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The Departed

Ashley woke up to her phone ringing. She shot up and grabbed her phone off the table next to the couch. Ashley saw it was Damon and she immediately got worried.

"Damon? Is everything okay?" Ashley asked her voice a little shaky.

"Yes and no. Everything's fine with us but it's Elena. Apparently she passed out and Jeremy took her to the hospital. Anyway, Stefan is coming back to Mystic Falls and I'm going to dump Klaus's body off," Damon explained to his baby sister.

"Okay. Is there anything I can do?" Ashley asked wishing she could do something.

"You can head over to Elena's if you want. I'll be there soon," Stefan answered her.

"Okay. I'm on it," Ashley told Stefan and she hangs up.

Ashley goes to Elena's house and walks in to find Elena and Matt on the couch talking.

"Elena, are you okay?" Ashley asked making her presence known; Matt and Elena look at her.

"I'll be okay. Just a little bump on the head," Elena said with a small smile. "What are you doing here?"

"I told her to head over here," Stefan said from behind Ashley; Ashley turned around surprised to see her brother. She embraces him in a hug. Elena stands up and walks over to Stefan and hugs him.

Minutes later, Stefan and Ashley are fixing food while Matt and Elena sit on the couch.

"I'm being coddled. I feel fine," Elena said.

"You're on house arrest. You're supposed to be coddled," Stefan responded and Ashley smiled a little.

"Wouldn't it be smarter if we just got you out of town?" Matt suggested to Elena.

"And do what? Go on the run for the rest of my life? No thank you," Elena said shooting down Matt's idea; she stood up and walks out of everyone's eyesight; Matt looks at Stefan.

"So you're just going to let her call the shots?" Matt asked Stefan.

"I'm letting her make her own decisions," Stefan answered.

"Even if they're wrong?" Matt countered.

"There's nothing wrong with free will Matt," Ashley said coming to her brother's defense.

"Stefan," Elena said from the other room; Stefan Ashley and Matt all look in Elena's direction and see that Elijah is standing by Elena.

Within a few minutes, Elena, Stefan, Ashley, Elijah and Matt are all sitting at the kitchen table and Elena's cell phone is on the table with Damon on speakerphone.

"All we need is to take that stake away from him. Once the weapon is in my possession, my family will scatter to the ends of the earth and Alaric will follow us," Elijah explained; Ashley then realizes that means Kol might leave and she gets sad.

"And you'll just run?" Stefan asked skeptically.

"We've done it before. Klaus and Rebekah spent a many years running from my father. What's another century while Elena's able to live out the rest of her natural life?" Elijah asked.

"We finally stopped him Elijah. After everything's he's done to us, I can't just let you bring him back," Elena said.

"I give you my word Elena. I will not revive Klaus within yours or your children's lifetimes," Elijah swore to her.

"Why should she trust you? All you've done is screw her over," Matt stated trying to protect Elena's well being.

"And for that I'm deeply ashamed but know this. She could've been dead the instant I walked through that door tonight so Elena, I leave it to you to make the decision whether to trust me or not," Elijah explained to Elena.

"Not! Hello? Did that concussion give you brain damage? His lunatic siblings will kill you the first chance they get!" Damon said on the phone.

"Kol won't. I know he won't," Ashley said.

"Yes Rebekah and Kol will honor the terms. If you return Klaus's body to us, Elena will come to no harm. Do we have a deal?" Elijah asked looking at Elena.

"No! No no no no no. Did I mention no?" Damon butted in.

"Elena it's up to you," Stefan said quietly.

"Oh come on!" Damon stated.

"Why do you want Klaus's body?" Elena asked Elijah.

"He's my brother. We remain together," Elijah said honestly; Elena sighed.

"We have a deal," Elena said giving in.

Several minutes pass and Jeremy is now home. He explained to everybody that Alaric wants him to tell him where Klaus's body is. They all come up with a plan and Jeremy calls Alaric

"I know where Klaus's body is. Damon's on his way to bury him in the woods off route 12. I'll text you with the specifics," Jeremy told Alaric.

"Thank you Jeremy. You're doing the right thing for your sister," Alaric said.

"I know," Jeremy stated then hung up the phone and looked at everyone. "He bought it."

A few minutes pass and Ashley decided to go outside and try to call Kol. She dialed his number and got his voicemail. Ashley sighed and decided to leave a message.

"Hey Kol. Um, so Elijah's here and making a deal with Elena in regards to Klaus. I don't know if you knew that or not but I just thought you should know. So anyway, call me back if you want," Ashley said then hung up. Stefan walked out of the house holding his phone.

