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Chapter Twenty Six

Despite the invitation, Tallie had decided against attending the victory party. Somehow, it didn't seem right to be celebrating Klaus' dessication. At least, not for her to be. She preferred to spend her time agonising over her actions. And when Peter called her downstairs, she felt no better.

Slumping down into the seat, she leaned her forearms onto the island, as Peter placed a plate of toast in front of her.

"I'm sorry about having to work at such inopportune times," Peter said, "I know it sucks."

"And a piece of toast is your apology?" Tallie teased, and Peter made to take it away, but she swatted his hand, "It's okay," she assured him, "You're there for the important stuff."

"Speaking of, how was the dance?" He asked, grinning, "Should I be expecting Matt around here more often."

"Maybe, I don't know." She said, shaking her head, "We, kinda. We're just figuring things out right now."

"What's the problem?" Peter asked, "He seemed to like you."

"Klaus, is the eternal problem in my life." She muttered, "Matt thinks I have feelings for him."

"And do you?"

"Yes. But that doesn't matter now." Tallie said, "Even if he wasn't dessicated. There's way too many problems." She said, "Like, the fact all my friends hate him, quite justifiably I might add."

"And, if they didn't?" Peter asked, ignoring the bits he didn't understand, as usual, "If, Klaus, was the good guy. If your friends liked him. Who would you choose?"

"There'd be no competition." She said, "But Klaus isn't, nor would he ever be, that guy."

"Then, it seems pretty clear what you have to do."

Tallie nodded, moving her focus back to her food, which was about as good as any of Peter's other meals. He wasn't exactly the best cook. But he was right. Klaus was gone, but Matt was still there. She shouldn't get caught up in feelings for someone she'd never be with. Moving on was the only option. But it was much easier said then done.

By the time she'd finished her meal, Caroline had called to inform her of Elena's trip to the hospital. After a quick goodbye to her father she was off to the Gilbert House. It seemed like the night would just never end.

The house was pretty packed when she arrived, but thankfully, completely absent of any Original vampires.

"How are you feeling?" Tallie asked

"I'm fine, really," Elena said, "You didn't have to come."

"Well, now I'm here." Tallie shrugged

Moving into the kitchen, she started to help Caroline with washing the dishes. She needed to feel useful.

"Hey, how are you dealing with this whole Klaus thing?" Caroline asked, "I mean, I know you guys, were, close, and everything."

"It's fine." Tallie said, folding her arms, "It had to happen. I know that. It just," - letting out a deep breath - "It kinda sucks."

"Now, that Klaus is out of the picture," Caroline said, "Are you and Matt gonna be a thing?"

"I don't know." She shrugged, "I think relationship drama can wait until later."

"Yeah, I guess it can."

Caroline and Tyler left soon after, having gotten a call from their moms, and Jeremy had gone to get food. Leaving her with Matt and a sleeping Elena.

"How are you doing?" Matt asked, "Since Klaus."

"I wish people would stop asking me that." Tallie muttered, "I'm okay."

"You know, you don't have to feel guilty."

"I know I shouldn't, but I do." Tallie said, "Anyway," she said, grabbing her coat off the chair, "If everything's under control here, I'm gonna head home."

"Okay."

Taking a second to hesitate, she leaned forward to press a kiss against Matt's cheek. Her father and Caroline were right, Matt deserved a chance, and she deserved to move on. After all, her and Klaus had never actually progressed into anything.

Despite her affirmative thoughts, doubts continued to plague her. They grew so large and overwhelming, that for a second she even considering reviving Klaus. But she quickly squashed her guilt. It wasn't worth her friends dying over.

She practically jumped out of her skin mid-pace when her phone began to ring, quickly grabbing it and thrusting it against her ear, not even bothering to see who it was.

"Hello." She said into it

"Tallie, uh," Caroline replied, her words tumbling out between the sobs, "Klaus, is, ah,"

"Klaus is what?" Tallie asked, "What happened?"

"He's dead," Caroline said, "Tyler, he's, oh God."

"Oh my God," Tallie gasped out, "Are you?"

"I'm okay, for now," Caroline said, "But, Tyler, he just, he told me to leave, I didn't want to, but he,"

"Hey, hey, it's gonna be okay, alright," Tallie said, though she didn't believe the words herself, "Klaus was probably lying, you're gonna be fine."

