WHITMORE
"Are the two of you safe?"
At Klaus' question, Buffy glances into the backseat where her daughter was happily playing with the little wooden knight that Klaus had given her. Smiling at the sight the blonde then turns to focus back on the road, they had been on the road for hours so Buffy was very much ready to pass out but since she was almost there she was holding on. She just wanted to get to her apartment so she could sleep for once, she had driven all night with a fussy baby, so she was a little exhausted.
"We're fine. Willow and Tara are cloaking us. Their channeling a few Slayers, so that should buy us some time." She breaths as she continues down the long highway, running a hand through her hair she sighs "So what's the plan? You do have a plan right? And not a non-plan, like a real plan? Right?"
"Yes." He finally admits "I've just spoken to Oz, Hayley has agreed to move up the wedding. So in a few days, the wedding will take place and you will need to be here to bless the marriage, a sign showing their loyalty to you as The Queen Slayer. It will seal the loyalty of all the wolves that answer to Finn. You, my dear, in a matter of days will have an army of wolves loyal to you."
Buffy groans still hating the whole Queen Slayer thing, so not the favorite title she had ever been given "Okay, it's just a few days. We can do this." She breaths hating the fact that the first time she actually has her daughter back properly she couldn't even give her daughter a night of peace with both her mother and father.
"Stay safe, my love."
"You too."
With that, the blonde reluctantly hangs up the phone just as they approach her building she couldn't help the small smile that grazes her lips at the sight of her home knowing that Caroline who had been in charge of decorating had bought the most amazing bed. One she was very excited to sleep in.
Glancing back at her daughter she tickles her stomach softly making the little girl giggle, Buffy smiles at her happy little girl before keeping one hand on her daughter's small hand and one on the wheel as she glances back at the road "Welcome to Whitmore, little one."
MYSTIC FALLS
Xander sits patiently outside the hospital room awaiting news, he had been here for hours and all he had gotten was she's still in surgery. The whole night had just gone crazy, one minute he had gone to pick up the pizza for him and Elena, the next thing he knew he found a half-dead Katherine laid out on the floor outside of his apartment.
Sighing he rubs his jaw as he awkwardly sits in the hospital chair, however, he quickly stands as he spots Nadia rushing over to him with a panicked look on her face.
"I don't understand." She mumbles thinking back to the call she had gotten from Xander to let her know what had happened, it had all just happened so quickly "I was just speaking with her. She sounded fine."
Xander lets out a small breath watching her sadly, he hated his relatives and very rarely spoke to them so he couldn't even begin to imagine what it must be like for Nadia, she had waited 500 years to be reunited with her mother and it was all going to hell "The doctors said she had a heart attack."
Nadia couldn't help but let out an amused scoff at his words "Trust me, Katherine Pierce is not going to die from a heart attack."
Xander inhales tightly "She's spoken to everyone she can. Old age is catching up to her. She doesn't have long. I got Stefan to compel the doctors...which by the way compulsion so cool...anyway they're gonna let me take her to their house, it's closer plus she'll be more comfortable...she's dying Nadia. I'm so sorry, but it's time to say goodbye.
Buffy adjusts her bag as she stands outside her apartment, the apartment she hadn't even stayed in given it did have the adjoining door to Caroline's apartment, which was just mean. But right now she didn't care, her apartment was closer than the Salvatore's and she needed a few hours sleep before she saw everyone and Joy also needed to sleep given the stubborn child had refused sleep.
Unlocking the door she pushes it open before lifting the car seat with Joy in it, moving into the room she couldn't help but smile, she had to admit Caroline did an amazing job decorating the place.
However, her moment of admiring and peace was quickly halted as Joy begins fussing in her seat, locking the door the blonde bends down pulling her little girl into her arms rocking her slightly "I know...you'll get to see your daddy soon too." She whispers kissing Joy's forehead just as the little girl lets out a tired yawn. Smiling as the little girl's blue eyes begin to flutter shut Buffy couldn't help but smile, while when Joy was born those eyes of hers looked more like her own, but now they were looking more like Klaus'.
