Sorry this too longer than usual to put up. I'll be honest, the olympics have taken over my life. Go USA? lol

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS! All of you are amazing, truly. So this chapter is a little but shorter. But it's kind of a transition chapter, so yeah. Sorry.

Once again, I highly recommend the extremely depressing music I chose for this chapter lol.

Music

Moving On - Michael Giacchino (Waking Up)

Tomorrow Is Gonna Be Better - Joshua Radin (Kol/Avery)

The Baudelaire Orphans - Thomas Newman (Funeral)

Avery heard everything around her before she saw it. The birds chirping outside, the leaves rustling from the slight breeze, and then the string for her blinds that continued to tap against the wood paneling. She was scared to open her eyes, convinced that it had all been a dream. She believed her parents and brother were still alive. And when she opened her eyes, she would be back in her room in Maine, not Mystic Falls. But then his name popped into her mind: Kol. She couldn't leave him behind. Even with her family back, she still needed him. If all of this had been a dream, she'd have to find him again. Even if her family were with her again, she still needed him. Because Avery loved Kol more than he would ever understand.

Avery's eyelids slowly opened. Her gaze immediately fell on Kol. His back was turned to her and he was staring outside one of her windows that looked out into the woods behind the house. He had on dark, fitted jeans that tucked into black leather boots and a loose black t-shirt. He looked so real.

"Kol." She whispered without meaning to. He instantly turned around. There was an expression of relief on his face at seeing her awake. Kol moved slowly toward the bed and sat on the edge.

Avery sat up and scooted closer to him. She ignored the blurriness and headache that followed the quick movement. Her palm lightly touched his cheek. "Am I dead?" She whispered, which earned her a smile from Kol.

"If you're dead, where would this be?" He questioned in amusement.

"Heaven." She confirmed with confidence.

Kol raised his eyebrows at her response. He moved closer so his forehead touched hers in the most intimate way. "If this were heaven, I don't consider I'd be here with you." He added. Avery smiled sadly a little at how serious he was being. Then she caught him by surprise with hugging him suddenly. She buried her face into his chest. He bent lower so his chin was in the crook of her neck, taking in her scent that he'd memorized. His grip was right around her small body. He never wanted to let go. All there was between the two of them was relief.

After a few minutes, Avery reluctantly pulled away. Both of her hands went on either side of his face. "Don't ever do anything like that again." She said so dark and stern. Any smirk Kol had left had now disappeared. He nodded, fully aware how much he had scared her. It was obvious Avery believed that he'd truly died.

"Is she dead?" Avery whispered. There was no need for saying the witch's name. Who else would she be asking about? The question was filled with hope and fear. She felt guilty for feeling the first one.

"Damon was the one to do it." Kol immediately replied. "Klaus was there to witness it himself. She's finished." Avery nodded, but she showed no joy at the news. How could she celebrate someone's killing? She wished it didn't have to end with her death, but there was no other way they could make sure everyone she cared about was safe. Aradia had been evil and there was no hope to try and change her mind about ending an entire species. She'd brought it onto herself.

Avery's eyes suddenly widened. "Hayley and Caroline!" She gasped. Her mind was starting to catch up on everything. The same worries and concerns from before were quickly flooding back to her.

Kol put both his hands on her shoulders, trying to calm her down. "Avery, relax. All is fine." He kissed the top of her head. "Bonnie used a spell and made some sort of concoction. Elijah called to reassure that both of them were fine." He sighed. "They were all more worried about you then."

"Why were they worried about me?" She asked, her brow furrowing.

"You went through a lot. You were sleeping for almost a day." Kol informed her as she zoned out. He glanced at her bedroom door. "Meredith was here to check on you." Avery's head snapped up at his statement. "She asked me to tell you that she loves you very much and that she's considered starting to ground you with all the trouble you're getting into." He knew it would put a smile on her face.

"And she didn't try to kick you out?" Avery asked. She was significantly surprised, not for them having an actual conversation but also for Kol passing on a message from her aunt. But Kol just shook his head. A smile breamed across her face. She let out a deep sigh as her body relaxed against his. "It's actually over." She muttered softly, still not believing that they'd both survived.

Kol rubbed her back. "For now it is." His cynical answer didn't surprise Avery, but she didn't want to point it out. She knew he was right. There would always be someone trying to harm Kol and his family. But she didn't want to think about the problems ahead, only that they lived through this one.

"Do you want to go to the mansion?" Avery asked him. She assumed he wanted to re-gather with his family. Although he didn't say so, she knew he'd been with her the entire time she was sleeping. And she didn't want to keep him from his family. They were probably just relieved, as she was that he was okay.

"No. I don't." Kol replied clearly. "I just want to be with you." He told her. After a moment, Avery smiled at his response. She couldn't argue because she didn't want to. For the first time in awhile, they didn't want to worry about anyone. Everyone was safe. The war was over and they had won. Now, she just wanted to be with Kol and he just wanted to be with her. No other vampires, no witches, and no hybrids lingering over their heads…just the two of them being themselves.

Of course it had to be raining during Ben's funeral. But Avery dismissed the weather because it couldn't make the event any sadder than it already was. She looked around at all the black. This all felt too familiar. She started to feel like death was following her. And every time she got over the last person that was taken away, death tortured her with stealing someone else. Not that she ever really got over any one of her loved ones. She simply learned how to deal with it. But the whole thing was a cruel game that no one ever intended on playing.

Avery looked around the graveyard, her eyes scanning the grounds. She wished Kol were there to hold her hand, to comfort her. But he knew neither him nor any of his family belonged there. He never said it to her, but they both knew it. But Kol owed Ben so much more than Avery realized. Ben had saved her life while Kol was completely helpless. And for that, he could never repay him.