"I have Damon on speakerphone," Stefan told Ashley.

"Oh. How's it going?" Ashley asked Damon.

"Well Bonnie just left and Rebekah should be here soon to pick up the body,"

"I got Caroline, Elijah and Kol in place. Jeremy's gonna lead Alaric to us," Stefan stated.

"Woah. Kol is with Elijah?" Ashley asked shocked.

"Yeah. They met up just a few minutes ago," Stefan confirmed.

"Oh," Ashley said wondering why Kol didn't call her back or at least text her.

"Ashley, are you going to get all emotional because your boy toy is ignoring you?" Damon teased.

"He's not my boy toy and he's not ignoring me. Besides we have other stuff to worry about," Ashley said not wanting to talk about it.

"Fine. Stefan, what were you thinking? You just has to let Elena make the choice didn't ya?" Damon asked.

"What would you have done Damon?" Stefan asked.

"Grabbed her, gagged her, thrown her in a well, I don't know anything other than letting her trust Elijah," Damon said.

"You know she'd just hate you for it right?" Stefan asked Damon.

"Yeah but she'd be alive and she'd hate me. But that's just one difference between you and me brother," Damon told Stefan.

"As soon as we get the stake, hand over the coffin and get out. Alaric's got half the police looking for Klaus's car," Ashley butted in not wanting her brothers to start bickering.

"Got it. Gotta go. The Original sister's here," Damon said then hung up.

"Let's do this," Stefan said nodding to his baby sister; Ashley nodded back.

Ashley's POV

I was standing in the middle of the woods with Stefan and Jeremy. I knew that Kol was close by with Caroline and Elijah but I had yet to see him. I wondered if he was mad at me since he didn't return my phone call or text me. All the thoughts were erased when Stefan's phone started ringing. I looked at him as he looked at the phone. He looked up at me and gave me a small nod indicating that Damon was the one calling him. I intended on listening to the conversation between my brothers. Stefan takes a deep breath.

"Damon," Stefan says answering the phone.

"Bad news brother," Damon replies and I start to get worried, "Alaric staked Klaus. He's dead."

I couldn't believe it. Klaus was dead. My eyes grew wide as I realized that all of us could die soon if Klaus was telling the truth about turning our bloodline. My mind then raced to the thought of Kol and how he would react when he found out his brother was dead.

"I feel okay. Do you feel anything Ash?" Stefan said looking at me; I shook my head no. "Damon, we feel fine. What about you?"

"I feel fine," Damon said.

"It took Sage about an hour before she got sick," Stefan stated.

"Yeah or Klaus was lying about being the sire of our bloodline," Damon said.

"Well if he wasn't lying, an hour isn't enough time to get you back to Mystic Falls," Stefan said to Damon and I looked down hoping that I would get to see Damon again.

"Time for us to have our epic goodbye Stefan?" Damon asked.

"Not us brother. You and Elena," Stefan said with his voice almost cracking; Damon paused for a moment.

"Well I guess you'll just have to say goodbye for the both of us," Damon replied.

"Call me if you or Ashley start to cough up a lung," Damon said and with that, I could hear the phone click. Stefan looked at me and I didn't know what to do. I couldn't believe that any of this was happening.

"Stefan, Elena's not at home," Jeremy said making me and Stefan look at him. "Matt and I...we're getting her out of town."

"It's gonna be fine. Klaus was lying. We're all going to be okay," Stefan said trying to convince himself of that.

I got ready to say something when Caroline, Kol, and Elijah all walked up to us. I looked at Kol and started to tear up knowing that he just lost another brother.

"What happened?" Elijah asked knowing something was wrong; we all just looked at each other for a moment.

"Stefan," Caroline said trying to figure out what was going on.

I couldn't take it any more. I just wanted to be there for Kol so I soon found myself running into his arms sobbing.

"I'm so sorry," I managed to say before feeling his arms wrap around me.

"No..." Kol said trailing off knowing that something bad had happened to Klaus.

"It's Niklaus isn't it?" Elijah asked his voice trembling; Stefan nodded.

"Oh my god! Tyler! I have to go check on Tyler!" Caroline yelled before running off in a panic.

I turned around and looked at Stefan not realizing that Tyler was soon going to die.

"Tyler's going to die," I say slowly; Stefan just looks at me and Jeremy and we both start to sob more.

A few minutes have passed and I decided to give Kol some time with Elijah and Rebekah. Me and Stefan were walking through the woods. Stefan's phone starts ringing.

"Hello?" Stefan answers the phone.

"You're alive. Congratulations," I hear Rebekah's voice on the other end; I look at Stefan as we walk.