"What if he wasn't?" Caroline asked, "What if I'm, what if I'm dying?"

"Then. Then. Just don't think like that, okay," She said, "You're too good a person, alright. You're my closest friend, and, I can't lose you, okay?"

"Okay?"

"Have you, have you called the others?"

"Yeah," Caroline affirmed, "They know."

"Why don't you go find your mom?" Tallie suggested, "Yeah, hang with her until things calm down."

"Yeah," Caroline replied, "Yeah, I think I'll do that."

"Okay." She nodded, "You're gonna be okay."

"Thank you."

After hanging up the phone, Tallie collapsed down onto the ground, leaning against the wall with her arms clutching her knees.

Klaus was dead.

Tyler was dead.

Caroline, Stefan and Damon would soon be dead.

After everything they'd all been through, this was how it ended. She had expected, at the very least, any one of her friends would die in an epic sacrifice for another. But no. They died as part of a mother's attempts to rectify her mistakes. How anti-climatic.

She kept imagining it in her head. Klaus burning up in flames. Tyler falling sick. Then the others. One by one, they'd all fall. Grow sick and die. Leaving the humans and witches behind to mourn.

This train of thought continued on until her phone rang again. Missing the first call, she picked up on the second.

"Hello." She said hurriedly

"Tallie," Bonnie said, "I need you to come to the Lockwood Cellar."

"Why?"

"There's something you need to see."

Bonnoe didn't give her anymore time for questions, and Tallie got the sense that the situation was time sensitive. Rushing over there, she ignored just about every speed sign, and was extremely thankful she wasn't pulled over. Because being fined would really ruin her night.

The cellars were just as creepy as she remembered, wrapping her arms around herself, she really wished she hadn't forgotten a jacket in her eagerness to get out of the house. But at least now she could blame her shivers on the cold, and not on the fact she thought that every shadow was a psycho killer out to get her.

"Bonnie," she called out as she descended the steps, "Are you here?"

"Tallie," Bonnie said, rushing up to meet her,

"What is it?" Tallie asked, "What did you have to show me?"

"He's down there," Bonnie said, jerking her head towards the cellar

"He?"

"I'll give you two some time." Bonnie said, brushing past her

Hesistating slightly, she continued on down the steps. At least now she had a slight inclination as to what she would encounter. But even her knowledge as to the gender of the person was not enough to prepare her for what she saw. Or more importantly, who.

"B-b, but, Tyler," she stammered, "You're dead, you're supposed to dead. Klaus,"

"Is not dead." He replied, "And I'm not Tyler."

"Klaus." Tallie breathed out, her feet carrying her forward, "Oh my god. How - "

"How am I not a pile of ashes?" He finished, "Bonnie was smart enough to put me into this body. Even she could realise that dessicating me wasn't the smartest of ideas."

"Klaus, I didn't know," she said, "I didn't know it was you."

"But you didn't try to revive me either."

"You would've killed my friends the first chance you got." Tallie pointed out, her voice losing all softness, "What choice did I have?"

"And how long after your friends packed me away in a box did you throw yourself into the quarterback's arms?"

"I can't believe you're doing this right now." She said, "You couldn't just let me be happy you weren't dead."

"I'm surprised you weren't glad to have me gone."

"You know what, Klaus, a part of me was glad when you were dessicated," Tallie admitted, crossing her arms, "Because, you were finally gone, and I could move on, and nobody else would be hurt." She explained, ignoring the ever growing rage spreading across his face, "But, a bigger part of me, was absolutely gutted when I thought I'd lost you."

"What have you got to say about that, huh?" She demanded, "Nothing. Because big bad Klaus Mikaelson doesn't share his feelings. He prefers to make everyone fear him, because that's easier then actually admitting you feel something."

Klaus just stood there, glaring at her, his jaw clenched, and his eyes hardened by his reluctance to show just how much her words had hurt him. It almost made her feel remorseful about what she had said, or at least the way she had said it. But it was the truth. And he needed to hear it.

"Tallie," Bonnie called out from the doorway, causing her to finally wrench her gaze away from Klaus', "There's been an accident."