"Mom."

She smiles. "Hello, Danielle."

I can't say a word. I just stand there with a half-open mouth, gaping like a fish.

Nobody speaks, and she continues to smile up at me from the center of the loft.

"You… you…" I try to forge words, but can barely make out an intelligible phrase.

"I missed you." She says.

I shake my head. Something isn't right. It looks like her, but it doesn't feel like it's her. Not entirely.

"We have so much to talk about." She says, outstretching a hand. She takes a step towards me and that's when I lose it.

I drop my bag and in a split second, I'm poised to attack- with my teeth out, I involuntarily let out a roar, and my entire vision and senses go into animal mode.

Instead of reacting like any normal person would, she almost smirks. "I knew you'd be powerful. But this… I've never seen someone turn like this before." She kneels down so she's at my level and calmly closes her eyes. When she opens them, they glow a bright blue.

When I see her eyes, I begin to come back to reality. I close my mouth and slowly return to a standing position. I rush to Derek's side in less than a second and stand defensively in front of him.

"You don't have to worry, Danielle." She says, her eyes gleaming from under her thick lashes. "I'm not here to hurt you."

I take a deep breath, calming myself as I shift back.

"I was just catching up with your lover, here. Very good taste, by the way." She says, looking Derek over.

"Wha-" I stutter, still barely able to form words. "Fiance."

"Hm?"

"He's my… fiance." I correct her.

"Oh, I know that already."

"... how?"

She smiles and walks over to the couch, sitting down calmly as if nothing were wrong. "Isn't it obvious? I've been watching you- keeping up with you. Making sure you're alright. What kind of a mother would I be if-"

"Excuse me?" I blurt out.

She stops talking.

"What kind of a… are you kidding me?!" I exclaim, beginning to yell. "What the hell are you talking about?! What kind of moth- ugh, I can't even say that word while I'm looking at you! Are you serious, you've been following me all this time- I almost died. Dad almost died. We ALL almost DIED, and you didn't even bother to try and help, and you're trying to make it sound like you've been watching over me like some kind of freaking guardian angel-"

"I guess you could call me that." She looks up at me and smiles angelically.

"Wha- NO!" I bring my hands to my face in frustration. All I want to do is scream. "It's called sarcasm, you are the absolute and complete opposite of- nevermind! What you're telling me is that while we were all here fighting for our lives, you were just spying on me like some peeping Tom?!"

"No, I just kept up on your records, watched you out in public from time to time, just making sure you were okay."

"I wasn't! You have been nothing but a disappointment to Dad and I, and the least you

could do is… something, anything other than spy on me and never even let me know you're alive!"

"Danielle." She says sternly. "I have always been here for you-"

"You left me!" I scream as angry tears begin to roll down my cheeks.

Her eyes begin to well up, but her face won't change.

"You… you left me…" My voice cracks. "You left us."

"I know." She says quietly. "And… there's not a day that goes by that I don't regret leaving you. All I want is to have you in my life again. To be a family again."

I shake my head. "You lost that chance the minute you walked out the front door."

She looks down, sniffling. "I'm sorry, Danielle. I'm so, so sorry. I can't even put into words how… I'm sorry."

I look down at her, seeing the woman that raised me. Who loved me. Who held me when I had nightmares. Who slept by my side when I was sick. The woman who watched me grow up.

The one who walked out the front door and never came back.

"Please." I say, my tone becoming more solemn. "Enlighten me. Sorry for leaving? Sorry for… the day Dad had to tell me you disappeared? Or is it for the time I realized you were probably dead and Dad was just too scared to tell me?"

"Danielle-"

"Or maybe, you're sorry for all of the pain you put Dad through. He felt worthless for years. He couldn't even live in that damn house anymore because of you! He couldn't even stay in that town- that state!"

"I know, I-"

"But the one that always runs through my mind, all day long in the back of my thoughts on a constant loop, always reminding me how easy it is to feel pain, how simple it'd be to think… that maybe, just maybe… you're sorry for that feeling I had when I thought it was me. That I was so unlovable, that even my own mother would do whatever she could to get away from me."

She purses her lips, staring up at me, on the verge of tears.

My voice cracks again as a tear runs down my cheek.

"Go on, pick one."

"None of those are true, Danielle."

"Then tell me your best lie."