"Rebekah," Stefan said surprised for it to be her.

"Elijah spoke to Elena. Her and Matt should be arriving back in town any minute," Rebekah explained.

"Yeah he told me that. He also said that you two would be out of town by now," Stefan said as me and him got into his car.

"That's the problem. Elijah says we have to run and that the hunter will keep coming after us but I don't want to run anymore Stefan. I've spent my whole life running," Rebekah replied to Stefan.

"What are you talking about? We had a deal," Stefan said.

"I'm sorry but Klaus is dead. There is no deal. If my brothers and I are going to survive, we need to get rid of Alaric and the only way to get rid of Alaric…" Rebekah trailed off; I looked at Stefan in horror.

"Rebekah no," Stefan warned knowing what she was getting at; the line goes dead. "No!"

"Stefan! What are we going to do?!" I asked in a panic.

"Get out! Go to Klaus's house and try to find Elijah! Tell him what's going on!" Stefan told me.

"But what about you?" I asked him.

"I'll be fine. I need to go save Elena. Ash I love you," Stefan said knowing this could be the last time they talk to each other.

"I love you too Stef," I said with tears pushing in my eyes. I quickly speed out of the car and run through the woods and speed myself to Klaus's house. I knock on the door and moments later, Kol opens it.

"Ashley," Kol said looking somewhat surprised; I walk in.

"Is Elijah here?" I asked looking around.

"No. I'm not sure where he is. It's just me here," Kol said.

"Rebekah's trying to kill Elena so Alaric will die and Stefan is going to try and save Elena but I'm worried that he's going to die and Damon isn't even here and I-" I ramble on before Kol stops me by hugging me.

"Shh it's okay," Kol said trying to comfort me.

"I thought you were mad at me," I said pulling away from him.

"Why would I be mad at you?" Kol asked me as he gently stroked my cheek.

"Because my brothers desiccated your brother and now he's dead. Kol, I'm so sorry about Klaus," I said honestly; Kol sighs.

"Darling, it's okay. Yeah it's awful about Klaus but I'm kind of getting used to losing siblings, you know?" Kol said slightly looking down; I lift his chin up and make him look at me.

"I wish you would let more people see your humanity," I said to him.

"You're the only one worth it," Kol said to me making me smile; I lean in and crash my lips onto his. His lips meet mine with the same amount of passion. I feel the urge to tell him. I needed to let him know how I felt about him. I pull away and stare into his vulnerable eyes.

"Kol, I love you," I blurt out; Kol's jaw drops almost instantly.

"What?" He asked.

"I love you. I'm in love with you Kol. And I know it's wrong because we're supposed to hate each other but I guess from the beginning you and me just connected and I just fell for you. And yes, people are going to disapprove but I don't care because I love you," I ramble on; Kol gives me a sweet smile.

"I love you too darling," Kol said to me.

"You do?" I asked him shocked.

"Yes. I'm in love with you Ashley Salvatore," Kol said with a smile; I grin at him and kiss him with a lot of passion. He deepens the kiss and then my phone rings. We pull away and I pull my phone out of my pocket.

"It's Stefan," I say as I start to worry; I answer the phone, "Stefan, is everything okay?"

"No. Listen, Rebekah made Matt wreck off the Wickery Bridge. I jumped in to save him and Elena but Elena told me to save Matt first. I got him to safety but by time I got to Elena...it was too late," Stefan said devastated.

"Elena's…dead?" I asked as I start to sob.

"Well, I took her to the hospital. Ash, Dr. Fell healed her this morning with vampire blood," Stefan told her; my eyes get huge and I looked at Kol shocked.

"Elena's a vampire," I said putting two and two together.

"Yeah. She hasn't woke up yet but when she does, she'll be in transition," Stefan said.

"Okay where are you at?" I asked.

"The hospital," Stefan said.

"Alright I'll be right there," I said then hung up.

"Wow talk about an unexpected day," Kol said hearing mine and Stefan's conversation.

"Yeah. Um listen, I have to go," I stated.

"No go ahead. Your brother needs you and Elena is going to need you too once she wakes up," Kol reassured me; I nodded and gave him a quick kiss.

"Thank you. I love you," I said; Kol smiled.

"I love you too. Call or text me later," Kol said.

"I will," I said then left. I speed to the hospital and finds out where Elena and Stefan are. I walk into the room and see Elena laying on a table dead and Stefan sitting by the table sobbing. He looks up when he hears me walk into the room. I walk to him and he stands up. I then quickly embrace him in a hug and he wraps his arms around me and we both stand there crying knowing that human Elena was gone and was never coming back.