A/N: Hey guys so this is the final chapter of this season and it's been a wild ride. I know some people are for Damon and Buffy, Klaus and Buffy, and Stefan and Buffy. She will make her decision in this chapter, I'm telling you this because I know some people are not gonna be happy. But this felt right and it's what I planned for at this point in the story three years ago. Nothing is set in stone and as you guys know with this story things are always changing so I'm not saying this is forever but at this point in the story, this is where Buffy's head is at. Now I know some of you will hate it and stop reading but I ask you not to because this story is more than just about who she picks...plus guys we're not even near the end yet haha, love changes who you love changes, trust me I've been through my own love triangle in my personal life...they are complicated and messy...so is this story... so please stay tuned and let me know what you think.
Love you all xx
"Klaus seriously! Answer the damn phone!" Buffy yells as she leaves yet another message on Klaus' voicemail she was pretty sure it was going to run out space any minute given how many messages she had left.
Huffing she turns to Stefan "Great normally I can't get rid of him and now he won't answer the damn phone." Huffing she kicks the chair across the room before huffing and running a hand through her hair and sighing "He's my best friend Stefan. He's my freaking Lexi."
Lexi smiles "Aw. Like the idea. Not too much with the comparing to Damon ew."
Buffy smiles slightly before turning to Stefan "If they give the cure to Silas..."
"They're not giving it to Silas." Stefan admits causing Buffy to turn to him, trying not to focus on the fact that Buffy had compared Damon to being her Lexi, which certainly wasn't a way of saying she was in love with his brother. "Wherever Damon has taken Vaughn right now, it's a stall because Damon hasn't had time to Bury Silas' body yet."
Buffy arches a brow and crosses her arms "And I was left out because?"
"Because your mom is back and we're keeping you out of it."
Buffy arches a brow while right now she was a little pissed she huffs she could be mad later "Fine. We're stalling the hunters, but Damon is still dying."
Stefan steps forward and places his hands on the blonde's shoulders "One bullet. Laced. If Klaus doesn't come...maybe Joy's blood will work."
Buffy's eyes widen as it clicks, Joy was a hybrid too, maybe it would work, it was worth a try "Look, Buffy...I will go to New Orleans myself and I will beg Klaus if I have to. But he does love you. He'll come and knowing our luck it will be very last second."
"Then it's settled." Jeremy calls as he Elena Joyce and Joy all appear, Elena, dressed in her cap and gown while Jeremy held Buffy's "You're going to your graduation."
As Buffy opens her mouth to argue Elena raises her finger "No. No arguing. We are going. Buffy no more arguing."
Joyce chuckles before stepping forward "We're going. If you think I'm missing my daughter's college graduation your crazy. And I'm pretty Miranda is going to kill me if I don't come back and tell her all about our daughters' graduation."
Buffy lets out a small breath, this was almost everything she had ever dreamed of, except that Jeremy wouldn't be there "Jer..."
"I'm gonna stay with Joy. A little quality uncle and niece time."
Buffy sighs before walking over to her brother and sister and hugging them both tightly, looks like by some miracle she was about to graduate from college.
"Nik let's remember we have that little adorable creature that I literally died giving birth to. So you know come save my best friend! Please." With that Buffy hangs up her phone before turning to her mom who places a hand on her daughter's shoulder "He'll come through." Joyce promises, she was sure of it.
Sighing Buffy nods before hugging her mom, as she pulls back her eyes widen "Mom...are you crying?"
"I'm about to watch my daughter graduate college. Of course, I am." She says wiping away the tears from her face before cupping her daughter's face in her arms "I'm so proud of you."
Buffy lets out a small breath before tears begin streaming down her own face, smiling at her mom she couldn't help but take a shaky breath "I miss you."
"I know sweetie." Her mother says with her own shaky voice before taking her daughter's hands in her own "But you are everything and more than I ever imagined."
"Mom stop." Buffy laughs wiping away her tears trying to keep her makeup on her face instead of all over her hands.
Joyce takes a shaky breath and wipes her own face before looking at her daughter seriously "You know I spoke to both Damon and Stefan. Did I ever tell you that before I met your father I was in love with someone else? But when I got pregnant I made my decision to stay with your father and I did love him but not the way I loved him."
When Buffy arches a brow Joyce sighs and squeezes her daughter's hands "I know you care about Klaus. And you are gonna sacrifice so much for Joy. But love...who you love most, the one that makes you happy. That's something I don't want you to sacrifice." As Buffy goes quiet and looks down trying to organize her own thoughts, Joyce sighs she could see the pain in Buffy's eyes and hurt her heart knowing how confused her daughter was about her own feelings "Do you know who?"
"Yeah, I do." Buffy finally admits, she knew exactly how she felt about Stefan and Damon and exactly who she loved "And as much as I want to listen about not letting Joy influence who I love...it does. Because it's not just about me anymore. I come attached with this girl. And she needs to come first."
"Sorry to interrupt." Caroline says as she, Bonnie, Elena, and Stefan, as well as Matt, walk over to Buffy and Joyce.
Caroline smiles at the elder Summers "Can we steal Buffy for a minute, Mrs Summers?"
Joyce smiles and kisses her daughter's hand "Take good care of her." She tells Buffy's friends before turning to find a seat in the crowd.