Except for that evil glint behind them, that could probably be from either one of them.
Moving down the hall the blonde pushes open the door to the nursery and carefully lays her sleepy daughter in the crib covering her with the white and purple blanket. As the little girl dozes off Buffy smiles down at the sight of her, she was so peaceful and calm when she slept, so unaware of the danger she was in. Or the power she would grow into.
At the thought of her daughter's power, Buffy couldn't help but think back to Cami's words about how she thought Joy had stopped the car, it reminded her of when all the lights were flickering at the Salvatore's every time Joy would cry. She had only been a couple of weeks old then.
"You're gonna be really powerful, my little princess." She whispers stroking her daughter's blonde locks.
With one last glance at her peaceful daughter, the blonde quietly exits the room, silently shutting the door behind her.
Moving into the kitchen the blonde straight away reaches into the alcohol-designated cupboard she had made Caroline put in during the decorating process.
Grabbing the bourbon from the cupboard the blonde pours herself a glass before moving over to her couch, as she settles in and closes her eyes finally finding herself relaxing for the first time in months she begins to doze off.
However, due to her luck being what it was, just as she enters a light sleep the adjoining door to Caroline's apartment swings open and the blonde vampire strolls in without noticing the half-asleep Slayer on the couch by an untouched glass of bourbon, nor did she notice the baby bag on the kitchen counter.
"Come on..." Caroline tells Bonnie and Elena as the two move to follow her inside what they assumed would be an empty apartment "...Buffy literally made me stock this place full of alcohol. Damon told us to bring something to this Katherine's dying party and—" Caroline pauses in her words as she walks up to the kitchen counter only to spot an open bottle of bourbon on the counter and the baby bag "What the—" She whispers just as Elena and Bonnie walk over staring at the confused looking blonde in confusion.
"Caroline, what is it?" Elena asks before frowning as she spots the baby bag "Hold on, that's Joy's."
"Guys." Bonnie whispers drawing their attention to the figure currently half asleep on the couch, there she was, the woman none of them had seen in three weeks, asleep on her couch.
Without being able to contain herself Caroline screams at the top of her lungs "Oh my god!"
Buffy immediately jumps up at the sound of yelling and grabs the scythe from her holster looking for danger, honestly, she probably looked pretty terrifying. She was still in her blood-covered clothes from where Kol had thrown a chandelier on top of her. Plus she was sure there were more rips in her shirt from when she had gotten thrown on top of Klaus' car during the explosion.
Moving to swing the scythe and protect her child Buffy's grip on the weapon falters as her eyes land on Bonnie "Bonnie?" She whispers as tears fill her eyes, the scythe falling from her hands and to the ground completely forgotten about. The blonde raises a shaky hand to her mouth as she stares at her formally dead best friend.
While yes, Stefan had told her she was back it wasn't the same as actually being here and seeing her.
Bonnie lets out a tearful laugh as she stares at her blood and dirt covered best friend "Are you really here?"
Buffy lets out a small laugh "I should be the one asking that Anchor girl." With that both girls let out a giggle and practically jump into each other's arms gripping onto each other as though their lives depended on it.
At the sight Caroline giggles jumping up and down slightly as she clapped her hands together happily, it was finally happening, the four of them together again "Oh god I'm gonna cry." She yells happily just as she and Elena quickly join in for the group hug.
After what felt like eternity Buffy finally pulls back wiping the happy tears from her face "I still can't believe it." She breaths staring at Bonnie who smiles brightly wiping away her own tears.
Caroline smiles before she frowns finally taking a chance to look at the state of the blonde Vampire Slayer "Okay, what the hell happened to you?"
Buffy winces looking down at her outfit, she really needed to shower and change "Um...long story. Witches, raging family issues, more witches. Exploding farmhouse. Ruining one of Nik's cars. And some other stuff."
At her words, Caroline frowns slightly hearing Buffy refer to Klaus as Nik, since when did that start? Even when she had been pregnant she had always called him Klaus like the rest of them. Opening her mouth to speak she is cut off as a loud crying comes from the nursery.