She takes a deep, trembling breath. "I promise, it wasn't you. I loved you so much- and I still do."

I scoff and roll my eyes.

"I do. Listen to my heartbeat and tell me if I'm lying."

Nobody talks and all I hear is hearts beating.

Steady.

"I love you Danielle." She says.

Steady.

I scowl at her. "Fine. Let's pretend you're telling the truth. Start talking."

"I didn't love your father." She says bluntly. "Not like I used to. But that wouldn't be a good enough reason for me to leave. It was something I saw- I went to work one night and there was this man who dashed out in the middle of the street, and I hit him. With my car. So I went outside, panicking of course, just to find that… he wasn't entirely man. He looked like… like a wolf."

"So, you left because you committed a hit-and-run?"

"No. I wasn't just going to leave him there. I was sure I was seeing things- it was a long day at work- so I saw his teeth protruding from his mouth, and went to go move his lip so I could see them better. I guess by that time he had healed, and I startled him. He bit me."

She raises her sleeve and points to a spot on her hand. "You can't see it, but right here to be exact. I told your father that I was too tired to drive and had picked up another shift early in the morning and that I stayed the night with a friend who lived closeby."

"How did you know what was happening to you?"

"I didn't. Not until my first full moon. I was on my way home from another late shift, and that's when I turned. I pulled over thinking it was just motion sickness, and there he was."

"The wolf?"

"Henry. His name is Henry." She says, slightly smiling. "He was able to control it and tried to teach me, but I couldn't do it. Not completely. I knew I'd hurt you. So I went home, grabbed some things, and…"

"Left." I say blatantly.

"Yes…. that's when I left."

"With- Henry?"

She nods. "He taught me everything I know."

"Is he close by?"

"No. He didn't come- I needed to do this alone."

"Are you guys… like…"

"We are together."

I make a grimace. "Ew."

She smiles again, then sighs. "Though, it does bother me that your father is falling in love with someone else."

"Yeah, you have no chance there. He's got it bad. Don't even bother- she is twice the partner you ever were to him. She makes him feel loved; wanted. But most importantly, she doesn't up and leave, so." I say, crossing my arms.

"We'll see about that. I have my ways. I was his first love, you know."

"Oh, no." I shake my head. "There is no way I'm letting you anywhere near him."

"Why are you even here?" Derek asks from behind me, coming forward to flank my side

She scoffs, as if she is shocked. "My only daughter's graduation and wedding?! How could I miss that?"

I glare at her, not a bit convinced. "I don't know, I'm not very convinced, Derek what about you?"

He shakes his head. "Nope."

"Yeah, you aren't that good of a mother." I say. "Spit it out.

She takes a breath and repostures herself. "Fine. Here's the deal: I haven't exactly been that helpful lately, and I feel, well, bad- believe it or not."

"You're right, I don't."

"So I thought, that if I finally came forward and helped you when you need it most, that maybe you'll forgive me."

"Lemme think. No."

"Danielle, be reasonable here. You need all the help you can get. And nobody will suspect me. Especially not Peter."

"Oh, he'll definitely sense you. You'll get us all killed."

"No. How do you think you guys haven't been able to sense me all this time?" She finally stands up, strolling over to the window. "Let's just say, I have an excellent emissary."

"Let me guess: your creep boyfriend is multi-talented."

"Peter won't know what I am. That's all that matters."

I purse my lips and cross my arms, turning to Derek. He doesn't look any more content

than I do. "What do you think?"

"I think she's crazy."

"Yeah, a complete psychopath."

"Excuse me, I can hear you." She points out.

"Excuse me, we don't care." I say.

Derek looks at the floor, deep in thought. "She might be crazy, but she's right. We need all the help we can get. And if she says she can mask herself, then she could help."

I weigh the pros and cons. Pros: We have more people. A sneakier attack. Cons: Too many to list.

But I find, even as I contemplate now, that it's not about what has happened between me and my mom, but about how we could use her to help.

"Fine." I decide. "But there are rules."

"Name your price." She says, turning to me.

"One- this is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. I don't forgive you."

"But that was the deal."

"But you can't buy forgiveness. You can't just buy back years and years of a father and daughter falling apart because- you know, what? I'm not getting into that again. That's a rule. Non-negotiable. Rule two: you can't go after Dad. He is with Melissa, he is happy. You stay out of it."

