I do not own Vampire Diaries or any of it's associated characters, thank you.

Okay all! Thank you all for your views, and reads, I am genuinely appreciative of every one of them.

BTW; I wanted to say that Tessa character is modeled after a woman ,who is a very pretty model that goes by the name of Ebba Zingmark, and her father, Charles is inspired by the actor Michael Fassbender. Just incase anyone was curious. Thanks all, hope you enjoy!

I am choosing to leave the story off on this note. I have second one in the works. Thank you for the continuous views, and I hope you enjoy the last chapter. I was gonna do either an epilogue for an glimpse at how Tessa was during the pregnancy, and with whom she was around/where she was for the duration of it. Drop a review and let me know what your thoughts are on that. Should I add it on here, or just make it like a prologue into the next story?

Thanks guys!

Chapter 21: Do Not Go Gentle

Opening her eyes, the bright light of the sun was blinding. Tessa felt as though she were in a daze, her body was uncomfortable as she came to. Quickly realizing she'd passed out seated on the floor leaning against the shelves. The big book of the Fae was still open in her lap, with a groan she sat up, and looked over the page she was open on. She'd fallen asleep whilst reading about evil beings of the Fae, however, considering she, and her unborn child seemed to be the only ones left she turned the page not looking into it much. She recalled the stabbing premonition she'd had which her blackout was a result of. With a louder groan, she pulled herself up using the shelves above to steady herself. Yanking her phone out she dialed Alaric's number.

"Hey," She heard him greet.

"Alaric?" She asked as relief flooded her voice. "Oh, god. I-I thought-."

"Thought what?" he chuckled. "That Stefan would kill me like he did you? Is that why you just up and left?" He asked suddenly.

"What?" Tessa asked surprised. "N-no. I had to get to my father's."

"Your father's? Why? Isn't he dead?" Tessa was taken aback by his bluntness, it wasn't like him to speak to her in this condescending tone. "I'm still alive, Tess. I've fought for you, I was there for you. Even though you've been dead since the night we met. You don't have anything left to fight for. Everyone around you dies and you clearly weren't going to bat for me when you left me to rot on the floor of the lockup in the boarding house cellar. I do though. I have my own life to fight for and I'm sorry, but what I have left doesn't include you."

"Ric, what-?" She asked into the phone feeling her chest ache at his words. "You can't mean-."

"Oh, I do. Don't call again. I'd also recommend not coming to the loft either." He finished darkly before hanging up. Tessa could feel her eyes watering at the hurtful words replaying in her head. A lump had formed in her throat as she sunk to the floor again. Her tears spilled over as she tried to gasp in calming breaths. The one person she had left just dropped her. Her support throughout this whole ordeal, the one man she felt safe with had turned away from her.

She pulled her knees to her chest as she cried, her phone thrown across the mess of books strewn over the floor. Her world felt like it was shifting underfoot, and her balance was already unsteady. Tessa pulled herself up; she needed to see him. The loft would be her next destination. Tessa stumbled out the door-book in hand, until she bumped into someone very familiar.

"What're you doing here?" Came a voice she hadn't realized she'd actually be happy to hear, Damon stood on the porch.

"D-Damon. It's Alaric. He-he isn't-."

"Himself?" He asked as he held up a glass container full of the herbs Bonnie had given him. "Yeah, I've gathered that thus far." Tessa sighed with relief. "You weren't at the loft, Ric had mentioned to me how he was iffy on being here with your father given all the ways he could have screwed it up, so I knew where it was-." Tessa didn't care. She just saw all the herbs were untouched, and she knew that Ric needed help. Her help. She held up the massive book she'd come here to get, and Damon stared at the blank cover.

"You came here for a book?" He asked her his voice full of disbelief. "Ric is fighting for his sanity, and our lives against himself and you're here looking for a book-."

"Careful, Damon. People might think you actually care." She muttered trying to move around him. He gave her a glare, his anger showed through his nostril flaring as she glared away at him. He gave up easy this time, "C'mon, we've got a doctor to visit quickly, maybe she's heard from him. That last time his alter ego came out to play it was with her." As Damon spoke he pulled Tessa's unstable form with him to his car.