Buffy waves goodbye to her mom before smiling at her friends hugging Bonnie tightly she couldn't help but be so grateful for the witch "Thank you for giving us today."
Bonnie smiles as she pulls back trying to hide her tears while her friends didn't know it yet, this would probably be their last moments together. Because she wouldn't be here anymore.
"I can't believe it." Caroline breaths as the six of them stand in a circle all in their cap and gowns "We're actually all here. We are all here together!"
As Caroline jumps in joy Buffy giggles before spotting Bonnie's teary eyes, Caroline's eyes widen "Bonnie Bennett are you crying?"
Bonnie sighs as she looks in-between their group "It's our last hurrah before you guys join the real world."
"Before we join the real world." Caroline argues while Elena groans "Think for yourself I have med school next. More studying."
"So?" Caroline asks "We can all still be near each other. Buffy will get a job at a fabulous art gallery, Elena will be at med school, I'll be doing an internship at the news station, Bonnie will be taking over the world. Me and Buffy can compel a mansion that we can all live in!"
Buffy arches a brow and turns to Stefan "Don't make me live with Caroline." She jokes while Caroline slaps Buffy's arm playfully Buffy rolls her eyes before leaning her head on Caroline's shoulder while the blonde vampire turns to Bonnie who smiles at them all "I'm happy we're all here."
Caroline smiles "Aw! Group hug!"
Stefan groans, there was no way he would be doing a group hug "Uh, I don't—I don't hug."
"Oh get over yourself." And with that, the six of them hug as they spend what could be their last moments together before all of their lives change.
As they all begin walking towards the stage Buffy glances over at her mom who smiles at her, honestly Buffy felt like she was going to cry. When her mom had died she never imagined her mom would be there for these big moments.
"She looks so proud of you." Stefan whispers from behind her making Buffy let out a small breath "I hope so."
"So how many college graduations is this Mr. Salvatore?" She asks as they walk closer to the stage as Bonnie walks over the stage, the sucky thing was the two of them were closer to the end of the alphabet.
"Too many." He laughs as they clap for Matt and then Caroline "Don't think I'll be doing this again."
"You could try high school again." She jokes before Elena name was called "Woo!" She yells clapping loudly as Joyce quickly stands taking a photo with Buffy's phone, she just wished she could bring a copy back with her for Miranda once the veil was gone and she went back to her peace.
"Buffy Anne Summers"
As her name is called Buffy walks up the stage and takes her degree before waving at her mom and her sister, who would have thought Buffy Anne Summers was officially a college graduate.
"I would love nothing more than to get out of here before Vaughn comes back to life, but Damon won't take the cure. He wants it for Buffy. Or you or Bonnie's mom." Alaric tells Stefan, as he Elena, Buffy Caroline, and Joyce all stand near the parking lot trying to figure out what the hell to do now.
Stefan sighs in panic "All right. Just hang on a little longer. Buffy's calling Klaus again."
Buffy groans as again she gets Klaus' voicemail, panic fills her and she turns to Stefan shaking her head, she was about to lose one of her best friends, and she couldn't do that "Give him the cure."
"Stefan!" Alaric yells over the phone waiting for an answer however suddenly Elena Caroline Stefan and Joyce all yell in pain making Buffy frown "Mom!" She yells crouching down by her mother before her eyes widening as 12 witches begin walking towards them...followed by the 12 hybrids Klaus had killed.
Buffy clenches her jaw as the witches stare at her in confusion "Oh honey I'm part demon." With that Buffy pulls the scythe out from her side hidden underneath her gown. She knew the veil was down there was no way she was coming to graduation without her favorite weapon.
Launching the scythe at one of the witches she then runs and kicks another one, however, suddenly a hybrid appears and grabs her from behind. Buffy grabs the scythe only to frown as the hybrid suddenly drops to the ground.
Turning around Buffy's eyes widen as there laid on the ground was all of the hybrids dead around her, their heads cut clean from their necks "I'm good but not that good." She whispers before turning and she couldn't help but smile as there holding a graduation cape in his hand looking dashing as hell in a suit was Niklaus "Nik."
"Hello luv. You look fetching."
"Well duh."
Klaus chuckles before turning to the witches "There are plenty more of these to go around. And you see my dear Slayer has that weapon...who's next. I'm sure we can do this all day."
"Where's Buffy?" Damon asks as he spots Elena walking into his room after Klaus had finally dropped off his blood.
Elena sighs "Talking to Klaus. Something about the people hunting Joy."
Damon nods in understanding before turning to face the banshee as he pulls on a shirt "So what can I do for you?"
"Are you all healed?" She asks as she walks over to him with a stern look on her face, Damon merely smirks at the brunette "Fresh as a daisy."
Elena smirks "Good." She says before punching him across the face "Buffy asked me to do that. Glad your alive jackass."
"Hello sweetheart." Klaus says with a big smile as he and Buffy sit in one of the town gardens, Buffy watching with a smile as Klaus bounces Joy on his knee smiling at his beautiful daughter.
"She's missed you." Buffy admits watching Klaus, Klaus smiles and kisses his daughter's head before turning to face Buffy "And you?"
Buffy shakes her head in amusement "Maybe a little. As friends." She admits a large smile on her face, sitting beside him she places her head on his shoulder.
Klaus chuckles "For now. I know one day I'll be your last love. But for now. I'm happy to be considered your friend."