"They're not married…"

"Yeah, like marriage means anything to you." I roll my eyes. "Rule three: When this is over, you get the hell out of Beacon Hills and never contact me again."

"But the only reason I'm doing this-"

"Oh, my- just shut up! Shut. Up. And let me speak. You have no right to even be here, let alone speak."

She closes her mouth.

"You scarred me for life. Part of me is ruined because of you. And I'll never get that back. I don't even know how I've gotten this far in a conversation with you. So let me make one thing clear, 'Mother': I will never, ever, let you back in. And from this moment forward, when I think of you, the only thing I will feel is hate. So if you want to fix something, fix that. What I'm offering you is the best you can get. Stay for graduation. Stay for the wedding. Help us take care of Peter. And when you're done, go. And never come back. And I promise, you'll be dead to me. I will remember you as the fantastic mother I had that died years ago. Because that's what you did when you left us. That is all I can offer you."

The hope in her eyes is gone. But I remember how smart she always was- she knows that the deal won't get any better.

"Fine. I'll help and then I'll leave. See you at graduation."

Then she's gone.

It takes a minute to process that she's left the room, as her presence looms behind her.

I breathe a sigh of relief and Derek takes my hand. "Hey."

I look up at him.

"Are you okay?" He asks, his eyes concerned.

"You know," I say, "I'd say no, but I have you. I don't need a deadbeat mother when I have the best thing in the world." I squeeze his hand. "I'm okay."

He pulls me in without hesitation, holding me tight against him. "I'm sorry you had to do that."

I press my forehead against his chest. "It's over now. This weekend is about us, not her. I won't let her take that away from us."

"Us… and probably murdering my uncle." He jokes.

I look up at him. "It's only about someone else if we admit it to be."

"What's got you in such a good mood all of the sudden?"

"I have you." I repeat.

"Ah… you got a dress."

"M-hm."

"What's it look like?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" I raise a brow.

"You're not even gonna give me any hints?"

"It's supposed to be a surprise."

"Come on, just one?"

I peer up at him. "Fine, but this is the only hint you're getting. No returns or exchanges, deal?"

"Deal."

"Okay… it's white."

He rolls his eyes and picks me up, throwing me over his shoulder. "I know that!"
"Hey, put me down!"

"I'll put you down on the bed."

"No, Derek, I have a graduation ceremony to get ready for!"

"Eh, they can mail you the diploma."

"Put me down!"

Before I know it, we're upstairs and he lays me down on the bed. "Come on, we haven't had sex in three days."

"Oh no, how ever will we survive?" I ask sarcastically.

He takes off his shirt and gets on top of me.

"You're not even the least bit interested?"

I bite my lip, looking his chest up and down. "You know I am. But graduation is in an hour and a half and I haven't done anything to get ready yet. Later."

"Promise?"

"Duh." My eyes scan his bare torso. "Look at you."

He shakes his head and gets up, pulling me to my feet after him. "I don't know how you do it."

"Maybe…" I trail as I walk to the bathroom to plug in my straightener. "Wolf control is your thing, and… 'personal' control is something I'll have to teach you."

"Don't tease me, Danielle," He warns playfully, "We both know I am more than capable of making you lose control."

I appear in front of his face in a moment, inches away from him, our bodies practically touching. "Likewise, Derek. Don't tempt me."

He cocks a brow. "All I have to do is tempt you?"

I shake my head. "You're just asking for it, aren't you?"

"Politely requesting."

"Begging."

"I can make you beg."

"Well," I whisper, wrapping my fingers around his belt and pulling him against me, "Last time I checked, only dogs beg." I chuckle and let go of his belt, disappearing to the bathroom to get ready.

I hear a faint laugh before Derek appears at the bathroom threshold and leans against the doorframe.

"At least tell me something about the dress." He says.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" I exclaim, jumping up. I run to him and embrace him in a tight hug. "Thank you."

I can hear the smile in his voice. "You're welcome."

I kiss his cheek and return to the mirror to start pinning up my hair. "Really, thank you. You shouldn't have."

"Yes, but in two days you'll be 'Mrs. Hale', and what's mine will be yours anyways, so it's really not a big deal." He gasps. "Are you marrying me for the money?" He asks, dripping in sarcasm.