Her and, Damon had driven to just about any place Ric would have gone to hide from them only to come up with nothing. Tessa sighed running a hand through her hair as night fell. She knew the rest would be at the decade dance, "We're gonna have to go there." Damon told her.

"How is going to some stupid dance going to find Alaric?" Tessa asked her worry increasing.

"It's not, but Bonnie Bennett; a witch at the dance just might." He told her with his eyes flashing in frustration. Tessa huffed crossing her arms but went along with Damon's plan. It's not as if she knew how else to find Alaric.

Upon entering the dance, she and Damon hunted down Stefan and Elena to explain what was going on with Alaric. Apparently, Elena had a brother, Jeremy, who was just as opposed to Damon's suggestion as Tessa was. He had stormed off in a very younger sibling-like fashion before Elena followed calling after him. Tessa sighed as she looked at both the Salvatore brothers.

"Why didn't you come back last night?" Stefan asked suddenly. Tessa paused looking up to see his eyes focused on her.

"Why didn't I-?"

"Come back. You heard him." Damon chimed in. Tessa rolled her eyes not wanting to do this here, at the school.

"I was looking for-."

"Your book. Yeah, but why? When there's so much other stuff that takes precedence over that. Ric was spiraling, and you didn't notice?" Damon seemed to be getting genuinely frustrated with her and, her lack of communication. It was only pissing her off. "You mean to tell me, that while Alaric-the man you love, was fighting himself to protect everyone in this town yesterday, you were off gallivanting around to look for this stupid book."

"Why does it concern you? Who are you to judge? Where were you when your best friend needed help? Oh, right. In Colorado making out with his step-daughter." Damon gave an uncertain glance towards Stefan at her comment, but Tessa continued. "It's not just me that could have prevented him from running off-!" Tessa gasped as flashes hit her, She stood before Klaus's mother. Esther. Elena stood on the other side of the alter type thing; next to Esther. She was crying and, begging. 'No, Ric. Please don't.' Tessa swayed on her feet as Stefan reached out to steady her.

"You alright?" His tone was serious as he eyed her.

Tess nodded pulling away, She looked back to Damon while taking a steadying breath. "When I left the boarding house. Alaric was in the care of your brother-not me. Do not put this whole mess on me." Tessa snapped at him. "Yes, I love him, which is why I'm standing here right now fighting with you guys to find him!" There was a pause in which both Tessa and, Damon just glared at each other, "Besides all this, I just had a premonition. I'm pretty sure if we don't find Alaric soon, he's going to end up dead."

Damon's eyes went wide, "Where?"

"A nearby cemetery. All I could tell was that he was inside a mausoleum. With Esther." At her last words both men jumped into action, they glanced to one another before Jeremy made his way to them. "Elena's outside with some older blonde lady, she sent me in here to get you guys-?"

Everyone's mind went into panic mode before they vamp sped outside to the front of the school. It was vacant of both, Elena and Esther. Jeremy somehow managed to get out of the boundary of the school entrance, but Tessa, Stefan, and Damon were trapped behind a barrier.

"Salt," Stefan observed stupidly, as he and the rest of them glanced down. "It's a binding agent for a spell."

"We're trapped here," Damon muttered quite possibly more angry than he had been before. Damon muttered something about Bonnie undoing the spell before he raced off. Stefan stood with Tessa.

"I get it now." He said to her. She rolled her eyes at his voice.

"Get what?" she muttered as she made another attempt to get past the barrier of salt.

"Why you left yesterday, and why you never returned after finding that book." He continued. Tessa groaned turning around to face him.

"Let's get one thing straight, Stefan. You may have been the one to know me the longest out of the little Scooby Doo gang here, but you are the last one to guess my motives. You don't know me-."

"When you were having your vision or premonition or whatever it is that you banshees get; your heart sped up, but that wasn't the only thing I heard-."

"Yes, yes, we know she's pregnant. What is this?" Klaus's voice interrupted the conversation as he stood before the salt line unable to move it as well. As Tessa stared open-mouthed, shocked at Klaus. Stefan stared at Tessa just the same.

"Wait a minute, you're-." Damon's voice came from behind her.

"Pregnant. Yes. You're telling me you can't hear the faintest of heartbeats in a body where it does not belong? Vampirism changes you, yes, but not that much Damon." Klaus said with a sly grin. He was clearly getting enjoyment out of being the only to have figured it out.

