2 MONTHS AGO – SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
Standing down in a war zone was Buffy Anne Summers, she had climbed down into the Hellmouth with her fellow Slayers. All the potentials now turned into SlayerS thanks to the scythe and Willow. Yet she was still the most powerful, the original Slayer Demon hybrid, unable to be killed. Which was probably driving The First evil a little crazy.
Suddenly Buffy gasps as a sword goes through her heart, blood spills from her lips and she groans, grabbing the end of the sword currently inside of her she pulls it out before slicing off the head of the terrifying Uber vampire.
"Buffy!" Faith yells as she runs through the vast incoming amount of vampires, they were losing there were too many of them. Faith catches Buffy and her eyes widen, Buffy shakes her head "It won't kill me. Just take a minute to heal." Handing Faith the scythe she pushes her back towards the battle "Go!"
Faith hesitates before glancing back at her friend with a brief hesitation before she nods and swings the scythe.
As she does Buffy drops to her knees trying to keep in her gasps of pain, she could barely move her body half dead, her supernatural abilities deciding now was a great time to be a slow healer but she had a feeling The First had something to do with that.
As she watches Slayer's die around her, teenage girls, she couldn't help but clench her jaw in grief and anger "Oh no."
At the sound of her own voice Buffy looks up and her eyes widen as The First stood before her still in her form "Ow. Mommy. This mortal wound is all itchy." The First mocks as she crouches down to Buffy's level "You pulled a nice trick. You came really close to smacking me down. What more do you want?"
Buffy clenches her jaw before smirking "I want you...to get out of my face."
The firsts' eyes widen as Buffy's wound heals and she speeds over to the other Slayers removing head after head of each Uber vamp just as the next wave begins to come in.
As Rhonda tosses the scythe back into the blonde's waiting arms Faith exclaims as she watches Buffy speed over and catch it "That's pretty damn awesome."
ONE MONTH AGO: MYSTIC FALLS, VIRGINIA
"Hey, Bonnie..." Elena types on the computer as Xander and Jeremy struggle upstairs with pieces of furniture and boxes for the new apartment "How is the summer almost over, yet I feel like I got nothing done. Sounds like you're having fun traveling with your mom. It's crazy that I start med school in a few weeks, you know Caroline compelled us this whole building floor, it's halfway between Mystic Falls and Whitmore, an apartment for her, one for me and Xander, one for Buffy if she ever comes back and you. I have good news though Buffy talked to Klaus so Tyler's free again. But he's been in Tennessee helping a wolf pack, while Caroline has been designing all of our apartments. Turns out after Rebekah left with Joy she sent Matt basically a private jet to use for the whole Summer, go wherever he wanted. I think he's in Amsterdam right now. Oh, and you should hear about Buffy...she blew up Sunnydale. Destroyed the First so she and Klaus are one step closer to being able to bring back baby Joyce. After that though she's been quiet, I know she met up with Matt in Prague for a bit, last time I heard from her she was on some island in Spain. And Damon? He left town for a while, met up with Buffy I think they partied in Ibiza for a good three weeks before he came back hangover as hell. When do you get back? Love, Elena."
"Elena, will you help?" Jeremy yells as he and Xander struggle to get the bookcase upstairs, Elena runs over and helps before sighing as she looks around the apartment, it was so weird they had their own apartment.
Xander walks up behind her and kisses her forehead wrapping his arms around her "What do you think?"
Elena lets out a small smile as she stands around the empty apartment, in the past few months she had gotten everything she ever wanted, her brother was back, she was in love, living with the man she loved, about to start med-school and her sister was safe. She had never been so happy "I love it." She breaths before smiling as Xander kisses her.
Jeremy groans in disgust "Nope." He exclaims "I'm gonna go call Buffy." He says but Elena and Xander were already so not paying attention to him, groaning in disgust he heads into his own room and looks over at Bonnie "She's happy."
Jeremy sighs before grabbing his phone "What do I say."
Bonnie smiles sadly as she reads the email from Elena before thinking for what exactly to say, Jeremy, sighs and begins "Dear Elena."
"Don't start with dear."
Jeremy rolls his eyes "It's bad enough you're dead, now you're a control freak?"
Bonnie chuckles in amusement as she leans over his shoulder "I'm just saying. People don't say dear anymore."
"Uh, fine." He groans in annoyance "How about, Hey Elena, what's up?"
Buffy arches a brow as she pulls her Jeep over at the massive looking estate, leave it to Klaus to pick to biggest douchiest place to live.
Climbing out of her jeep the blonde sighs, it felt good to be back in the states again, between Ibiza, Paris, London, Amsterdam she had almost forgotten how much she missed the states.
Walking into the center of the large estate she whistles loudly, damn this place was amazing. Placing her bag down the blonde walks around admiring pieces of art as she listens out for the man she had come to see.
"I suppose we shall have to call this your white period."
Buffy smirks at the familiar voice...
Elijah.
And where Elijah was Klaus was probably not far behind. As she heads upstairs she continues to eavesdrop slightly, it wasn't her fault she had super hearing.
"I'm missing a crucial color in my palette." Klaus says simply making Buffy rolls her eyes as she walks up the stairs, her eyes falling on one specific room, clenching her jaw tears fall from her face, it was Joy's nursery.
Closing her eyes she tries to bury her heartbreak over her daughter and closes the door before heading towards the room where Klaus and Elijah were still arguing.
"Let me guess the enemy's blood." She says with a smirk as she leans against the doorway, Klaus turns his eyes widening at the sight of the blonde, the pink in her hair slightly faded now as her hair was almost to her waist, the gold glistening brightly in the sun. It had been four months since he had seen her since they had sent away their daughter.
"Buffy?" He breaths dropping his paints as he gazes at her in shock.
Buffy smiles before running over to him allowing him to lift her off the ground as he spins around, she giggles softly before putting her feet back onto the ground and smiling up at him brightly "It's good to see you too, Nik."
Elena smiles as she stands in the kitchen stirring the cookie mix while glancing at her phone trying to read the response from Bonnie.
"Hey, Elena. What's up? You guys have no idea how much I miss you. I can't believe Buffy blew up Sunnydale! Even if it was technically Spike haha. I've been e-mailing with Jeremy. He says it's been surreal to be alive. And that he's annoyed that he didn't get to go help Buffy with the end of the world stuff."
Elena is halted from her reading as Xander comes up behind squeezing her shoulders before he takes a cookie out of the first batch she had made. As he bites into it, Elena's eyes widen as he groans "What too hot?"
Xander shakes his head and quickly grabs a tissue spitting the cookie out before turning to his girlfriend "Just a little salty...not too salty just a little."
Elena frowns in confusion, how could it be salty? That made no sense. she had followed the recipe to the tee "That's not possible."
"You calling me a liar Miss Gilbert."
Elena laughs softly "No." She says before frowning "I put a dash of salt that's what it said."
Xander arches a brow at the beautiful banshee "How much is a dash, Lena?"