"No." I answer seriously. "I'm marrying you strictly for the good sex."

"Thank goodness." He says. "Because that's the only reason I'm marrying you."

"I'm glad we're on the same page." I giggle. "Okay, fine- the dress makes my boobs look good. But that's the only clue you're getting."

"Good enough." He says before turning around to get changed.

We all meet at the football field to take pictures together before splitting up. Yes- we take pictures with the most cliche poses possible. We even find a more secluded spot where Allison can join in while wearing her robe. She's going to watch from a different spot and try to be there with us emotionally. To her, this is her graduation too. Thankfully, my mother does not make an appearance at any point, to my relief. Eventually we split off and our family goes to sit in the stands, and we go inside the gym.

It's surreal- graduating here. I had always pictured myself graduating in the massive, oversized auditorium that was my high school back in New Jersey. Then again, I never pictured myself becoming a supernatural creature in my senior year and marrying my werewolf boyfriend two days after graduation either, so I guess it's not the best time to weigh my expectations.

We are all organized in a line based on GPA, so I'm a few seats down from Kira, and a few before Scott. None of us are even close to Lydia, considering she's the valedictorian. She stands to give her speech when called, and gives a long, but riveting speech. It keeps everyone engaged the entire time as she delivers her speech to her fellow classmates.

"... but before I end, I would like to recognize a friend of mine who was killed earlier this year, Allison Argent." She pauses, taking a deep breath before continuing. "She taught me so many different lessons, as I hope she did to many of you. But most importantly, she taught me to cherish every moment as if it's my last. Because for her and many other people, that moment was extremely unexpected. And I was so sure… I was so sure we'd have more time. But we didn't. And it never gets easier- going day by day without her. Sometimes it almost feels like she's always here, because she is and always will be such a huge part of my life. So it is my honor to be chosen to acknowledge Allison Argent as a graduating student of Beacon Hills High School's class of 2016."

We all applaud, and for a moment I forget that she's alive. I hide a small giggle when I remember she's still with us, watching.

"So with that, my fellow classmates, I thank you for these last few years. They have given us all memories we will remember for the rest of our lives. But life is short, so I ask you to live each moment from here on to the fullest. Thank you."

The entire field erupts with applause, and the students stand to begin receiving their diplomas. When it's my turn, I pause to take a picture with the principal handing me my diploma (realizing I've never actually talked to the guy) and walk back to sit down. In a few minutes, we are throwing our caps into the air and it's over.

"Look at you, you're finally a real adult." Derek teases as we all meet back up.

"I'm so proud of you, sweetheart." My Dad says, pulling me into an unnecessarily-tight hug.

"Thanks, Dad." I say, hugging him back.

"I am too." A familiar voice says.

Crap.

"Megan?!" My Dad exclaims, letting me go in shock.

My mom stands behind me, smiling at my father.

"Hi." She says, almost apologetically.

"Wha-" He is just as lost at words as I was earlier today. "What the hell are you- you…"

"I know, I have a lot of explaining to do." She says.

She tries to explain what happened as simply as possible, leaving out the part where she didn't love him anymore. She even leaves out the fact that she met someone new- her sire.

"So, you're like them?!" Dad asks her, confused and dumbfounded.

"In a way, yes. Look, I know this is a lot to take in. I would be more than happy to sit down with you some time and explain everything. You deserve an explanation."

He stands there, staring at her, wide-eyed with his mouth half open like a fish for the longest time.

"...No." Finally says.

"What?"
"No." He repeats. "I don't want an explanation. You left, and that's all that matters. Danielle and I moved, and now we're both happy. Nothing complicated about it. And frankly, I hate you. Sitting down with you and having a conversation would suck, so no, I don't want to sit down and hear your story. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to meet up with my girlfriend so our kids can take pictures in their caps and gowns. Bye, Megan." He turns around and starts walking. "Danielle, Derek…"

I follow him, stifling a laugh.

"Dad, that was awesome." I say when we are further away.

He smiles proudly. "Yeah, it was."

We meet up with the rest of the group and everyone is practically giddy, relieved that high school is over. We take some last pictures before leaving to meet up at Lydia's house for her big graduation party.

Practically the entire class comes with their families, packing the property and celebrating together. And for that one night, we are all ordinary teens, celebrating the night away without a single worry on our mind.