"That also explains why you threw up blood yesterday." Stefan shrugged.

"We have more pressing concerns at the moment." She cut them off quickly. She could remember the foretelling of death she'd gotten last night, and she now had a sinking feeling that said death was Alaric's. Possibly his final one.

"Yes, I agree. Now, I'll ask once more. What is this?" Klaus asked slowly.

"Your mother's back," Stefan smirked at him.

"I've got Bon-Bon working on a way to get us out," Damon said as he came in closer.

"Without the proper motivation, she'll never get us out of her in time," Klaus said as his eyes flashed dangerously before disappearing. Stefan growled slightly before following after him.

Damon stood there staring at her, "What?" She asked not particularly wanting to be in his presence.

"I-I didn't-."

"You wouldn't have known if I'd had my way. Ric doesn't even know yet." Tessa told him with a glance. Damon's head looked down at the asphalt under his feet. "I, out of everyone here tonight, Damon. Have the most reason to want Ric alive. I found out yesterday, thanks to the Maniacal Great Gatsby in there." Tessa nodded back towards the school. "He heard the heartbeat before I even did." Tessa shrugged. "I need to get to, Ric." Tessa finished as she turned back to the barrier.

Damon nodded, "We will. Bonnie is going to help us, and we'll get to him. We should go inside-."

"No. I'm staying out here, that way when it comes down I can just go. I'm not waiting." Tessa stated with a fierceness behind her voice she hadn't felt in a long time.

Damon nodded, as he walked off slowly leaving Tessa with her thoughts of her very precarious future. After some moments passed an angry Klaus exited the school followed by Stefan. They were arguing amongst each other by their tones.

"You know, this is your fault. You set us on this path when you released my mother." Klaus's eyes had been on Tessa, but he turned to face Stefan quickly. "I wonder if revenge will prove worth the cost."

"Oh, I'm done with revenge," Stefan replied quickly. In his usual calm tone. Tessa huffed rolling her eyes; leave it to Stefan to unearth this monstrous being hell-bent on ending all vampires only to back down on revenge when things go bad for everyone else-himself included. "As far as Esther." He continued on, "We've stopped her before, we'll stop her again."

Tessa could hear the smirk on Klaus's face as he spoke, "We are strange bedfellows, you and I."

"Ugh, enough. Enough. Don't you two get it? This is serious. Releasing Esther may have started out as a revenge fantasy, and all that. Now? Now she has not just Elena, but Alaric, and we've sent Jeremy and, Matt there as well. What's to stop her from killing them all?"

"My mother only wishes to kill off the supernatural she created-."

"And, anyone that will stand in her way, I'm sure." Tessa cut Klaus off glaring at him darkly. "We may stop her from ending all vampires tonight, but what's to say she doesn't take out all the humans left vulnerable while we're trapped in here?" It was blatantly obvious who Tessa was actually referring to, but it went for all of the people that Esther had, not just Alaric. Tessa knew someone was set to die tonight, and there was a one in four chances that someone would be Alaric. As much as she could she selfishly hoped it wasn't, but usually her hope got her no where.

That's when Bonnie and, Damon made their exit from the building, "It's done." Tessa vaguely heard her speak more, but she had no interest in hearing it. She took a slow step over the barrier and saw her foot move over the thick line of salt. She was about to race off when she felt that familiar pull, a heavy feeling exploded in the pit of her stomach, and whispers were all around her. She groaned holding her head from the dizziness that struck her.

"Tessa?" She heard the nearby voice of Klaus.

Tessa felt the scream building up in her, and instead of fighting it like she normally would. She let it out quickly. She didn't want to fight her banshee power anymore if she did. She'd likely be too late. She felt movement next to her, and before she felt that pull she saw Klaus had appeared at her side only for her to vanish.

The world was moving around her until she felt herself drop down. She was in the mausoleum. Looking over at Alaric laid out on the floor. She'd watched what appeared to be the back of Elena, and Esther disappear as they exited.

"Matt? Matt, drop your gun-!" She heard Jeremy yell from outside.

She heard Alaric gasping as he sat up. "Tessa?" He asked staring at her, confused.