Elena rolls her eyes before grabbing the salt and pouring what she thought was a dash into his palm, Xander's eyes, however, fill with slight fear "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
As he groans in disgust Elena giggles "Maybe this batch is better?" She asks as she puts her finger in the cookie mix before rubbing it all over Xander's face.
Xander frowns "Elena...is there cookie mix on my eyepatch?"
"No." She lies trying to hold back her giggles, Xander laughs before grabbing the bowl "You better run." He warns as Elena quickly runs as he begins launching cookie dough at her.
"Ah!" She laughs as he grabs her by the waist and puts cookie dough all in her hair, "No!"
Xander laughs "I am cookie monster."
Elena giggles as he turns her around and kisses her cookie covered face before grimacing "So salty."
"Oh shut up." She laughs before kissing him strongly, as he kisses her he lifts her up putting her on the kitchen counter, Elena's legs wrap around him as her hands weave through his air.
"Oh my god."
Elena's eyes widen and she quickly shoves Xander off her as she spots her brother standing horrified by the doorway "Hey, um, sor...I thought you left."
Jeremy groans unable to make eye contact with his friend or his sister right now, this was just so gross on so many other levels. He was so close to going and joining Buffy on her travel adventure right now "I did. Uh, five hours ago." And with that Jeremy walks out the room and Elena groans in embarrassment.
Xander laughs before he begins cleaning up while Elena grabs her phone finishing the email from Bonnie "If Katherine ingesting the only cure on this earth and having to live as a human isn't justice...I don't know what is. I miss you guys. I'm glad you're having a great summer."
"You were supposed to be here in July." Klaus reminds the blonde as the two sit in the middle of his private garden a bottle of bourbon in-between them
Buffy sighs as she takes a sip of her bourbon before watching him carefully, it was hard being around him knowing what they had lost, whenever she was around him all she could think about was their little girl "It's hard Nik. It's been months and she's still gone."
Klaus sighs sadly as he watches the blonde, entangling his hand with hers he kisses her hands softly before nodding "I know. But alas you defeated the First."
"It's not enough. Klaus another full moon is coming doesn't that..."
Klaus groans remembering back to the night he had discovered the moonlight rings, rings that allowed werewolf's to control their ability to turn, but drained him of his strength "The moonlight rings continue to steal my strength. I need to act."
Buffy smiles at that before smirking "I have something for you." Pausing she reaches into her bag and hands him a map "Willow did a little hocus pocus, those dots track the locations of the 12 rings. Where they go, how fast they move."
Klaus' eyes widen and he smiles at the blonde before grabbing her face and kissing her forehead "You are a saint, my dear."
"I'm not too bad."
Clinking their glasses together Klaus watches her for a moment "I do miss you. 4 months is too long."
Buffy sighs before sitting next to him properly and resting her head against his shoulder "I miss you too but..."
"It's too hard." He finishes her words as the two of them think of their daughter, the daughter they had given up to protect.
Sighing Buffy downs her drinks before looking at the hybrid sadly "I should go."
Klaus clenches his jaw, as much as he didn't want her to leave; with her, in New Orleans, they were at risk of others finding out their daughter was alive and well.
Standing he takes her hand helping her up "Come back soon."
Buffy smiles sadly before wrapping her arms around the hybrid holding onto him tightly, blinking back tears she finally pulls away and kisses him on the cheek "I'll talk to you in a few days."
And with that she was gone, Klaus watches her go a sad look crossing his face as he watches the woman he loved disappear once again "I still love her spirit." Elijah says with a laugh as he walks over to his brother "I can imagine your daughter is going to be much like her."
Klaus smiles at the thought "I hope so."
3 WEEKS AGO – ST LOUIS
Buffy looks up at the sign to the bar before heading inside, glancing around she couldn't help but smile as there he was, as expected sat at the bar a bottle of bourbon that he had probably compelled the bartender to give him beside him.
Two empty chairs next to him, one which was always for Alaric...or was...and one...for her.
As though he could sense she was here Damon Salvatore turns around in his chair his eyes widening at the sight of her, she was wearing a black dress with a pair of leather boots on and a blue leather jacket hanging over her shoulders, her blonde pink dip-dyed hair now almost reaching her waist. He had to admit she looked damn good.
"Damn I must be dreaming."
Buffy giggled as she walks over to her best friend before shrugging "Nah I just look this good."
Damon chuckles before taking her hand spinning her so he could get a proper look at her "Damn you look hot. Aren't you a mild now?" Smirking his wiggle his eyebrows at the stunning blonde "You know me and Milf's."
"I see you're still a pig."
"You love it."
"Maybe a little."
Damon shakes his head in amusement while he had seen her a month ago when they went to Ibiza it didn't mean he didn't miss her like hell, wrapping his arms around his best friend he lifts her up spinning her around making her laugh loudly as she holds onto him "I'm missed you Buffster."
Buffy smiles as he finally lays her feet back onto the ground, looking up at him she smiles "I've missed you too. Now lead me to booze."
Damon chuckles before bowing "This way Slayer. I come barring bourbon."
PRESENT DAY, MYSTIC FALLS VIRGINIA
Damon groans as he hears the doorbell ring, looking up from the couch he rolls his eyes, he was hung-over as hell, there was no way in hell he was getting up to answer the door.
Ignoring the door he sighs as he hears it open but doesn't move from his spot "Damn you look like crap."
Damon frowns at the familiar voice before turning and there she was, he hadn't seen here since St Louis yet here she was but what made him halt was the bag in her hands "Are you back?"
Buffy smiles "Depends? You got room for me?"
Damon laughs before standing and speeding over to the blonde throwing his arm over her shoulder "Oh course I do. Welcome to party central Buffster."
Buffy laughs before following him into the parlor room and exhaling softly, she hadn't been back to Mystic Falls in almost five months, it was kind of crazy being back here. Honestly, a part of her hadn't wanted to come back but alas she couldn't stay away too long plus she wanted to open a Gallery for her mother. The Gallery her mom had dreamed of opening instead of just working at others. But she had never had the chance, but Buffy did, she had spent weeks searching for the best pieces and she was finally ready to open the Summers Gallery, once it was ready she would revisit the whole leaving town thing again.
"Feel weird being back?" Damon asks curiously as he hands her a glass filled with bourbon, Buffy nods "Yeah a little."
"Well if it's any consolation...I could use the company."
Buffy smiles before frowning in confusion "What about Stefan?" She asks hesitantly, yes she had been hurt that she hadn't heard from him since she left she had tried to call him but she had a feeling he was avoiding her. If he had found the book then he knew exactly how she felt, and if he didn't feel the same it made sense.
Damon clenches his jaw in anger, anger at his brother because within an hour of Stefan saying he was going after her he got a call off his brother saying he changed his mind and was going to Portland and since then nothing. Stefan had hurt Buffy, Buffy was his best friend and Stefan had ignored them both. He was a little pissed.
"Said he was going to Portland. Not heard from him since. But come on...tell me all about blowing up Sunnydale."
Buffy giggles before sitting on the couch resting her feet across Damon's lap as she begins telling him exactly what happened in Sunnydale 2 months ago.
However halfway through her story, the front door slams open frowning Buffy's eyes widen as there with a suitcase and a box was her brother.