"No benefits." She reminds him "I'm not getting pregnant again."
Klaus chuckles softly before kissing Buffy's forehead softly and turning back to Joy, while he knew she wasn't ready, one day she would be. He knew Buffy well enough to know she would decide one day that they were meant to be.
Buffy smiles at their little girl and kisses Joy's hand making the little girl giggle "She's getting bigger by the second."
"As she does her threats grow." He admits sadly as the two of them gaze at their little girl before sighing "We need talk about New Orleans."
Buffy sighs and looks up at him with worried eyes "How bad is it?"
Klaus takes a shaky breath "Worse than I feared."
Buffy takes a nervous breath of her own as she glances at their daughter, how could something so innocent be so feared, it just made no sense, she was a harmless baby yet so many people wanted her dead.
"It's worse than that." Another voice says causing Buffy and Klaus both to turn only to spot Joyce stood opposite them smiling sadly "The powers that be used the veil to send me here. To speak with the two of you."
Buffy frowns before standing in confusion "Mom?"
Joyce sighs before glancing in-between the parents "The powers see great for your daughter. But other forces don't and they're coming for her."
"Who?" Klaus asks standing holding onto his daughter protectively, no matter who came he would kill every last one of them.
Joyce sighs and runs a hand through her curly blonde hair "I can't say. But there is a way to protect her against the threat coming. In New Orleans. And it may be the only way."
Buffy's eyes widen as she stares at her mother with wide eyes she had a feeling she wasn't going to like this "Mom what is it?"
"You have to send Joy away..." Joyce admits ignoring the tears streaming down her face for her daughter "You have to fake her death. No one can know in New Orleans that she survived."
"Hey where's Joy and Joyce?" Alaric asks as he Lexi, Elena and Stefan spot Buffy walk back into the room.
Buffy wipes her face trying to hide the fact that she had just been sobbing like a maniac and forces a smile on her face, she had to get through the rest of the day first "Um with Klaus. He wanted some more time with Joy and my mom wanted to speak to him."
Alaric chuckles softly "Poor Klaus."
Buffy forces a laugh through her before her eyes gaze around the room in search of her brother "Where's Jeremy?"
Alaric who was pouring himself another drink turns to Buffy "He went to see Bonnie. He'll be back later, you know, before...well, you know."
Buffy nods a sadness filling her, she had no idea how she was supposed to say goodbye to Jeremy and her mom all over again or how she was supposed to send Joy away. Today was really turning into a day of goodbyes.
Inhaling softly Buffy then focuses on the things on her list that she had to do before tonight "Stefan can I steal you for a second?"
Stefan frowns in confusion before rolling his eyes as Lexi wiggles her eyebrows at him "Sure." He tells Buffy before following Buffy into the hall.
"So, uh, what's up?" Stefan asks curiously as he and Buffy stand on the balcony off one of the spare bedrooms on the top floor of the house.
Buffy who was still in a vulnerable emotional state forces the thought of what she had to do tonight out of her mind and focuses on the whole reason she had stolen Stefan away.
"Um...I'm sucky at talking like you though." She laughs nervously "But...I know we had that big falling out. And then me getting all pregnant and everything the past two years...haven't been easy for us. I mean like beyond easy..." Taking a small breath she runs a hand through her pink blonde hair before sighing "You never gave up on me. You never have. So thank you... but now the biggy...here." Pausing the takes Stefan hand and carefully places the cure in his hands "I know you said you were okay spending a few more centuries about. But you deserve this..."
Stefan's eyes widen and he shakes his head, he couldn't take this, he just couldn't "Buffy..."
Buffy cuts her off "Don't argue with the Slayer." She warns with a warm smile on her face before sighing "Stefan...I can't have it not now that I have Joy and there all those threats to her. And Elena doesn't want it...and to be honest, you kind of suck at being a vampire."
Stefan chuckles softly before looking down into the blonde's eyes as she continues her case "Human blood and you, no mixy. Even now with control...I know you want to be human. And you deserve it."
Stefan goes silent for a moment as he looks down at the cure in his hands, a part of him wanted this so bad, it's what he always wanted to go back to being human have a life, a family, grow old and live a life that's worth living. But now even with that in his hands, he couldn't do it. "No." He tells her making Buffy frown, sighing he puts it back in her hands tightening her hand around it "Buffy, I fought for this for you. For Elena, for Bonnie's mom. And I want you to have it. I know once Joy is 18 you're gonna wanna be normal again. And I can't take that away from you."
"Stefan—"
Stefan smiles slightly "Talk to me when she's 18 and we will revisit this subject." With that Stefan leaves the room and Buffy sighs and watches him go, why did he have to be so damn stubborn.
"You okay?" Elena asks as she walks onto the balcony and over to her sister, Buffy sighs and turns to Elena "Not really...um...while you here...Elena...Klaus and I are sending Joy away."
Elena's eyes widen in horror, what? Buffy had thought so hard to be with her daughter again "Buffy wh—"
"The others don't know yet...um...I just, I need a bit of time, tell Jeremy I'm sorry that..."
Elena nods before hugging her sister tightly, Jeremy would understand that Buffy would want as much time with her daughter as possible, he wouldn't be angry that she couldn't be there to say goodbye.