She fell beside him pushing the bloodied stake into his hand, "Help-Help them!" It took Alaric a millisecond before he sprung into action. Tessa remained inside, waiting for him to come back, but she knew deep down that she'd gotten there too late. One of the first things she'd noticed was that he hadn't had his ring on when he awakened. She knew Alaric wouldn't turn. He'd want to go out as a human, she wasn't going to force him into it like she had been.

She heard slow footfalls as Alaric entered, followed by Elena. Tessa felt her eyes watering, involuntarily. She didn't want to cry in front of him and make this worse than it already was for him. She'd heard Elena give him the rundown of what Esther had done- making him into another Original vampire- One that would hunt, and kill any vampires he came into contact with. Alaric's eyes moved over a tearful Tessa, she could see the concern for her all over his face, but there was nothing anyone could say, the damage was already done.

Alaric opened his mouth as he took a step towards Tessa, but Jeremy came in from behind. "Damon's here, and Klaus took Esther's body."

She heard Alaric sniffle and knew that he was fighting to hold himself together as well. "Good. Does-uh-Does he know about the stake?"

"No." Jeremy began, "Only, that she tried to turn you into a weapon and, failed." Jeremy saw the saddened expressions on everyone's face. "What is it?

"Listen, Jeremy, I'm-I'm not gonna complete the transition. My dark side was dangerous enough as a human. I can't be a vampire." Tessa heard the tone those last few words carried and knew that he had no interest in becoming a vampire regardless of his dark side.

"So, what? We're just gonna lock you in here, and let you die?" There was a pause, and Tessa couldn't bear to bring her eyes up from the floor as her eyes burned, and a lump formed in her throat. She moved up to Alaric's vacant side as she led herself under his arm. Jeremy's outraged voice rang out.

"No! No, we can't-."

"Listen Jeremy it's the right thing to do, okay?" Alaric defended as Tessa felt his arm wrap around her and his other hand moved up to stroke her hair at the back of her head. "After everything that has happened, after-after all that I've done." There was a pause, as Tessa pulled back looking up at him, shocked by where this conversation was turning, "Maybe I had it coming." He finished as he moved hair from Tessa's face.

Jeremy began to move out of the mausoleum, but Elena called out to him before turning back around to face them, "Alaric, this isn't your fault."

Tessa sniffed as she unwound her arms from around him. He turned towards the younger Gilberts saying, "Please, you guys. Let's not make this any harder than it has to be." Tessa felt Alaric's arm hold her closer, "You two should go. Tessa's her, Damon's here. They'll-they'll make sure it all goes down the right way."

Tessa glanced up at the pair of siblings and nodded as she wiped her face of tears, she put on a strong face for them, but on the inside, she felt broken. She'd just found out she was pregnant- something she'd thought was a physical impossibility, and the father of her child was choosing to die. She wasn't sure if she should even bring it up, she wasn't sure if it would change anything, or if it would just make it harder for him.

Jeremy turned away angrily, and Tessa felt Alaric leave her side to say his goodbyes. Tessa hoped they two would leave soon, her strong face was slipping out of reach the more she thought about it. She decided it'd be better to tell him. Hoping it would change things, but she didn't put any expectations on it, it's better when to not build up hope on uncertain outcomes. She thought crossing her arms as Jeremy left after a hug with Alaric. He turned to face a choked up Elena.

"This is all my fault," she said, Tessa moved to put a hand on her shoulder as Alaric stepped closer shaking his head. "You-You moved out. You gave me the ring back. You didn't want any part of this and, I-I forced you to stay and take care of us."

"Don't do that, okay?" Alaric began, his voice soft. "Taking care of you and Jeremy has been," He paused taking a breath, Tessa could tell the hunger was affecting him, but he didn't want to show it in front of Elena. "It's been the closest, I've ever come to the life I always wanted." Tessa lost it at those last words, she backed away, her tears spilling over, and slipping down her face. She felt her chin quiver as she took in a breath moving towards the back of the mausoleum. She didn't have the energy to stand anymore, so she slipped down the wall leaning on it heavily for support. Tessa hunched over not wanting to look up as she heard Alaric move closer. She just wanted to wrap herself in a ball and, die right here with him. He crouched down hovering over her, just waiting.