"No!" Damon yells spotting Jeremy with his stuff, no this was not a halfway house for previously dead hunters, he just got rid of his own brother he didn't need Buffy and Elena's living here.
Jeremy sighs and gives Damon a begging look "Dude. I can't live with Elena and Xander. I've seen things...horrible things."
Buffy groans before sitting up revealing herself, Jeremy's eyes widen and he drops the box in his hand in shock "Buffy?"
"Hey, little brother." She says with a smile before laughing as he runs over and picks her up, Buffy smiles and holds him tightly, she had only seen him once since he had come back to life. Matt had used the jet to fly Jeremy out to Rome to see her, she had literally got the call from Elena the minute she landed in Italy and called Matt begging to borrow the jet that Rebekah had lent him so she could see her brother.
Jeremy smiles holding onto his sister before placing her down "When did you get back?"
"About five minutes ago." She says with a laugh before chuckling "So Xander and Elena that gross?"
"I walked in on them in the shower."
Buffy's eyes widen in horror and hugs her brother "You poor baby." Pausing she glances over at Damon "Please..."
Damon glares at her before groaning and crossing his arms "Fine. He touches my bourbon..."
Buffy smiles before hugging Damon gratefully, as she pulls away Jeremy turns to her "You know you have an apartment there too?"
"Yeah, I saw it. It has a door that allows Caroline to enter the apartment from her own. Whenever she wants. No thanks."
Jeremy winces at "Yikes. Well, I'm glad you back."
Buffy smiles and hugs her brother once more, to be honest, she was too, despite the fact there was the obvious missing of her daughter right now it did feel good to be around her friends and family again. She was home.
"Buffy's back!" Elena exclaims as she checks her phone while in the bath with Xander attempting to shave, and failing miserably, he had cut himself three times already.
Xander arches his eye as he turns to face his stunning girlfriend "I didn't see her in her apartment."
"Caroline gave her the apartment with the adjoining door to hers."
Xander winces at that, he liked Caroline she was cool and all, but having her being able to walk into their apartment whenever she wanted, no thanks, he could understand why Buffy was probably gonna stay with Damon and Jeremy.
Elena smiles slightly "Me and Caroline are gonna see her tomorrow, Buffy said she has a surprise."
Xander smiles before turning to face his beautiful girlfriend however he quickly frowns as he spots that odd look on her face, something was wrong he could see it "You okay?"
"Yeah, I've just got this weird feeling like something bad's about to happen."
Xander smiles sadly before sitting on the edge of the bath watching her curiously "That a banshee feeling?"
"I don't know." She admits before shaking her head "I'm probably just nervous about tomorrow."
"You're gonna do great. And when your a surgeon and I'm nothing more than a trophy boyfriend just promise you won't leave for another surgeon."
Elena giggles slightly before leaning up and kissing Xander sweetly, as much as this feeling sucked she just needed to remain positive, she was happy.
Buffy sighs as she walks into her old room at the Salvatore house, looking around the old room she smiles, reaching into her bag she begins unloading her stuff, taking the photo of her Joy and Elena out of the bag she places it on the bedside table before walking over to her draws to unload her clothes.
As she opens the top draw her eyes widen, the book was gone, she lets out a small breath and closes her eyes, if that book was gone then Stefan knew and he had made his choice. And as much as it hurt it was fine she needed to focus on her family and getting her daughter back.
Running a hand through her hair she grabs her phone and scrolls through the names in her contact list, as her eyes land on Stefan's name she clenches her jaw before placing her phone down and moving to get into the bath.
"Ever since I lost my parents, my aunts and my niece I've been acting out." Jeremy repeats for the fifth time as he Buffy and Damon continue to go through the story Jeremy was going to tell his professors at Whitmore and his boss at the Grill.
"Drugs, drinking. I was looking for attention so I lit my house on fire and faked my own death."
Buffy winces she did not like this story at least with her there was the Buffy-bot she coming back to life was simpler but they had literally had a funeral for Jeremy.
"Maybe not so much with the arson. It's bad enough it runs in the family."
Jeremy chuckles before sighing "Why do I have to go back to school? Can I just help you with the—"
"It's not even a sure thing yet Jer." Buffy says cutting him about the Gallery, it was the whole reason she came back to Mystic Falls and Jeremy who loved art wanted to help, the blonde sighs before running a hand through her long hair "Jer, if you don't go back to college Elena's gonna kill us both."
"Caroline called." Damon tells Buffy as he walks back into the room and turns to the blonde an annoyed expression on his face "Again."
Buffy groans before turning to her brother "No fighting without me."
Jeremy shakes his head in amusement before him and Damon watch Buffy head out the door towards her Jeep.
Jeremy sighs as he glances over at Damon whose smile falls "Yeah, no. We're not doing this. Go get ready for class."
"You're dreaming about your sister's ex-boyfriend?" Caroline asks as Elena helps her hang up a few more frames in Caroline's new apartment.
Elena sighs and runs a hand through her hair "They're not dreams. It's more of a feeling. A banshee one. Pretty sure Buffy's worried too."
"Well, he did break her heart." Caroline argues as she grabs a can of pop out of the fridge and tosses it over to Elena taking a break from the unpacking "I mean she left him with a note explaining exactly how she felt. And he took off to Portland, without so much as a goodbye to any of his friends! You're probably sensing how much Buffy is gonna kick his ass next time she sees him."
Caroline sighs as she takes a drink before looking at her best friend seriously, she knew Elena to well to know what she was like and exactly what she was thinking "Elena...he'll call when he wants. Don't get involved."
"So I should just live with this nagging pit in my stomach?" Elena asks as she opens up one of Caroline's boxes filled with all of the kitchen supplies.
Caroline sighs before running a hand through her hair "Look Buffy will be here any minute. Let's not bring up Stefan when she's already having to deal with the fact that Joy is gone."
"You two should really stay out of the whole thing." Liz suggests as she walks into the kitchen coming out of the bedroom where she had been helping unload Caroline's...too many clothes.
Elena and Caroline glance at each other as Liz heads to the bathroom, however before either of them could say another word the doorbell rings "She's here." Caroline says with a big smile as she speeds over to the door yanking over the door there Buffy was in a purple skirt, a black vest, boots and her black leather jacket.
"Buffy!" Caroline screams yanking the blonde inside hugging her tightly, Buffy smiles and hugs Caroline tightly before wincing "Caroline I need to breathe."
"Sorry. But it's been four months I deserve a no oxygen hug."
Buffy chuckles softly before hugging the vampire once more, turning she then faces her sister "Hey big sister."
Elena giggles before running over and hugging her tightly, Buffy clutches onto her sister tightly "I missed you."
Elena smiles "You too." She whispers before pulling back and watching Buffy carefully, her sister was normally a bubbly person but after everything there was a sadness about her "How are you doing?"
Buffy sighs as she watches both girls give her that look "I'm fine. I miss her but it's not forever. I just have to stay positive."
"Hey Buffy." Liz calls as she walks back into the room making Buffy smile and hug the Sheriff, as Liz pulls back she smiles "Did you tell them?"