Buffy takes a shaky breath before tucking her hair behind her ears, clenching his eyes shut she lets a few tears pass her cheeks before she turns to her sister "Will you hold onto this?" She asks handing her sister the cure.
Elena arches a brow in confusion "Stefan didn't want it?"
"No." Buffy says with a sigh "Could you just hold onto it. Till he changes his mind."
Elena chuckles before nodding "I promise."
"So you're the woman my daughter is named after." Klaus says as he and Joyce walk through the gardens slowly heading towards the Salvatore home, taking their time, neither one of them wanted to speak about what would happen tonight, where Klaus would have to say goodbye to his little girl.
Joyce chuckles in amusement "And you're the man that knocked up my daughter and killed my little sister."
Klaus winces at Joyce's words, "I see where Buffy gets her wicked tongue from."
Joyce chuckles softly before turning to face the hybrid glaring at him "I will always hate you for what you did to my sister." She warns him "I will never approve of my daughter feeling the way she does about you but..."
Pausing she takes a look down at little Joyce and smiles "You are the reason I have this gorgeous grand-daughter. And you...helped my daughter over-com a lot of anger after she came back to life. So I am grateful. And I do believe you're a good father to Joy."
Klaus watches the grand-mother of his daughter for a moment and he couldn't help but wish he had a mother like this growing up instead of Esther you could just see in her eyes how much she cared for Buffy, to put aside her feelings about him, considering what he did to her sister, it took a lot of strength.
"I appreciate that." He admits before holding out his hand towards her "I promise you, Mrs. Summers, I will always protect your daughter and my own."
"I know. The powers that be let me peek into the future every now and then." She says with a laugh before smiling "Take care of both my girls. Joy is going to be a great woman as long as you and my daughter stick together...it may not be the way you want to be with my daughter..."
"As long as she's in my life." Klaus admits, he wasn't going to lie to Buffy's mother, to be honest after the rant he got off her earlier, she kind of scared him not that he would ever admit that "I will wait a long time for your daughter. I do plan to be her last love."
"Hey." Buffy calls as she walks into the parlor room where Damon was stood with a drink in his hand staring into the fire.
Damon sighs and turns to her "Elena hit me."
"Aw she's a good sister." Buffy says with a laugh before turning to face her best friend "Damon...I was pissed you were gonna die! Just because you didn't want to be human. I get being mussy human sucks but seriously!"
Damon scoffs and turns to face the blonde fully watching carefully "You think I wanna age and lose my best friend in say 60 years when you're still you."
Buffy groans in annoyance before stepping towards him and hitting him in the shoulder "You are not allowed to die on me!" She warns pointing her finger into his chest "I have lost so much Damon. I love you, you are my best friend and a huge part of my life and I will not lose someone else." Pausing she wipes away her tears "God I've cried too much today." She groans in annoyance before hugging him tightly "You can't die on me."
"I won't." He promises trying not to focus on the fact that while she had said she loved him, it hadn't been in the way he wanted, but he should have expected it, their friendship was too strong now. And he was pretty sure she would never see him in that way, and a part of him accepted that, because he could lose her from his life.
Buffy takes a shaky breath and pulls back "Um...there's something I need to tell you and Stefan."
Pausing she pulls Damon into the library where Stefan was sat, Stefan who had been eavesdropping on their conversation clears his throat and turns to the two of them "What's up?"
Buffy sighs and begins pacing "My mom and Nik are on their way with Joy. Um...we're sending her away. Tonight."
Stefan and Damon both stare at the blonde in shock since when was this happening, Stefan lets out a small breath his eyes widen as he spots tears all over Buffy's face and that's when it clicks, his conversation with Buffy's mom, she knew that they were sending Joy away.
Buffy takes a shaky breath and pours herself a drink "Mom was sent by the powers, they have warned us about a force coming to New Orleans...and then Giles called and the first is all over Sunnydale. So a lot of bad guys who are all interested in my daughter...the only way to keep her safe... Is to fake her death and send her away."
Stefan's eyes widen and he turns to Buffy "Buffy...are you sure about this?"
"No." She admits wiping away the tears just as Klaus walks in with Joy in his arms, his face carrying that same heartbroken expression as her.
Buffy takes a shaky breath and walks over to Klaus squeezing his hand she then takes Joy from him holding her sleeping daughter in her arms "She has inherited all of our enemies."
"With none of our defenses ." Klaus finishes.
Buffy takes a shaky breath "I grew up on the Hellmouth. And I was dead before I turned 16, I don't want her at the risk of that. People will come for her. She's not safe with either us. She almost got taken by Silas. I almost lost her the day she was born." Pausing Buffy looks down at her beautiful little girl sobbing softly as she speaks breaking the hearts of everyone in the room, they all loved this little girl in their own way and this...this was hard to watch.
"I made a promise to Joy and myself...that she would be safe. She's not even four months old and Klaus's mother is hell-bent on coming back to kill her, she has witches hunting her. My enemies will come for her. I've condemned her because I'm the Slayer and I'm the one that loves her the most." She sobs her words coming out shakily as she struggles to speak, taking a shaky breath she looks over at the boys, her mom and Klaus "We have to send her away. Until the first is gone. Klaus' mother is out of the way. We have to clean up our messes."
Klaus walks over to Buffy placing a hand supportably on her shoulder as he tries to hold himself together "No one can know that she lives. We will mourn. Buffy here. Me in New Orleans. You all need to understand this, if people know she's alive she's at risk. Whatever it takes we are going to protect her."