"Hey…" His soft voice drew her to look up at him. She watched pain flash over his features when he saw her watery eyes and red-tinged face. She sniffled trying to wipe away the tears that just kept coming. "You should walk Elena out, make-make sure that Klaus isn't still out there," Tessa muttered as she moved to stand up. Alaric seemed to understand that was Tessa's way of calming down, alone. He took her hand in his as he stood up to his full height now, he moved it up to his lips before turning away after Elena. Tessa was surprised to see him stop short at the entrance, so she came up behind him. She saw the whole group of people she'd met last night, even Tyler was there which took her by surprise. She could hear Alaric getting more and more choked up staring at the people he was choosing to leave behind. It was obvious he didn't want to, but he had already deemed it the safer decision. Tessa felt him walk by her and, back into the mausoleum. She turned and followed him in quickly, knowing this may be the only chance to be with him alone. She briefly heard the movement of people coming in closer to the concrete building, but then a voice halted them.

"Just wait, give them the time to say goodbye." She inwardly thanked Damon as her eyes filled again with tears as Alaric came into view. She took a steadying breath as her eyes moved over him. His dark jacket over a red button up. Tessa couldn't help but chuckle at how she could even look at him as attractive until the very end.

"What?" She heard him ask. She could hear that his breathing came in quicker.

"It's nothing. Just that," She trailed off moving in closer to him, "You're still everything I've always wanted." With that, she pushed herself into his arms and, kissed him. She could feel his arms immediately encircle her as he pulled her against his body. He leaned against the wall behind him for support, she could tell he was steadily growing weaker.

She sniffled as she pulled away looking up at him. Alaric moved a hand up to wipe a tear from her face. "I love you too," Tessa told him. "I-I never got to say it back."

"You didn't have to." He told her without missing a beat. "I know." He finished with a nod.

"I-I need to tell you something," She began after taking a breath and pulling back, only to have him yank her closer to his chest in protest.

"Please don't. Don't pull away. I need you right now." Tessa nodded as tears sprang up behind her eyes. She could feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest. "What is it?" He asked her.

Tessa glanced up at him to see his blue eyes locked on her face. She gulped, "Alaric, I-I don't know how, but-." She cut herself off as her voice wavered. Alaric's hands slid on to her upper arms as he moved to hold her so he could look at her whole face.

"what-what's wrong?" He asked softly, his eyebrows turned down in confusion.

"I hate to tell you like this. I-I only just found out yesterday. I-I'm so sorry." She wasn't making sense to him, as he watched her break down in tears.

"What is it, Tessa?" His soft voice pressed on.

"I-I'm pregnant." She gasped out, before her the floodgate of tears tore open, and her breathing became uneven. Alaric stood before her with his face unreadable.

"I'm-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She said shaking her head. "I-I didn't want it to be like this-."

Alaric cut her off as his hand slid to the back of her head and he pressed his mouth to hers silencing her voice. Tessa stood shocked at first, but her hands quickly moved around his body as she pulled him closer to her. Her hands gripped the zipper teeth on his jacket while her other on slid up into his hair.

Tessa felt Alaric's free hand move to her lower back as he gripped her shirt tightly. She knew that standing was going to prove difficult for him in a bit, and pushed him to lean against the wall behind him, as she deepened the kiss. She pulled back to allow Alaric to suck in some much-needed air into his lungs.

"I-I can't turn. You know that I won't. It wouldn't just put you in danger now." He told her as his hand slid over her stomach. Tessa's eyes watered again as she nodded slowly.

"I-I know." She stuttered out.

"I love you so much." He told her as his arms pulled her against him again.

"I love you too." She cried back to him with a gasping breath.

"Listen to me, Tessa. You need to get out of Mystic Falls. That's what I want, please. Nothing good ever happens here, okay? I want you and the baby safe. Away from the danger." Tessa pulled away angrily.

"I-I can't even think of that-."

"You have to." Alaric cut her off as he moved unsteadily closer to Tessa as he grabbed her hands in his. "I love you, but you need to get out of town. Tonight."

"I can't-. I don't want to leave you." She told him softly her wide, and watery eyes meeting his determined ones.

"You have to." He told her seriously, "I'm already dead."

Tessa felt her heart constrict at his words, there was an ache in her chest already at the mere thought of him not being around anymore. Not seeing her through the pregnancy, not seeing the baby born, or growing up.