"No not yet."
Liz chuckles "If it helps I put in a good word to the landlord."
"Thank you."
Liz squeezes the young woman's shoulder before waving goodbye to the girls, she had already done the tearful college goodbye before she couldn't do this one too.
As her mother leaves Caroline turns to Buffy "What was she talking about?"
Buffy inhales slightly, before smiling "The reason I was traveling so much is...I was talking to artists and collectors. When my dad died I got his life insurance. Most of it is in saving for Joy but I...put an offer on a old antic store in Mystic Falls."
Elena's eyes widen in shock, that was not what she was expecting to hear "Wait what?"
Buffy shakes her head and tucks her long hair behind her ears not realizing that the ghost of Bonnie Bennett was stood behind her just as excited to hear the news as the others "I found some old plans of my mom when I went to L.A to clear out my dad's house. She was gonna open her own Gallery. I want to finish it for her. In her home town."
"That's why you're back." Caroline realizes before smiling brightly "Look at you businesswoman!"
Buffy laughs "Just want something my daughter can be proud of."
"This calls for champagne!" Caroline laughs as Elena hugs her tightly so proud, Caroline smiles and grabs her car keys before she grabs both girls "We are going out to celebrate!"
Buffy laughs and as they all step outside of the blonde's apartment they all freeze as they spot a girl putting her key into what Buffy assumed was supposed to be Bonnie's apartment.
"Um..." Caroline starts in confusion, she had compelled the office to hold the whole floor for them "Who are you?"
The girl jumps slightly before putting her box down and smiling at the three girls who were watching her suspiciously "Oh I'm Meghan when the girl who had reserved this missed her deadline I was next in line. Looks like I'm your new neighbor."
"Oh Caroline was pissed." Buffy tells Damon as the two sit in the living room a bottle of scotch between them and a pizza which Buffy promptly refused to give to him. She wouldn't even give him on slice, she was being incredibly cruel.
"Why not just compel her ass out the door?" Damon asks with a raised eyebrow as he tries to grab a slice only for Buffy to slap his hand away "Elena won't let her. Something about whole human normal life thing experience thing." Sighing the blonde grabs her long hair pulling it up into a ponytail before looking around "Wait, did Jeremy actually go to Whitmore?"
"Yep. Showered groomed everything."
Buffy couldn't help but scoff in amazement "Honestly wasn't expecting that. I would have ditched."
As the doorbell rings Damon frowns while Buffy smiles "Pizza."
Damon's eyes widen "Are you pregnant again?!" He asks putting the pizza she already had to the side, Buffy rolls her eyes however before she could get to the door her eyes widen as she spots a familiar face standing in the doorway. Her hair was a mess, her clothes dirty, honestly...she looked like crap.
"Damon." Buffy calls making the vampire frown speeding over to her his eyes widen as he spots the evil bitch that was Katherine Pierce stood in the doorway.
Katherine sighs and turns to them both "It's been a long Summer, Buffy."
Buffy clenches her jaw as she glares at the now human "Katherine."
"So you're going to this party?" Buffy asks curiously as she heads outside leaving Damon to deal with Katherine, she wasn't really sure how to tell Elena that human Katherine was back.
Elena sighs through the phone "It's the block party. We're new to the area. It could be fun. I just think Caroline wants to spy on Meghan...but there was this hot guy Jessie. Totally hitting on Caroline."
Buffy laughs at that, given Caroline hadn't seen Tyler in 4 months maybe a cute guy hitting on her would be a nice burst to her confidence.
"Buffy..." Damon calls looking extremely annoyed, probably because she left him alone with Katherine "She found my bourbon. Get your little blonde ass in here."
Buffy groans "Elena...I gotta go." And with that, the blonde hangs up before following Damon inside her eyes widening as there in the middle of the room the disgruntled Katherine was downing another glass of bourbon.
"Blondie." Katherine says cheerfully "You're gonna have to cut me off soon."
"How bout now." Buffy suggests speeding over and taking the glass off her before speeding Katherine up against the wall holding her by the throat "As much as I enjoy miserable you. Why are you here?"
"I'm fine." She coughs grasping for breath only making Buffy laugh softly "Chipped nails, split ends totally sounds all good. How about I kill you now?"
"Buffy..." Katherine begs making the blonde roll her eyes before dropping Katherine to the ground and turning over to Damon "She's irritating me."
"Be nice." Damon suggests "She's a miserable human being. And her lesbian gal pal left her right when she needed her."
Buffy chuckles before grabbing Katherine and hauling her up "Since I'm back in my whole no killing humans thing, fine. You can live. Leave. I'm sure someone will kill you soon enough. Hell Damon will give you some blood for the road."
As Damon bites into his wrist Katherine practically gazes at it before groaning and moving away, she couldn't risk it "I can't. No one's ever taken the cure before. If I die, there's a good chance. I may never wake up."
Damon couldn't help but roll his eyes, like he gave a crap, hell he would through a party on her freaking grave keg stand and all "And that would be tragic."
Katherine sighs before turning to Buffy with begging eyes "Buffy please..." When the blonde merely stares at her Katherine groans and panics "I know Joy is alive!"
At her words, Buffy's eyes widen and she grabs Katherine by the throat anger filling her "What did you just say?"
"I won't tell anyone I swear!" Katherine yells grasping at Buffy's hand, Buffy groans before glancing over at Damon who clenches his jaw "Dammit."
Buffy sighs her mind ranking her thoughts at the moment, was Katherine hoping to get her head ripped off or something?
Dropping her to the ground the blonde glares down at her before walking over to Damon who was also contemplating what to do with the new human, they couldn't risk anyone finding out that Buffy and Klaus' daughter was still alive "Can't compel her she reeks of Vervain."
Katherine watches the two of them panic "Wait...please. There's someone chasing me."
"Then run. Before I chase you too." Buffy warns as she goes to leave the room but Katherine blocks her "Buffy Damon you guys don't understand I have enemies everywhere. I'm not like Elena I didn't get the Petrova Banshee gene! I can't protect myself! What happens when word gets out that I'm a human. I'm weak. And I'm slow. Buffy come on you know what it's like to run in heels."
"I prefer platforms." Buffy argues with a shrug as she watches the ex-vampire with no sympathy.
Katherine sighs before watching Buffy, she had to admit this was weird for her, Buffy had the face that Mary had when she fell for the witch, so it kind of felt like begging her ex-girlfriend right now "Buffy please...you're a hero right. I will give you information. On people I know would love to get to your daughter. I can help you!"
As all the drama continues, just outside of Mystic Falls deep down at the bottom of the quarry laid a safe, the same safe that Silas had thrown into the waters over 4 months ago. And inside currently drowning again and again before he died only to come back and do it all over again was Stefan. As he dies for what would probably be the 900th time in the past four months he sees white.
Suddenly he finds himself looking out into the gardens of his house "Wish I could say it gets better." Damon says suddenly as he walks over to his brother handing him a drink.
Stefan turns away from the bright sunlight for a brief moment to take the drink before turning back to the window, he knew what Damon was going to say, he always said it, every time he died "The answer's no, Damon."