Elena takes a shaky breath turning to Buffy with a bright smile "Is that her?"
Buffy smiles "I just got her down. But she's stubborn, we've been driving all night and she's been fussy."
All three women stare at Buffy with wide begging eyes making the blonde sigh and nod "Alright come on. You can say hi, but then she's sleeping. I'm icky and gross and need to shower. And if mama ain't happy, she'll kill everyone."
All three girls giggle at Buffy in mama bear mode before nodding, all of them desperate to get sight of the little girl none of them had seen in 6 months.
Buffy shakes her head in amusement, she should have known that being the first one in the group to have a baby would come with complications. Three of which were now stood in front of her.
As the three move in front of Joy's nursery, Buffy opens the door and moves over to the crying girl that was now sat up in bed, reaching down she picks Joy up who immediately giggles at being in her mother's arms.
Buffy shakes her head in amusement before kissing Joy softly "Joy, look who it is." She whispers pointing at the three teary-eyed women who were all watching their niece with wide eyes.
"Buffy..." Caroline whispers "She looks just like you."
Buffy smirks slightly "Yeah I make good looking babies." She laughs just as Joy points at Bonnie before clapping making the ex-witch chuckle "She knows I'm not dead doesn't she?"
Buffy shrugs a little unsure before allowing Joy who was reaching for Bonnie to be handed over. As Joy places her little hands on her godmother's face she giggles again happily "We're still not sure, but she knows something's different."
Elena smiles at her sister's words before allowing Joyce to take one of her hands, her little hand wrapping around Elena's pinky while she did the same to Caroline. Elena lets out a small laugh as she stares at her adorable niece "Welcome home, Joy."
At Elena's words, Buffy wincing slightly and runs a hand through her hair before taking Joy back not noticing that while Elena and Bonnie hadn't noticed her reaction to Mystic Falls or Whitmore being called home...Caroline had.
Placing Joy's pacifier back in her mouth she lays the little girl back down before leading her friends out the room as she does she turns to them curiously "So why did you break into my apartment to steal booze?"
Caroline merely grins "Katherine's dying. Like right now. Like today. Damon is throwing a good riddance party at the Salvatore's. We're heading there now to make sure Katherine doesn't throw herself at Xander."
At her words, Buffy's eyes widen and she turns to Elena who rolls her eyes clearly annoyed "He's been helping her the past few weeks. Being human." She says clearly not too happy with the idea of Katherine spending any amount of time with Xander.
Bonnie shakes her head before turning to the blonde "You shower, get some rest, then you and Joy come and join us."
Buffy hesitates for a brief moment, while there was no harm given she and Joy were cloaked she was still worried. But, she also wanted to see the others and see what else she had missed, plus she wanted to soak in as much time with them as possible before she headed back to New Orleans. Which she also would have to explain.
Today was going to be a long day.
Sighing she glances back into her now sleeping daughter's room before smiling "Looks like we're having an adventure little one."
Sitting in the parlor room of the Salvatore Boarding house, Damon was pouring everyone a shot of tequila as they all prepare for the death of the one and only Katherine Pierce. "Rule number one, think of the worst thing Katherine has ever gone to you." He says glancing over at Bonnie, Elena, and Caroline who had just walked in carrying what he assumed was probably Buffy's entire alcohol supply from the Slayer's empty apartment.
Grabbing three more shot glasses he then glances at his brother, Matt, and Jeremy "Rule number two, toast to the glory of her impending death. Rule number three, if you come across something that's worse, which you will...repeat rules one and two."
Elena chuckles in amusement as she hands over the whiskey to Damon who places it on the floor, as she does she glances around the room for her very missing boyfriend "Where's Xander?"
Stefan sighs and points towards the ceiling "Upstairs with Katherine."
"He felt bad for the Elena lookalike. They've been bonding over human misery." Damon snorts before he raises one shot towards him and his brother "She pretended to be buried in a tomb for 145 years while I waited for her lying ass so I could get her lying girlfriend Mary back." With that, he downs his shot before a thought occurs to him "Wait, does that beat her asking Mary to pretend to be Buffy and seduce me?"