Damon knocks on Buffy's bedroom door only for his eyes to widen as he spots her packing a bag, what the hell was going on? "What are you doing?"
Buffy clenches her jaw and zips up her bag before turning to face Damon her eyes still red and puffy from the amount of sobbing she had done "Just getting packed."
"Can see that." Damon jokes before stepping into the room and crossing his arms, at the look he was giving her Buffy sighs and steps towards him "I'm leaving Damon."
Damon's eyes widen, she couldn't be serious, no she couldn't just leave, she had just yelled at him for almost dying on her she couldn't take off now, he needed her "What?"
Buffy sighs and walks over to Damon smiling sadly "Damon, I'm sending my daughter away tonight. For maybe weeks months possibly years, I don't know. I need to go, find a way to live my life without her."
Damon eyes widen and he had to admit they filled with water not that he would let himself cry "Buffy no...I promise I won't almost die again, just..."
Buffy chuckles softly before cupping his face in her hands "Not forever...um...I just need to go Damon. Damon I love you...you're my best friend..." As he winces she exhales softly "I'm sorry. But Damon when it comes to me, it's not just me anymore. You're Damon Salvatore but I'm a mom now. You're not ready for that. And I can see it in your face, you don't wanna be a family man. And it's okay. I'm not asking you to be. I just want you to stay my best friend."
"I don't want you to go Buff." He says clutches onto her hands trying not to get too emotional.
Buffy sighs before wrapping her arms around him hugging him tightly "It's not forever. Just for a little while. I'll be back. You think I'd abandoned you. I promised Ric I torture you forever. In a few months, I'm going to have to torture you extra for all the time I missed."
Buffy clutches onto her mom and Elena's hand as they walk alongside Klaus towards the meet point where they had asked the person who would be taking Joy away would meet them. It had taken a long time to decide where to send her or who she take her but there was only one person both her and Klaus could agree on who would take care of her, even if it meant given up her chance with Matt and sending him on that Europe trip she had promised him by himself.
Buffy glances over at Klaus who was holding onto Joy still "Are you ready for this?" She asks walking over to him as Rebekah's car finally pulls up in the middle of the field.
Klaus turns to Buffy and shakes his head "No. Are you?"
"I'll never be ready. But we have to."
Together the two of them walk towards to Rebekah, Klaus smiles at his younger sister "Hello sister."
Rebekah smiles before smiling down at Joy "She is looking more like you every day." She says turning to Buffy with a sad look, she couldn't even begin to imagine how hard this must be for Buffy right now.
Buffy takes a shaky breath and smiles down at her little girl and kissing her sleeping head softly "She can't sleep in a crib without Mr. Gordo." She tells Rebekah as she hugs the stuffed animal to her chest.
Klaus chuckles before turning to Buffy "When you take it away she has a hint of the devil in her eyes." He says with a smirk making Buffy let out a small laugh because it was completely true.
Klaus smiles at the blonde before turning to his sister "That's all me."
"It certainly didn't come from me."
"Says the demon." Rebekah snarks at the blonde knowing Buffy was using humor right now to get through what was probably the hardest moment in her life.
Klaus takes a shaky breath before turning back to his sister "You'll need a witch you can trust...not Marianna. To cast a cloaking spell."
Rebekah smiles knowing Klaus still wasn't a fan of their sisters "I'll find one."
Buffy nods before turning to Rebekah "You can't stop moving. No one can find her. Ever."
Rebekah takes a shaky breath looking in between the two parents she could see it all over their faces, they were both heartbroken right now and were trusting her with the thing more dear to their hearts "I know what do, Buffy, Nik." As Joy shuffles in Klaus's arms he turns to Buffy carefully letting her hold her little girl once more.
As Buffy kisses Joy's forehead Rebekah smiles "Perhaps we'll get a white fence. I think that would be lovely."
Buffy lets out a small breath "Yeah Joy, do you like that?" She asks before turning to Klaus holding up their daughter between them.
As Buffy leans her head on Klaus' shoulder Klaus gazes down at their beautiful daughter "Our homes would have seen you dead. But we will make them your home. And every soul who wishes you harm will be struck down. Just as sure as our blood runs in your veins, you will return to us."
As Buffy lets out a small sob Klaus kisses her forehead before kissing Joy's, as Buffy begins shaking Klaus carefully takes Joy before placing her into Rebekah's arms handing her the small wolf he had cared out wood and the stuffed pig which had once belonged to her mother.
As Buffy blinks through the tears Klaus turns to his sister "There is no one I would trust more with my daughter's life than you."
Buffy lets out a small breath "Ditto."
Rebekah laughs softly before smiling at the couple "She will be happy. I promise you both." Pausing she turns to Buffy "You never told me her full name."
Buffy takes a shaky breath before glancing back at her sister and mom, Elena was crying in Joyce's arms right now, but Buffy gave them both a small smile before she turned back to Rebekah "Joyce Jenna-Miranda Summers Mikelson."
At the reveal of her sisters' names, Joyce lets out a small breath as tears run down her face while Elena smiles sadly.
Buffy takes a shaky breath and Klaus takes her arm as the two watch Rebekah walk to the car with their daughter before driving off.