"Why?" Damon asks "So, you can keep dying and coming back to life? You felt nothing but sheer agony for 4 months. You hallucinate conversations with me to have something to do. Just turn off that pesky humanity switch."
Stefan merely shakes his head as he looks down letting the sunlight hit his face, he couldn't after everything and everything he had waiting for him he just couldn't and he wouldn't "It won't take the pain away."
"Yeah, but it'll turn off your misery. Your fear. Your hopelessness."
Stefan couldn't help but scoff as he turns back to face his brother "And then what, huh? Let's just say that you actually notice I'm gone. Let's say I get out of this. What good is it if I'm a monster again? How is that better than any of this?"
Turning back to the window Stefan thinks of a certain blonde, she was the only thing holding him together at the moment.
After Megan had invited them over and Caroline had promptly chocked on Vervain water in Megan's fridge the two girls quickly excuse themselves to get ready for the party.
The second they were in Elena's apartment Caroline waves at Xander who was in the process of building some more storage space, turning to Elena she panics "She knows who we are. She drinks Vervain water."
"What's going on?" Xander asks as he takes off his gloves and walks over to the two of them kissing Elena on the forehead before watching them both in confusion, these girls were so confusing.
Elena sighs "Caroline found bottles of Vervain water in Megan's kitchen. But it doesn't mean she knows about us."
"We live on the same floor as her!" Caroline argues as panic fills her "What if she's a hunter and she stakes me when we are asleep. Or she sets you and Xander on fire!"
Xander's eyes widen in panic "I'm not okay with being set on fire! Elena!"
Elena sighs and runs a hand through her wavy brunette hair "She's not gonna set us on fire." She promises her boyfriend before turning to her best friend "If she was a hunter we would be dead by now."
But Caroline was too scared, after everything that happened last year with all the hunters she couldn't handle this again "I think we should lock her up. You know, let the Vervain get out of her system and then I can compel her to forget about us."
Elena's eyes widen in horror and she turns to Xander for help but he shakes his head "Nope. Demons, vampires I can handle. Crazy Caroline...no." And with that, he walks back into the kitchen while Elena groans and turns to try and calm the freaking out vampire "Caroline, I'm not kidnapping our next-door neighbor. The best way to convince her that we're normal is to act normal. We are going to go to the block party and do normal stuff."
"Ah Elena..." Xander calls from the living room, Elena frowns and turns, he looked scared, like he really didn't want to tell her whatever was up "Xand?"
Xander winces as he puts down the phone, he really did not want to do this "Jeremy got kicked out of Whitmore. His professor wants to talk to you."
"Buffy still not answering?" Xander asks as he holds Elena's hand while the two of them along with Caroline walk through the block party heading for the large building at the end of the street which was part of the Whitmore Medical school.
Elena sighs and shakes her head "Nope. I just can't believe Jeremy got kicked out on his first day back. He spends too much time with Buffy he beat up four students."
Xander despite the fact that he shouldn't, he just couldn't help himself and he laughs "He and Buffy should start a fight club, demon and vampire edition."
When Elena turns and glares at him Xander gulps, while he loved her she was kind of scary too "Xander sorry?"
Elena shakes her head in amusement before glancing over at Caroline however before she could say another word, Jessie, the cute guy from before comes over to them "Hey I remember you. I'm Jessie."
Elena smiles as she watches Jessie sneak looks at Caroline "Yeah flyer guy. I'm Elena, this Xander and that's Caroline."
Jessie turns and smiles brightly at the beautiful blonde "Nice to meet you."
"Hi." She says simply before walking off, Elena arches a brow before following her while Xander sighs.
"She always like that?" Jessie asks.
Xander merely shrugs "She kind of scares me to be honest. So I'm not gonna answer that."
"Fair enough."
"How many of them were there?" Buffy asks as she takes a seat opposite her brother in The Grill while Damon parks the car letting the two siblings have a moment.
Jeremy sighs and looks down at his drink "Four."
Buffy arches a brow giving him that disappointed look for a moment before she smiles "Don't tell Elena...but I'm so proud of you. Jeremy four people and you. Without a scratch. I trained you well." As Jeremy smiles that smile quickly fades as Buffy's trainer proud-ness disappears and in steps the older disappointed sister, ever since she became a mom those looks just hit your soul a lot more.
"I can compel your ass back to classes but I need you not to go all hunter on people that will cry if you so much as tap them."
Jeremy huffs and leaves back in his seat watching his sister for a moment "Buffy I don't need a degree. I need training. Look let me help with the gallery during the day then you can teach me the ropes of how to be a proper hunter."
Buffy's eyes widen and she couldn't help but shake her head and run a stressed hand through her hair "Jeremy last time you tried to be a proper hunter...epto facto...you died."
"She's got a point there." Damon adds into the conversation as he walks over to their table before facing Jeremy "Dude even she finished College. And that's saying a lot. Buffy's not that bright."
Buffy's eyes widen and she glares at her douche of a best friend "Shut up." Sighing she looks down at Jeremy plate of food and pouts, Jeremy rolls his eyes before handing over his fries making the blonde smile "Goody." She says happily like a child on Christmas morning.
Damon rolls his eyes "I need a drink. Buff?"
"Something pretty."
Damon huffs in annoyance she tried this when they were in St Louis, he was not dealing with her newfound obsessions with colorful girly drinks "You're having bourbon." He tells her before standing however as he turns to head to the bar he comes to a dead halt as there standing in front of him was Stefan. The Stefan he hadn't heard from in 4 months, who had the balls to stand there smiling away as though nothing had happened.
"Hello, Damon."
At the sound of the familiar voice, Buffy coughs violently spitting out her water making Jeremy groan in disgust, while Buffy merely turns her eyes widening as there he was as bright as day. Stefan.
Damon clenches his jaw as he looks at his younger brother "No word for four months brother?"
"I've been busy. What no welcome home?"
Damon forces a smile on his face as he tries to bury his anger at his brother "Welcome home."
Hugging his brother Stefan then turns his focus onto the blonde "Hey Buffy."
Buffy clears her throat before standing and smiling at Stefan awkwardly "Stefan."
Stefan smiles before looking between Buffy and Damon "Can I borrow her for a minute?"
Buffy glances at Damon before nodding, letting him know she would be fine, "Sure." Stefan smiles before placing a hand on her back tapping Jeremy on the shoulder as he leads Buffy out of the room.
However, Jeremy goes tense as he watches them go...the second Stefan had touched him he had felt something...where his hunter tattoo used to be.
After Caroline hadn't been able to enter the Medical School building the two girls were panicking, Xander had disappeared earlier to go have drinks with Jessie so it was just the two of them right now. And Caroline was in full-on kidnap mode.
"Elena, she saw me stuck at the threshold. I might as well have flashed her my fangs."
Elena sighs this had to be a coincidence "There's no way out of all the people on the waitlist for that apartment we were randomly stuck with someone who knows about the supernatural."
As Caroline listens to her best friend she sighs "Maybe it wasn't random." She realizes just as Elena's phone rings.