Even without Kol, Avery still had Bonnie and Matt on either side of her. They knew she had some sort of a friendship with Ben Phillips that neither of them ever did. Avery just wished she could have been there for him before he got in too deep. She wondered how much different his life would have been if he had been born into a different family. He deserved so much better than them. Ben had been kind and caring deep down, a loyal and good friend. And his family only buried all of it to substitute it was darkness and rage that was not his own.

Perhaps he would be at some top university, meeting his college sweetheart and being one of the star athletes. He would have been worrying about his next exam instead of killing vampires and trying to stay alive.

Avery looked across the small crowd that had gathered and noticed an older blonde woman in a police uniform. Matt had pointed her out to Avery earlier, explaining that it was Caroline's mom and she was the sheriff before Alaric had exposed her, the mayor, and anyone else that aided the supernatural. Avery immediately noticed the sheriff badge on her jacket. The metal shined and caught anyone's eye straightaway.

Apparently, she had been reinstated. Clearly things had gone on at the council they were yet informed about. None of them knew that the council had realized they were so mistaken. Trying to fight an original family of vampires caused more death than ignoring them like Mayor Lockwood and Sheriff Forbes had. Things had changed since their ancestors had passed on the council's legacy. The world was no what it once was. And the council's great and powerful plan exploded in their faces, leaving them nothing but dozens of corpses to account for. No one in town knew of Henry and the rest of his family's murder. Stories and explanations were being fabricated as the funeral took place. Avery only assumed the news would make its way out into the open sooner than later.

Mystic Falls almost felt like it was going back to a certain normalcy it once had long before Avery had arrived. But then again, that was an ignorant thing to think. There had been countless victims, teenagers turned into the paranormal, and problems, that no one should have had to deal with, could never be taken back. This town would never return to how it used to be before vampires invaded it.

The crowd started parting as the funeral came to a close. There was no one there for people to give their condolences to. Avery didn't know if Ben's mother was a hunter too or if she was even alive. She liked to think that his mother was where all the good in him came from. But Avery stopped thinking about it as her eyes stared at Ben's coffin slowly being lowered into the ground. She glanced up, her eyes slightly wet. But she wouldn't let herself cry again. She had dried herself of tears. Ben wouldn't want people to be sad, especially her.

Avery had a strange feeling, the one that she'd only started to get the night she arrived in Mystic Falls. Her eyes shot up and looked around the graveyard again, past all the people that had gathered around and were moving about. Almost instantly, she found Kol standing in the shadows of a small crypt. He was wearing a dark trench coat that made him blend in with his settings. His hair was soaking wet since he didn't have an umbrella. She somehow spotted him immediately once she got that weird feeling like someone was watching her. Even though he was dozens of yards away, she knew he saw her staring at him. Even though he wasn't actually there, he hid in the shadows, like a dark angel. It was what Kol was always doing: watching over her. Even if he wasn't right next her, Kol was with Avery in some way.

"Ready to go?" Bonnie asked Avery softly. The witch quickly glanced in Kol's direction, fast enough that Avery didn't even notice. She had sensed the vampire the moment he was at the cemetery. Avery nodded at Bonnie's question, realizing that Bonnie and Matt had been waiting for her to show some signs of wanting to leave with everyone else.

"I'll catch up with you guys." She muttered suddenly. They both nodded, understanding that she wanted a moment alone. Matt touched her shoulder in comfort before turning and walking toward the cars with Bonnie.

In just a few short moments, everyone had gone, leaving Avery alone with the newly covered grave. She knelt down, feeling too far away while she stood and gazed down at the dirt. "I realized recently that I never actually thanked you for saving my life." Her lower lip started shaking and her eyes started watering. "Thank you…Though, I wish you hadn't done it…that there was some way you were still here." Avery sighed as she wiped away a single tear that had escaped. "I'd like to think there's some place you've gone…if there is, I'm sure you've met my family and they've told you how grateful they are for you looking out for me." Avery slowly stood up now. "I'll miss you more than you know. And I'm sorry for everything."

A few seconds later, she felt someone standing next to her. She didn't have to look to know it was Kol. Avery recognized it was hard for him to understand. Vampires' didn't mourn the same way humans did, especially Kol. But he was so connected to her that somehow he felt everything she did. It didn't matter if he wasn't able to experience the same emotions. All that mattered to her was that he was there. She glanced at him, taking in how soaked he was from the rain. He didn't even seem to notice any of it.

"I'll see you later tonight." Avery muttered to him. Kol only nodded. She glanced behind them to see Bonnie and Matt were in the pick-up, patiently waiting for her. She started walking away but Kol gently grabbed her wrist. He pulled her into a hug, not sure what else to do to comfort her. After a moment, he finally let her go and saw the appreciation in her eyes. He watched her walk away from him, umbrella in hand.

Kol turned his attention to the grave in front of him. He'd never been to a funeral before. They hadn't even had one for his mother when she died a thousand years ago. The whole idea of burials made him rather uncomfortable. It was because he lacked respect and concern for the human life. But everything changed once he'd been awoken from his one hundred year sleep. And until now, he never would have even thought about attending one.

As Kol stared at Ben Phillips' grave, he didn't know what to do. "If you were still alive, I don't believe I would have been the better man and thanked you for saving her life. But after everything that has happened…" He paused, feeling ridiculous for talking to a mound of dirt. This was all too new to him. "Thank you. If it weren't for you, she'd be here instead."

Avery closed the car door. "You okay?" Matt asked her softly. She nodded her head and glanced at where she'd left Kol. But the grave now had no visitors.

I kind of hope I made you guys cry...because that would mean I did good, right? Ok, maybe I'm just a horrible person.