As she goes Buffy begins sobbing loudly before turning to face Klaus who wraps his arms around her holding her tightly as she sobbed.
"Hey." Stefan breaths as he spots Buffy walking back towards the house her eyes red and puffy her mother by her side.
Joyce glances in-between Buffy and Stefan before squeezing her daughter's shoulder "I'll go get your bags."
Buffy nods before turning to Stefan "She's gone." She says sadly trying to hold back more tears when Stefan moves to hug her she pulls back and smiles sadly "Please don't I've cried enough. If I start again I won't stop."
Stefan watches her for a moment before squeezing her hand reassuringly "You'll see her again."
Buffy lets out a small breath, hoping to god that he was right, she really prayed that she would be able to see her again, because she didn't know how she could survive missing everything. Every first, first word, first steps. She just couldn't imagine missing it all, it made her want to die.
Stefan sighs before loading up Silas into his truck "I heard you and Damon talking...you're leaving."
Buffy takes a shaky breath and nods "There's too much darkness here Stefan." Pausing she steps forward holding his hand in hers, looking up at him she forces a small smile on her face "I need to go."
"I understand." He tells her not wanting to watch her go, moving forward he pulls her into his arms hugging onto her tightly not wanting to let go.
Buffy holds on tightly thinking the exact same she would love to stay in this moment forever but she couldn't, if she didn't leave now she never would.
Pulling back she laughs softly and wipes the tears from her eyes "I'll be seeing you, Stefan."
Stefan smiles at her his heartbreaking as he watches her go however he frowns as she turns back just as her mother comes outside with her bags and the scythe in her hands.
Buffy clears her throat "Um...Withering Heights." She says suddenly stepping over to him "It's still in my room. I never got round to reading it. Slayage and all. You should have it back. Top draw." And with that Buffy turns and climbs into her jeep with her mom, looking back at him once more she smiles "Goodbye Stefan Salvatore. May we meet again." And with that, she drives off more tears spill down her face, as much as she wanted to tell him how she felt she couldn't right now. But she had a feeling he would figure it out soon enough.
Stefan watches her car go, frowning at the mention of the book he tucks Silas' body into the car making sure it was secure before he moves past his brother who frowns as Stefan runs past him like a man on a mission.
Running upstairs into Buffy's old room he walks straight into her bedroom, now empty of anything of her except for what laid in that top drawer.
Walking over to it he yanks it open and quickly grabs the book as he flips through the pages his eyes widen as a necklace and a note fall into his hands.
Frowning Stefan's eyes widen as there in his hands was the necklace he had given her almost seven years ago, his mother's necklace. He felt like he couldn't breathe. He had no idea she had held onto this, after all, that had happened he had thought she had gotten rid of it or lost it...but no here it was tucked into the book he had given her.
However his eyes widen even more as there in his hands was the note, it was folded in two. Placing the book down he opens the note and there it was, it looked like it had been written a least a few days ago.
And there it was as clear as day. "I love you. I will always love you."
"She loves me." He breaths as a tear falls down his face, she had chosen him, she loved him even after all of this time. She felt like he did.
But now she was gone. She hadn't been able to say it and he hadn't told her how he felt...he had just let her go.
What the hell was wrong with him?!
"She always has." Another voice says causing Stefan to turn to spot his brother smiling at him sadly and Stefan couldn't help the wave of guilt filling him "Damon..."
"She's you're girl. She always has been." Damon argues and while it hurt him, it wasn't as bad as he expected he had come to accept the fact that Buffy was right they were too close as friends now he wouldn't risk losing her as a friend and he wouldn't risk losing his brother, he needed to not be selfish here "She's my best friend. I love her. And you're my brother. I don't want to lose either of you. So I'm not gonna come between you. I tried I failed." He laughs softly trying to hide his hurt as he walks over to his brother who was still in a state of shock "Buffy was right I don't wanna be a stepdad...but you do. Stefan, you love Joy. You can be a modern-day family with Klaus... good luck with that."
Stefan opens his mouth but Damon grabs him and shakes him "She kept our mom's necklace for years in a book you gave her! She could have tossed it when she turned off her emotions she didn't. Go get her! Now!"
Stefan smiles never feeling so happy in his life hugging his brother tightly he smiles before speeding out of the room, the second he dropped Silas' body at the quarry he was going after her. He was going to finally get the woman he loved back.
"I need to close to the veil, Jer." Bonnie says sadly as she and Jeremy stand in the cave together "The hybrids, Caleb and the hunters—"
"I get it." Jeremy says simply, he knew what needed to happen, and while it sucked he wouldn't be able to say goodbye to his sisters or his niece, he was ready, "I'm ready. I just wanted to be with you when it happened."
Bonnie's eyes widen "Jer you and your sisters..."
Jeremy shakes his head "I can't...I can't say goodbye to them. We said no tears, I left them both a letter and one for Joy when she's old enough to read. They'll find them when all this is over. I'm ready."
Bonnie nods and closes her eyes, it was time to close the veil.
"You almost back to New Orleans?" Buffy asks as she drives down the road with her mom in the passenger seat beside her while she talks to Klaus on the phone.
"Yes. Should be back in a few hours. You sure I can't compel you to join me."
Buffy smiles sadly before shaking her head "Giles needs help in Sunnydale. So gonna head to Italy first then go straight there. But once I'm done. I'll come visit, I promise."