Elena sighs "It's Megan." She tells Caroline before forcing on her sweetest innocent voice as she answers the phone "Hey Megan."
"Elena, you have to help me!" Megan screams making Elena's eyes widen in panic.
What the hell was going on "Megan?"
"He's chasing me! Elena help me! Oh, my god..."
Elena's eyes fill with panic and she hands Caroline her phone "Find out where she is."
As Elena moves to run she gasps as suddenly a body drops down in front of her, gasping she stumbles back her eyes widen as there was Megan dead.
Bending down her eyes widen as there it was a bite mark, turning to Caroline Elena clenches her jaw, this was really bad "This was a vampire."
"So what's up?" Buffy asks as she and Stefan walk outside, she had to admit this was really awkward, he had found the book and knew exactly how she felt and then she hadn't heard from him all summer.
Silas watches her for a moment staring at her intently something was wrong...he couldn't get into her head, what the hell? That wasn't possible, he had been in able to get in the original Hybrid's head but a little girl, he couldn't even scratch the surface.
Sighing he focuses back on Stefan's brother inside The Grill who was watching them intently and then he smiles, maybe he should have just had a drink with that one. His mind was always easier to get in to.
"Stefan?" Buffy asks with a frown on her face, he had gone dead silent for a minute, it was really weird.
Stefan clears his throat before turning to face her "Sorry, just adjusting to being back."
Buffy lets out a small breath and smiles "You and me both."
Stefan smiles before watching her if he couldn't get into her head he could always mess with it "I found the necklace. And the note."
Buffy's eyes widen, okay they were cutting straight to it here, as much as she was dreading this conversation though something felt off. For years she could always feel when Stefan was watching her or entering a room. But when he entered the Grill there was nothing. Something just felt off here. She just couldn't figure out what it was.
The second Buffy and Stefan were out of earshot Jeremy turns to Damon with a panicked look on his face "Something's wrong. When he touched me, I felt a chill where my tattoo was."
Damon sighs as he tears his gaze away from Buffy and Stefan and grabs his drink "What are you talking about?"
Jeremy sighs, he wasn't so sure but this feeling was enough to have him worried "Right before I died, Silas grabbed me and I felt the same thing."
Damon frowns in confusion, that made no sense, Jeremy was probably just worried about his sister and making things up in his mind "Silas is gone. Bonnie turned him into a big piece of rock, remember?"
"I died." Bonnie panics as she appears beside Jeremy, horror filling her face "Jeremy I bound the magic that took down Silas. When I died, the spell must have broken. He's free."
Jeremy glances at Bonnie before glancing back at his sister, panic, and horror filling him, Silas was back "That was Silas."
"That's impossible."
"Look Buffy...when I found that book and the necklace..." Stefan pauses for dramatic effect, taking Buffy's hand in his that's when Buffy feels it, normally when Stefan touched her there was always a spark.
Her eyes widen and she grabs Stefan by the throat pinning him against the wall "Where's Stefan?"
Silas chuckles watching her "You're smarter then I thought." Suddenly Buffy gasps as she feels a dagger hit her heart "I'll get into that little head of yours, eventually." He warns before shoving her to the ground "Now I have to go say hello to Katherine. She is at chateau Salvatore right?"
Buffy gasps and her eyes widen "Why do you need Katherine?"
Silas merely smiles before pressing the blade further into her heart with his foot "That's for me to know. And you too dot dot dot." And with that Silas disappears and Buffy rolls onto her side trying to pull the dagger from her heart but it was buried too deep for her to reach.
"Buffy!" Jeremy yells as he runs outside with Damon, both of their eyes widen at the sight of the blonde on the cold street floor blonde around her.
Buffy groans and winces as Damon appears at her side cupping her face "Breath okay." He whispers before he slowly begins removing the blade from her heart.
Once it was gone Buffy exhales and watches her chest heal for a moment "Silas. It was Silas."
Silas frowns as he enters Damon's bathroom only to find Katherine laying in a bubble bath shaving her legs probably for the first time in 500 years "Why are you in my brother's bathtub?"
Katherine smirks as she watches Stefan move to sit on the edge of the bath "Why aren't you?"
"I will say that's a tempting offer." He says making Katherine smile as she leans up "Mm. He flirts. I like Buffy-less Stefan."
Silas tilts his head at her watching her intently "You know, human looks better on you, then I would've guessed, Katherine."
Leaving closer till he was right in her personal space Katherine arches a brow "I think you just accidentally gave me a compliment."
"No, I mean it. You sitting here all weak and vulnerable. It works." Cupping her cheek he strokes her cheek in his hand as she leans up to kiss him he grabs her by the throat "Time for a field trip."
Katherine gasps and as he tries to shove her head under the water she searches for the blade she had been using to shave her legs, as she grabs it she slices it across his face sending him to the floor.
Without a pause, she jumps out of the bath and runs, as she climbs down the stairs panic fills her as she hears him following her only to gasp as she crashes right into Buffy.
Damon turns to Buffy and Jeremy "Get her out of here. Don't tell me where you're going."
"Damon..." Buffy hesitates but Damon shakes his head "You are the only one strong enough to protect them if he gets past me. Go!"
Buffy clenches her jaw before grabbing Katherine and Jeremy and speeding out the door leaving Damon alone with Silas.
As he hears Buffy's jeep speed out of the estate Damon turns to Silas "God you're slow. Guess vamp speed game with the upgrade."
Silas couldn't help but roll his eyes, he was in no mood to deal with Damon or more accurately Damon's jokes "Get out of my way and give me Katherine."
Damon tilts his head at the immortal physic "First drop the Stefan look."
Silas merely scoffs making Damon frown "What?"
Damon stares as Silas continues to walk around the Parlor room, this had to be a sick joke, between Elena and Katherine, Buffy and Mary and hell even Xander and Xander he was so sick of doppelgangers!
"If I have to hear the word Doppelganger one more time I think I'm gonna actually have to learn how to spell it."
Silas groans in frustration and turns to face Stefan's older brother, it was simple Stefan was his doppelganger, they didn't need to keep rehashing this "You say you don't believe me and yet your mind is spinning as the possibility."
"A. Get out of my head." Damon warns "B. I think I'd know if my little brother had an evil twin."
Silas chuckles softly, Damon's mind was so simple-minded "Oh we're not twins. See, when I became truly immortal nature retaliated by creating a version of me that was killable." Silas explains as he circles the room finally stopping as he sits across from Damon whose mind was still spinning "It's called a shadow self. Given how powerful you're friend Buffy is becoming. Nature may give her one if her power continues to grow."
Damon frowns at that, another Buffy? After the whole Buffy-bot sexy toy thing, that was not something he needed to see "Well, whatever you are, your plan didn't work. Cure's gone. Now, what do you want with Katherine?"
Silas clenches his jaw thinking of his options for a moment before smiling "I could tell you, but wouldn't it be so much more fun if it were a surprise?"
Damon scoffs, as much as he hated Katherine he hated Silas more, and if keeping Katherine was going to piss off Silas then Katherine was going to be safe as houses "You're not getting her."
