body in the eternal loop of a hellish maze.

Lessa looked up to see the hunters all gone. Nowhere to be seen. They had been thrown outside the town. The air was quiet around her. The only sound she heard, Theo's even breathing. Looking down, she saw him. His face still as beautiful as the moment she had met him, but his eyes were staring at nothing. Looking up she saw her father staggering towards her. His DNA had saved him from being thrown out. Mercedes and Damon's power not differentiating from friend or foe since Mateo Moretti's DNA matched theres.

Mateo staggered closer to her, his hand outstretched as he clawed at his throat. He opened his mouth and spewed a fountain of blood from between his lips. Lessa took her gun from her waistband and shot him in the head. She didn't care if he didn't suffer enough, she just wanted to end it. Nothing mattered anymore. Looking down, she looked at Theo.

Lessa closed his eyes and held his hand, but she knew Theo wasn't there. He was somewhere else. Breaking the manacle around her wrist she stood and hooked her arms under Theo's shoulders.

She dragged him to the house. His body dead weight, nothing but a shell, but she wouldn't leave him.

Laying him on the couch she rested for a minute. She knew even though the hunters were gone, she would have to bury Damon and Mercedes. She would have to make sure the spells stayed strong.

She would find a way to release Theo, she didn't want to live without him.

Someone knocked at the door. She stood up, covered in blood and mud she answered the door. Scott stood on the doorstep with Malia and his mom.

"Damon said you would need help setting up an IV and other stuff. You're both pack now. My mom is here to help with the medical stuff." Scott announced.

Always thinking ahead, weren't you, Damon. Lessa thought sadly.