Klaus chuckles sadly through the phone, both of them too heartbroken to say their daughter's name "I'll see you soon Luv."
Buffy takes a shaky breath and leans her head back against the seat "Bye Niklaus." And with that she hangs up the phone and glances over at her mom.
Joyce watches her daughter curiously "So why Italy first?"
Buffy chuckles "I need a break before another end of the world situation. Giles can wait a few weeks. I wanna go see the Gallery Umbria."
Joyce's eyes widen in glee, she had always dreamed of seeing that in her youth, and she couldn't be more happy that Buffy would be able to do the things that she had only dreamed of "Let's go then."
Buffy chuckles before both of them watch as they pass the leaving Mystic Falls sign, it was official now, she was leaving Mystic Fall with no idea when she would return.
Pausing Buffy smiles slightly "Mom?"
When there is no response Buffy turns her head her expression falling, it was official the veil was down, her mom was gone once again "I love you."
"Woo!" Lexi exclaims as she and Stefan sit side by side, Stefan driving as fast as he can to the Quarry so he could dump Silas' body before finally going after Buffy.
Stefan chuckles before glancing down at the necklace in his hands "You were right."
"Hell yeah I was." She laughs before looking at him seriously "You ready to finally live your life. A real one with your epic love?"
Stefan watches her for a moment before nodding, he was ready, he was finally going to have what he had fought so hard for. He got the girl. After Klaus and Damon and Riley and Angel. She loved him and she always had.
"I can't wait." He breaths before turning to Lexi only for his face to fall, she was gone, sighing he looks back at the road sadly "See ya Lexi."
Elena groans as while walking through the school in search of her brother and Bonnie Kol had tackled her, throwing her across the room her eyes widen with panic as he runs at her but suddenly he was gone.
Elena's eyes widen and she stands, what the hell just happened, looking around in confusion her eyes fill with panic as there now standing in front of her was Katherine smirking at her evilly "Happy graduation cupcake."
"It's almost closed." Bonnie whispers turning to Jeremy sadly, Jeremy who was rubbing his hands together nervously turns to her "So this is it?" Sighing he walks towards her panicking "Because there were a million things I wanted to say to you, but now nothing seems quite right."
Bonnie takes a shaky breath "Then don't say anything." And with that she grabs his face and kisses him holding onto him tightly as they share their last moments together.
As they hold onto each other the lights in caves finally disappear, the spell now complete.
Jeremy pulls back only to gasp and stumble back grabbing his chest as a wave of pain goes through him making it hard for him to breath, something was wrong, how was he still here "What's happening?"
Bonnie's eyes widen as she watches Jeremy, she couldn't it, she thought she had failed "Oh my god."
As she smiles Jeremy frowns "What is it?"
Bonnie lets out a small smile and laughs softly "It worked Jer. I did a spell that brought you back, I didn't think it would work, but I—I closed the veil and you're still here."
Jeremy's eyes widen as he watches her in shock "Wait...I'm alive?"
Bonnie smiles tears dripping through her face before he runs to her happily however the second he touches her that's when he knew, he couldn't feel her hands, and the only time he could feel someone stood right in front of them...was if they were a Ghost.
Elena groans in agony as Katherine throws her across the hall causing her to crash into one of the doorways leading down towards the classrooms "What are you doing?"
Katherine merely walks over to the Banshee and smirks "Would you believe I'm having a bad day?"
Grabbing Elena by the head she launches Elena at the lockers, Elena grunts, and lands on her back. Groaning in panic her eyes widen as Katherine swings her foot at her, raising her hands she screams sending Katherine flying backward.
Katherine groans as she hits the back wall before she speeds over to Elena and pins her to the lockers by the throat "It started when Bonnie denied me my Silas-like immortality."
"And I care because." Elena snarks grabbing Katherine's wrist and twisting it shattering it causing the five-hundred-year-old vampire to groan in pain before backhanding Elena sending her flying against the lockers again.
Elena groans before pulling a gun out of her jacket and firing two shots causing the vampire to groan and stumble as she does Elena kicks her in the chest screaming sending a sonic wave through her foot this time causing Katherine to go flying.
Katherine groans and rips one of the bullets out before glaring at the brunette Banshee "I deserved it I never had a graduation or a prom or a life..."
"Oh cry me a river!" Elena yells back sarcastically before sending another sonic wave at Katherine sending the vampire rolling across the floor.
Katherine groans in frustration, how hard was it to kill a freaking Banshee!?
Standing she glares at the banshee "You have everything, hell you even got the family power! And it's not because you're a good little girl who deserves happiness it's because you stole mine." She hisses before ripping a locker door off the wall and launching it at Elena who quickly cartwheels out of the way narrowly missing the locker door which would have probably made her very headless.
Scoffing Elena's eyes widen and she glares at Katherine, how the hell did Katherine think she was the victim here?! "I stole your happiness? You killed my brother."
At her words Katherine speeds over to Elena but Elena screams and sends her flying again.
As she rolls across the floor Katherine chuckles as she pulls herself back onto her feet "I'll admit that was nasty."
Elena's anger quickly overwhelms her and she screams loudly causing Katherine to drop to her knees, walking towards Katherine she continues to scream while Katherine groans in agony on the ground.
The vampire clenches her teeth before swinging her leg out knocking Elena to the ground finally getting her to shut the hell up.