Silas sighs before leaning forward glancing up at the vampire "Damon, how well do you know your brother? Do you really think after finding out that the love of his life still loves him he would just ignore it and go to Portland with nothing but one call in 4 months? Or did you just delude yourself into thinking the longer he was gone the more she would stop thinking about him? And start thinking about you?"
Damon clenches his jaw because what Silas was saying made sense, even though he hadn't realized it maybe that was exactly what he had been doing "Where's Stefan?"
"He's suffering. Like I suffered. So call the Slayer and the hunter. Bring me, Katherine. And then I will tell you where you're little brother is."
"Where are we going?" Katherine asks miserably as she sits in the back seat Buffy driving while Jeremy set up weapons just in case they had to fight Silas if he got past Damon.
Buffy glances at Jeremy who sighs, both of them really just wanted to shove her out the car so bad right now. But they would settle for ignoring her.
"Are you guys deaf?" Katherine asks in annoyance when no one would speak to her.
"Wishing I was right now. Your voice literally makes my eardrums cry." She snarks as she continues to drive, the only place she could think to take Katherine right now was the Lakehouse. Until she could get Bonnie, Willow or hey even Mary on the phone.
"It's Damon." Jeremy tells Buffy as he pulls out his ringing phone "Hey."
"How far did you get?"
"Well, you said not to tell you." Jeremy reminds him as he puts the phone on speaker for Buffy to listen to "You picked now to listen to me?"
Buffy sighs before glancing out at the street ahead of her "We just passed old Miller Road."
"Good. Turn around. Bring her back."
At Damon's words, Katherine's eyes widen in panic "What? No!"
Buffy frowns, what the hell was she missing here "Damon?"
"Silas has Stefan Buffy. For Katherine, he will give Stefan back."
Buffy's eyes fill with panic and without hesitation, she spins the car around heading back towards the Boarding house.
As she does Katherine leans forwards in her seat panic filling her, they couldn't do this to her "You can't take me back there, Buffy! Damon wouldn't just hand me over—"
"I don't care." Buffy hisses "If Silas has Stefan then you kitty Kat are our bargaining tool. Maybe in your next life don't piss off a Slayer."
Katherine's eyes widen in a panic she had to think quick here, spotting a crowbar in the backseat she stabs it through Buffy's chest causing it to get caught in the wheel and undo Buffy's seatbelt.
Buffy cries out in agony and as Katherine tries to grab the wheel Jeremy elbows her in the face only to grunt as the car goes straight into around a pole.
At the town end of Summer party, Matt smiles as Bonnie's dad walks over, handing him a drink he offers the Mayor a kind smile "Here you go, Mayor. This one's on the house."
Rudy smiles at the young man who he knew was friends with his daughter "Thank you, Matt."
As Rudy takes a drink Matt asks a question that had been digging at him since he came back from his travels "So, uh, when's Bonnie coming back?"
"Well, I'm not sure, but if you talk to her. Tell her I say Hi."
Matt frowns before nodding and as the Mayor disappears his eyes widen as he spots a familiar face in the distance, a woman he met in his travels. The woman who stole the Gilbert ring Jeremy had given him. Xander now had Ric's and he had Jeremy's...or at least he had.
"No way." He breaths as he follows her into a nearby alleyway "Nadia?"
Nadia turns and smiles at the bartender "You remember me?"
Matt couldn't help but scoff as he walks over to her "Yeah I remember you. You got me drunk and robbed me."
"But it was fun until then, no?"
As she smirks at him Matt frowns in confusion, he had never told her where he was from "How did you know how to find me?"
"Let's skip the how and get to the why." The brunette beauty says before revealing the Gilbert ring in her palm "This wasn't mine to take."
Matt arches a brow there was something he didn't like about this "You traveled 4,000 miles to give me back a ring?"
"Hey if you don't want it."
As she tries to move he grabs her wrist stopping her "I want it."
Nadia smiles before leaning forward and placing the ring on his finger "Looks better on you anyway."
Matt smiles only to gasp as someone grabs his head from behind as they chat he finds himself frozen only for his eyes to fill with darkness before he finally collapses to the ground.
"Guys..." Xander whispers as they get out of the elevator on their floor after spending the past few hours with the police who somehow had ruled Megan's death a suicide.
Elena frowns before she spots what Xander had spotted, Megan's apartment door was open.
Caroline steps forward her being the strongest and pushes the door open, the apartment had been ransacked "Someone was in here." Elena realizes as Xander inspects the lock "They forced their way in, this thing is destroyed. My guess they were in a rush. Is anything missing?"
"Megan's tablet." Caroline realizes, Megan had left it charging in the kitchen when they all left for the party but it was gone, Elena frowns before quickly checking around the house.
As she suspected there was no suicide note "Along with her so-called suicide note? Can I see the phone for a second?" She asks Caroline who had stolen Megan's phone from the crime scene.
Caroline groans in frustration as she tosses Elena the phone "It just doesn't make any sense. First, the neighbor we're not supposed to have might know about the supernatural and then happens to be killed by a vampire. And now the town is covering it up? Seriously who is this girl?"
Elena who had been flipping through photos freezes in horror, Xander frowns as he spots that look on her face she was wigging out "Lena?" Pausing he looks over her shoulder his eyes widening at the sight of the photo he had found "Isn't that?"
Elena nods "Yeah..." She breaths before showing Caroline the photo on Megan's phone "That's Megan...with my dad...and Uncle Hank."
"Buffy!" Jeremy screams as he stumbles out of the passenger seat of the now wrecked jeep if Buffy didn't have enough reason to kill Katherine, destroying her mom's old Jeep had defiantly signed Katherine's bounty.
Glancing at the backseat he sighs, Katherine was long gone, she was in the backseat, she was fine, Buffy had taken the worst of it, had gone flying out of the car and he had gotten pretty banged up. A bad cut across his face and a few broken ribs. If he had been driving he would have probably gone back to being dead again.
As he stumbles towards his sister his eyes widen in horror, Buffy's head was twisted all the way around, blood covering her enter body there was a massive hole where the crowbar had ripped through her stomach as she went flying out the car. Glass was stuck in her arms and face "Buffy?!" He screams bending down at her feet quickly checking that her heart was still there.
"She's gonna be okay." Bonnie breathes tears covering her face as she moves to crouch beside him "She's gonna be in a lot of pain. For a few days. Katherine almost removed her heart. One more inch and Buffy would be dead."
Jeremy takes a relieved breath and holds his sister in his arms tears dripping down his face, he had already lost Buffy once he couldn't do that again.
Suddenly he hears a car speed over to them, turning his eyes widen as he spots Damon run out of his car "Are you okay?" He asks checking Jeremy for injuries before quickly feeding Jeremy some blood.
As Jeremy heals Damon looks down at Buffy in horror, before carefully picking her up "I'll come back for the Jeep."
"Katherine's gone." Jeremy tells him as he allows Damon to help him stand, Damon sighs and glances in-between the hurt Jeremy and the currently dead Buffy "I don't care."