"I-I can't, Ric. I just can't." She said tearfully. "I love you." She told him. She could hear movement coming in towards the mausoleum door, and knew the time had come for other's to say their goodbyes. Tessa didn't want to leave him. She wanted to remain here until the end.

"You're not watching me die, Tessa." He told her as his hands held her arms. "I-I can't go out like that."

"I love you, Ric." She muttered quickly before pressing her mouth to his. Her hands held him tightly to her body as his arms moved around hers. She had to respect his decision, she didn't like it, it broke her heart, but she had to respect it.

It hurt her heart when Ric pulled away from her, he turned to see Damon standing by the door. "Sorry, buddy." He grimaced.

Tessa felt a wave of tears, but she pushed them down. She sniffed as she backed up from the man she'd wanted to start a life with, but he was ripped away from her right as it began. She moved over towards Damon, just before exiting he gripped her arm gently.

"Go pack your things. I know of a place outside of town. I want to help-."

"I don't need your help." Tessa cut him off angrily as she yanked her arm back. She was thinking about everyone she'd lost, her sister, her mother, her father, and soon Alaric. Almost every one of them was at the hands of a Mikaelson. She felt anger burning within her.

"Tessa." His voice quelled the burning pit within her as she turned to face him, "Please."

Pain tore at Tessa's heart as she watched Alaric slide down the wall to sit, tiredly. Tessa moved quickly as she walked purposefully towards him and moved to her knees beside him, her mouth pressed to his easily, as she committed every little detail to her memory. She didn't want to forget anything about him. Her hand slid over his hair, and down around the back of his neck to his shoulder. She pulled back slowly as his arms released her.

"Please. Go." Alaric said in a final tone. Tessa nodded as she moved away to her feet and walked off not wanting to look back at him. She ran into Meredith on the way out. Tessa was too emotionally drained to even be mad about it.

"Damon called me." Meredith explained, "I'm here to give him some sedatives. Make his passing a bit easier-."

"I don't care," Tessa told her. Her voice was broken, and she didn't want to think about Alaric passing on, peaceful or not. It hurt too much. Tessa watched as Elena-who stood by Stefan move in closer to her, the look concerned on her face told Tessa that Stefan had told her about the baby, and she just couldn't deal with it right now. Not tonight. Tessa used her vamp speed to race through the woods, and back to her house to pack things up. She groaned knowing some of her things was still in Alaric's loft.

After hours and, hours of packing up what she could into her car, she headed over to the loft and moved up the stairs slowly. She opened the door and, the familiar scent of him hit her. Nearly every corner of the loft held memories of them together, happy memories, memories that made her feel alive. She sighed entering it slowly, she wanted to just rip the band-aid off but would keep getting distracted when she came across the certain things that made her tear up all over again. She'd grabbed a couple of his shirts to take with her wherever she was going.

She's waited outside of her house for almost half the night. Tessa glanced around wondering just when Damon would show up, so she pulled her phone out, and called him.

She was surprised to hear who answered.

"Tessa?" Pain stabbed her in the heart at the sound of his voice. Tears stung her eyes as they watered

"Alaric? Are- Are you-?"

"An abomination? Yes."

Tessa stilled at his voice knowing something wasn't right. "You're not, Ric." She told him, gently.

"You don't get to call me that." He told her, his voice dark, and angry. "We're nothing to each other." He continued over the phone. "Especially not parents. How could two monsters ever raise anything good? You better hope I don't find you. I'll kill you without a second thought. You and whatever that thing is that's growing within you." It wasn't her Alaric she was speaking to. She realised, it was the darkness within him.

Tessa fought to control her emotions as pain lashed through her at his words. "Alaric, No."

"Yes." He seethed through the phone. "You shouldn't be on this earth, and neither should that beast. I was weak when we met. Still mourning my loss, and you took advantage."

Tessa returned to herself quickly, "Good luck in finding me." She replied to him, hanging up before moving to get in the car. She felt secure in knowing that Elijah was long gone from Mystic Falls, and with that in mind, she drove off, fearful of running into him. She knew she wouldn't have it in her to kill him even if it came down to a fight to the death between them. She wasn't sure where she was going, but she knew it had to be out of Mystic Falls.

Thank you for your views! Hope you enjoyed the read.

XXTigerXEyesXX