Jeremy shakes his head in amusement "I don't think so."
Damon groans before grabbing another shot, Stefan chuckles before frowning as he spots Caroline and Bonnie digging through one of the cupboards clearly in a rush "Why are you two not drinking? Didn't she threaten you and kill one of you?" He says gesturing between the Anchor and vampire.
Caroline sighs before finally she sighs in relief as she finds the portable baby playpen that the boys had used when they were protecting Joy for Klaus, while he was being haunted by Silas "Here it is."
Stefan and Damon glance at each other in confusion while the three women merely grin "Uh, what is happening?"
Bonnie grins happily before turning to Damon "We're gonna need another shot glass."
Before anyone could say anything a familiar voice pipes up "Hey Jer you should drink up. Katherine did feed you to Silas. And you know you died. Being dead sucks right?"
At the voice, everyone in the room freezes and turns around only to spot the blonde vampire Slayer stood leaning against the doorway of the parlor room with a smile on her face.
She was freshly showered and in some blue jeans a black vest and her green leather jacket, her long blonde hair was pulled back in some complicated fancy plates. She looked a hell of a lot better than the messy fighting monster she resembled a few hours ago. But the most important thing was the blonde little girl currently resting on her hip, her head resting on her mother's shoulder as she clutched onto the white knight in her hands.
As everyone goes silent Buffy smiles bright "Miss us?"
Jeremy is the first to move quickly moving over to his sister hugging her tightly, Buffy smiles into his shoulder before spotting him looking at his niece "Do you want to?" When he nods Buffy lets out a small laugh and carefully hands the little girl over "Joy this your Uncle Jeremy, if he smells...that's normal."
The ex-hunter rolls his eyes just as Matt walks over also giving the blonde a hug while Jeremy bounces his niece up and down, having not seen her since he was...well dead.
Buffy smiles before turning to glance at Damon "I'm about to be a terrible example for my child." She says before grabbing a shot glass of her own "If it wasn't for Katherine, Jenna would still be alive. Plus Katherine did stab me with a stake. Released Silas who tried to kill my baby. Plus I'm pretty sure she stole one of my leather jackets." With that the blonde downs her shot and smirks down at her best friend "You gonna hug me now?"
Damon smirks back at the blonde before standing and hugging her tightly making her giggle as he lifts her off her feet "How long you here Buff?"
"Let's leave the complicated questions for now." She suggests, honestly, she wasn't too sure, it could be a few days or Klaus could call and say to start heading back tonight. Right now she didn't want to think about it, she just wanted to enjoy the day.
"Fine." Damon smiles before turning to Matt who was pouring the drinks "Let's get the mama a drink."
Buffy shakes her head in amusement before moving over to her daughter taking her back from a reluctant Jeremy just as Stefan walks over smiling down at her "Hi."
Buffy lets out a small laugh, "Hi back."
Stefan smiles not needing to say more as he looks down at the little girl in Buffy's arms "She's gotten so big."
Buffy nods in agreement before letting out a small laugh as Joy points at Stefan before giggling as she holds out her hand towards him.
Stefan couldn't help but smile as the little girl holds out her hand towards him, holding out a finger he watches fascinated as the blonde girl wraps her small hand around his finger before giggling "It's nice to see you again, Joy."
"Give me the baby." Bonnie demands effectively cutting off the little moment between Buffy and Stefan, having waited too long to get ahold of Joy again, Buffy opens her mouth to argue but without words, Joy reaches for her Godmother desperate for her.
Buffy's eyes widen in disbelief, already betraying her before her teen years "Traitor." She whispers before handing the baby over who quickly begins tugging on Bonnie's hair.
Buffy shakes her head in amusement before walking to take a seat beside Stefan as Elena grabs her own shot glass raising it towards the group "If anyone is drinking to Katherine's last day, it's gonna be me. She impersonated me. Repeatedly." With that Elena downs her shot before grabbing another "Made Aunt Jenna stab herself in the stomach. And cut off Uncle John's fingers."
Buffy couldn't help but snort as she leans back in her chair "I think that is actually a point towards liking her."