Elena groans as she hears a knocking at her and Xander's bedroom door, she should have figured Caroline had made a set of spare keys. As Xander unwraps his arms from around her Elena sits up her eyes widening as she spots a crying Caroline at her doorstep.
Sighing she turns to Xander "Xand?"
Xander groans not happy to be woken up but the second he spots Caroline he sighs at her sadly, kissing Elena quickly he climbs out of bed "I'll sleep in the spare room."
Caroline smiles gratefully before climbing in next to Elena who hugs her tightly "You have a good one Elena." Caroline tells her.
Elena smiles as she watches Xander go, yeah she did "Are you okay?"
Caroline "Yeah. I'm fine."
Elena moves to look at her best friend and that's when it clicks, Tyler promised to be back today, she had a feeling that wasn't happening "I'm sorry, Caroline."
"I'm really glad that you're here."
Elena smiles before cuddling her best friend "I'm really glad you're here too."
Back in the quarry Stefan drowns yet again and this time things were different, he was losing his will to go on. As the bright light comes again Stefan looks out at the window into the bright sunlight as his brother speaks "You're thinking about it. Flip the switch, brother. Put yourself out of this misery, please."
Stefan doesn't move from his place by the window, he was so close to turning it off but all he could think about was what happened last time he did "Did you forget how long it took me to come back last time? Everything I lost in the process."
Damon sighs as he watches his brother "You don't deserve this, Stefan. You got the girl, you were finally happy but it's been months. You can't hold on just for her. How is that fair? Hey..."
Stefan goes quiet as he feels Damon's hands on his shoulders turning him to face him "Just turn it off." Damon tells him just like Klaus had done in Sunnydale, he had thought it then though. For her.
Looking down he thinks of her and as his mind begins to return to that safe in the water he freezes as he hears her voice for the first time in almost 5 months.
"Stay with me Stefan."
Opening his eyes he couldn't help but stare as Buffy was now in front of him cupping his cheek in her hand "Stef you've done this before remember. You were so close...but you didn't."
"Buffy...what..."
"I'm always where I shouldn't be." She laughs smiling at him before sighing and tightening her hands on his cheeks making him close his eyes as he soaks in her touch "Stefan I know this is torture. And it's every day...but you can't let it keep you in darkness. You are the strongest man I know...I love you...I need you to come back. And you need to come back. So stay with me...please...come back to me..."
As Damon talks to Elena, sort of leaving out quite a few details of the past few recent events Jeremy sits beside Buffy who was laid on the couch still dead.
"Damon...it wasn't just my dad that was connected to this. It was Hank Buffy's dad...look I don't think he came here last year just to give her a baby book. Don't tell Buffy, I'm gonna figure this out, but her dad is a tough subject for her. Promise me you won't tell her."
Damon clenches his jaw as he gazes down at his best friend, he and Buffy never lied to each other but he had a feeling with Joy gone Silas back Stefan missing, whatever was going on with her dad was not going to end well "I promise. See ya Scream queen." With that, he hangs up and Jeremy turns to him "You didn't tell her Silas was here."
Damon sighs in annoyance "Nor did I tell her Stefan's missing. Buffy's a rag doll, Katherine's in town or you got kicked out. Scream Queen wanted a normal life. Let her. We're the badass fighters. We will handle it. Till we need help."
At his words Buffy suddenly gasps and sits up on the couch gasping, as she leans back she looks up at her best friend and her brother before a horrible thought occurs to her "Where's my mom's jeep?!"
Bonnie watches from the crowd at the end of summer party in the town square, as her father talks about her and family she couldn't help but tear up. However she frowns as Silas suddenly interrupts, she had a horrible feeling about this, and the worst part was she was dead, she couldn't do anything.
"I'll take it from here Mayor." Silas tells the Mayor who frowns before nodding unable to say no as the psychic gets into his head and all he could do was step out of the way allowing Silas to take over at the mike.
Silas smiles "You're probably wondering how I did that." He says to the town who all stared at him in confusion "It's pretty basic mind control. And until now, it's been fairly limited to one person at a time. But this summer, I've consumed an immeasurable amount of blood. And I felt myself getting stronger and stronger every day."
As he speaks panic fills Bonnie as she is forced to watch unable to help her dad or the town as Silas takes over.
"And I started to wonder, what are the limits to my powers? How many can I influence. Two? Ten? An entire town square?" As the crowd grows louder so does Silas' frustration "Everyone stop talking." And with those three words everyone was silent.
Silas smirks "Well that worked. Now let's try this. No one make a sound or move a muscle." And with that the entire town freezes except for Bonnie who is forced to watch as Silas slits her father's throat in one clean movement while the entire town watches.
"No!" She screams running through the crowd and as she runs to her father she sobs over him as she is forced to watch the life drain out of his eyes.
"Well..." Silas says as he walks back to the mike having no idea that Bonnie was sobbing above her father right now "Now that I have your attention, I need a favor. I need you to find someone. You all know Elena Gilbert. Well, the girl that I'm looking for looks exactly like her."
Buffy sighs and wipes a tear from her face as she stares at her mom's old jeep, it was the last thing she had that belonged to her mother and because of Katherine and Silas, it was nothing but scrap now.
Running a hand through her hair she pulls out her phone and dials a familiar number "What's the worst form of torture for Katherine Pierce?" She asks as she sits on the floor of the garage.
Klaus chuckles through the phone "I could name many luv. Why the interest? Need help torturing?"
Buffy smiles at the excitement in his voice "Nah...she's human now."
"What?"
"Oh yeah I forgot to tell you Elena gave her the cure."
Klaus laughs loudly through the phone as the idea of a human Katherine fills his mind "Then she is already being tortured in the worst possible way luv."
Buffy smiles before thinking back to today and everything that had happened in the past year, it was all so much, so much pain and fighting and death. And now one of the biggest causes for all that had Stefan and was hunting Katherine, which meant she had to protect the woman she hated more than anything.
"Silas is back. So looks like stopping The First didn't cut down on our list of enemies who want Joy."
Klaus inhales sharply as the horror of Silas coming for Joy fills his mind, as long as everyone thought she was dead she was safe, but Silas could get into people's heads. They could only hope that Joy was of no interest to him until they could get rid of him "I'll be in Mystic Falls within a few hours."
"No." Buffy argues as she gazes out at the moonlight from the open garage door "You can't. Klaus your mother and Finn are both in New Orleans, you have them to deal with. I'll handle Silas."
She could hear Klaus growl in frustration but she knew that he was smart enough to release that neither of them could help the other right now, there were just too many enemies coming at them from different directions.
"You stay safe you understand me? You use the Salvatores as shields I don't care."
Buffy laughs softly before sighing and looking up at the stars, as she does she couldn't help but wonder if Rebekah and Joy could see the stars from wherever they were "Do you think she can see the stars?"
Klaus goes quiet for a moment as though moving to stand somewhere where he could see them too "She's our little wolf. Rebekah won't be able to keep her from gazing up."
Buffy smiles as she thinks of their daughter before wiping a tear from her eye "Does it get any easier?"
"Afraid not luv. It only gets harder by the day."