Standing she grabs Elena and smashes her head against the lockers before tossing her back to the ground, Elena groans she felt dizzy and blood was filling her vision, Katherine must have re-opened the wound that Kol had given her.
Katherine chuckles as Elena tries to crawl away, she was going to enjoy this a hell of a lot "I have nothing..." She says kicking Elena across the face "But I'm about to change that."
Elena groans and as Katherine kicks her again she turns onto her back and glares up at the brunette "Kicking someone when they're down. Classy till the end Katherine."
Katherine scoffs as she crouches down by the banshee watching her carefully "Your end."
Katherine smirks and with that she crouches over Elena if she was going to kill Elena she was going to watch the life drain from her eyes, wrapping her hands around Elena's neck Elena gasps as Katherine begins cutting off her circulation.
"Bye-bye little girl"
As she begins to struggle to breathe Elena remembers she had one thing on her that Katherine couldn't beat, wouldn't be able to stop and it would be a funny sort of karma. Struggling she reaches into her jacket pocket and grabs the cure shoving it into Katherine's mouth, Katherine's eyes widen in panic but Elena forces her jaw up causing her to bite into it.
As the cure makes its way through her veins Elena watches as Katherine drops to the ground unconscious beside her, gasping loudly as she finally manages to breathe again Elena glances over at Katherine "Have a nice human life, Katherine."
"Elena?!" A familiar voice yells suddenly causing Elena to weakly try and stand her eyes widening as there stood at the end of the hall in a suit holding flowers was Xander.
"Xander?"
"Yeah." He breaths running over to her panicking at the bruised sight of her "Are you okay?"
Elena lets out a small breath before nodding and glancing down at the now human Katherine and smiling "Yeah" She breaths turning back to him "How..."
"We finished the school early. I called Damon he told me you were here."
Elena lets out a small breath as she stares up at him with wide eyes "So you're back?"
Xander nods smiling down at her cupping her bruised cheek in his hand "For good this time."
Elena smiles brightly before wrapping her arms around him kissing him, as she pulls back she finally summons her courage "I love you."
Xander sighs in relief "Oh thank god. I love you too." And with that he kisses her again holding onto her tightly. Never planning to let her go again.
Stefan groans as he tries Buffy's phone she must be getting closer to the docks now cause her phone wasn't in range. He needed to dump Silas' body and quick before she got on the boat to Italy.
Reaching into the boot of his car he grabs Silas and places the bag he was in on the ground only to frown as an odd sound comes from the bag. It sounded like rocks not a person.
Bending down he opens the bag his eyes widening as instead of Silas there was nothing but pieces of stone. This wasn't possible, Silas was supposed to be here! They hadn't given him any blood or anything. He should be here he couldn't be free.
"Don't bother. I'm not there anymore." A familiar voice says from behind him turning Stefan's eyes widen as there standing by the car was Silas currently in Elena's form watching him.
Stefan stands watching Silas in confusion "Silas. You were stone. They saw you. The spell worked."
Silas merely smirks at the clueless vampire "That's the funny thing about spells. They're bound by nature, and nature demands balance, so every spell has a loophole." He explains as he steps closer and closer to the vampire "The spell that turned me to stone was bound by a witch, a living witch, so when that witch died, the spell broke."
Stefan's eyes widen and he shakes his head in confusion, this made no sense he just saw Bonnie, she was fine "Bonnie's not dead."
Silas rolls his eyes as he watches the confused vampire "It doesn't matter, does it? And here's where the mystery of me comes full circle. I created the immortality spell 2,000 years ago. I could never die. So nature needed to find a balance, a version of me that could die. A shadow self, a doppelganger."
At that Stefan's eyes widen as he stares at Silas, he was another one of them, like Katherine and Elena, this was insane "So this is finally your real face? You're another one of them?"
"Not exactly."
Stefan frowns in confusion only for his eyes to widen in horror as Silas' morphs for one last time only this time it was a very familiar face.
A face he saw every day.
His own face.
Silas smirks at the shocked Stefan "Hello, my shadow self." Stefan frowns and remains frozen in shock only to gasp in agony as Silas drives a stake into his stomach "Do you have any idea what it's like to starve for 2,000 years?" Silas asks before dropping Stefan to the ground "I'll give Buffy you're best." Silas says with a smirk making Stefan's eyes widen before Silas shoves him in the safe;
Stefan panics and struggles and as the safe hits the water and water begins filling the safe as it slowly drops to the bottom of the quarry he panics, this couldn't be happening "Noo! Buffy!"
Buffy glances out at the bay as the boat to Italy finally pulls away, given she had a massive ass Scythe with her she couldn't exactly fly there.
Sighing she glances down at her phone, still no signal, plus the screen was all sorts of messed up given she dropped it just getting out of the car, running a hand through her hair she gazes out at the water as the ship gets further and further away from land.
She thinks about her daughter who was safely hidden away from the world with her aunt.
Taking a shaky breath Buffy looks down at the photo in her hand of her and Joy, she couldn't help but smile "I'll see you again." She promises before glancing back over at the shore and Stefan enters her thoughts, a part of her had hoped to hear from him but he probably hadn't found the note or the necklace.
Taking a shaky breath she closes her eyes and tries to ignore this feeling in her chest, that something really bad was coming.