WHITMORE

Caroline was sat in on the floor in her apartment sobbing violently in Jessie's arms as he tried to comfort her, she had not stopped sobbing since she had called him asking for him to come pick her up. And the reason for those tears was lying dead and desiccated on her couch.
"Shh." Jessie soothes the blonde as he runs his fingers through her hair "We'll find something. Your friend Bonnie will be looking. We'll find something."
Caroline nods through her sobs allowing him to comfort her, however, those sobs were about to get a lot worse as Damon entered her apartment.
Jessie's eyes widen as he spots the elder vampire carrying the body of Elena Marie Gilbert in his arms.

"Caroline." He whispers causing the blonde to pull back from his chest only to gasp as Damon places Elena's dead body on the other couch, "No. No. No." She stutters as she stumbles over to Elena's body kneeling down in front of her "What-what happened?"
"Alina." Damon hisses as he stares at his brother's body with wide eyes, unable to speak unsure of what to do with himself as he stares at his younger brother's body. This wasn't supposed to happen, they had a plan, and now somehow despite the spell having stopped because the doppelgangers were dead everything was so wrong.

"Bonnie has a plan right?" Jessie asks as he allows a frantic Caroline to begin sobbing on him again "Come on man, she's an ex-witch right, she's gotta know something."
"We'll bring them back." Damon mutters still unable to tear his eyes from his brother's body "I'll call Buffy, get her to send Willow or Mary...someone."

At his words, Caroline takes a shaky breath and looks up at Damon as she realizes he had no idea what else had happened "Bonnie called..." She says through her sobs "...Klaus he—"
At her words, Damon's eyes glaze over in anger "What did he do, Caroline?"
"He ripped her heart out." She gasps out "She's On The Other Side...but she'll come back her heart will re-grow but...even if she got back to her body in time, Willow's in Tokyo on a magic retreat and Mary won't help."

As the group converses a certain figure was watching them from the Other Side. Stefan Salvatore stood in the living room watching Elena's body in shock before his eyes widen hearing that Klaus had ripped Buffy's heart out. Which meant that Joy was in New Orleans was Dahlia still a looming threat. Knowing immediately he had to find the blonde and get her back to her body before The Other Side was gone the vampire moves to begin his search only for the room to begin shaking around him.

As the room filled with Darkness, a gust of wind knocked the Salvatore off his feet and out of the apartment dragging him into the hall. As the wind begins dragging his body towards the darkness Stefan panics and grabs onto the staircase banister desperately holding on as his body is lifted off the ground. The void or whatever the hell it was trying vigorously to pull him in.
As he begins to lose his grip his eyes widen as he feels a hand grab his pulling him back "I got you!" A familiar voice yells.
Looking over Stefan's eyes widen as he spots the only and only Lexi smiling at him as she pulls him out of the current force's reach.

Smiling up at him she chuckles "Looks like I've saved you from both metaphorical darkness and actual darkness. So before we go find your girl...I think you owe me a beer."

NEW ORLEANS

As he waited for Dahlia to finish setting up the spell that would link the two of them Klaus Mikealson was rummaging through the boot of the car that Buffy had clearly stolen. Finding a blanket inside he pulls it out and opens the passenger seat, staring down at Buffy's body he takes a shaky breath before carefully lifting her so that she was sat in the seat instead of laid across the driver's and passenger's sides. Once she was sat up comfortably he pushes the hair out of her face gently before sighing as he looks down at the hole in the center of her chest. Examining it closely he sighs in relief as he spots her heart slowly beginning to re-grow within her chest. It would take hours to heal but by then this will all have been worth it. Both she and their daughter would be safe.
Wrapping the blanket around her he carefully closes the door before circling around again to stand by the door of the backseat. Glancing inside he couldn't help but find himself relieved at the sight of Joy finally asleep.

"You're quiet. Are you having misgivings?"

At Dahlia's words, Klaus looks over at her watching as she circles around the make-shift wooden table filled with candles and all of her magical objects for the spell.
"I was just looking for a polite way to ask, what the hell is taking so long?"
Dahlia smiles before moving to face the hybrid "Well, we can begin now." She informs him "Once we're linked, I'll no longer have to sleep for 100 years again. Your concerns for my status will ease and I will finally be able to focus on Joyce. I will only need a single drop of her blood...and then her power shall be mine also."
Klaus clenches his jaw before taking Dahlia's attention off his child and gesturing to the witch that was currently asleep in the boot of the car which was wide open for them to see "What do you want to do about Freya?"

"She's served her purpose." Dahlia says as she watches the witch with disgust in her eyes "So, tonight, at the moon's apex, I'll end her life. And once our link is severed...the bond that I share with your daughter will become permanent."
The hybrid keeps his face impassive at her words merely hoping to move his plans along "Best get on with it, then."
With that he moves past her and over to the table, Dahlia smirks before taking her place beside him. Taking the hybrid's hand she slowly begins chanting, beginning the spell that would link her to the oh so powerful hybrid.

As she continues chanting the wind picks up around them and Klaus couldn't help but hiss in pain as he feels her magic run through his body finally linking the two of them.

After several minutes she finally lets go of the hybrid with a gasp, Klaus instantly moving away from the witch to glance over at his daughter.

"With your strength..." Dahlia whispers as she feels the new power running through her veins "...I will never need to sleep for a century again."
The hybrid shrugs as he reaches into his jacket grabbing the golden dagger that had not long ago been in his own chest "Well, perhaps one more nap." Turning around to look her in the eye the hybrid forces the golden dagger into his chest sending them both to sleep.

As Dahlia drops her eyes finally closing as she succumbs to slumber Freya gasps awake in shock as she looks around in a panic.
Hearing the crying, the witch stumbles out of the boot of the car and circles around the car only to gasp as she spots not only a crying Joyce but a desiccated Buffy in the front seat "Oh dear god."

Cami sighs as she listens to Elijah rant on about how Klaus had destroyed his plan, since she had pulled the blade out of his chest he had done nothing but yell, the human couldn't help but snap as a headache begins to form making her rub her temples in exhaustion "Your plan wouldn't have worked Elijah!" She yells as she downs the rest of the blood he had given her to heal her wounds.
"When Klaus got into my head, he said your plan would fail..." She explains "...so he had to enact one of his own."

"And what might that be?"
"He has to get her to link to him."

At her words Elijah's eyes widen in horror, how could that possibly be a plan, it was a foolish idea that would lead to nothing but death "My brother wishes to bind himself to our enemy? She'll be virtually indestructible."

"He said that I had to convince you that everything he had to do he had to do alone." She explains "The only person who knows currently has a heart missing from her chest but once she wakes she'll be able to back me up here."
At the mention of someone missing a heart Elijah's entire body goes stone cold, if his brother willingly ripped out Buffy's heart then he would do whatever it took. He had just never imagined his brother would harm the Summers girl "He ripped Buffy's heart out?"
"Dahlia needed to trust him." Cami explains, still disgusted by the idea that Klaus had actually done that but they didn't have time for this "She told him to rip Buffy's heart out so that she could erase her memories of some Stefan dude and make her come over to their side. If Klaus didn't do it she would have known."

"Can you not see how far he has gone!" The original yells still in utter shock that Klaus would do this to Buffy of all people "He has desired that woman for over 800 years. If he is so willing to harm her then he has lost his mind."

Ignoring the hurt that she hated feeling over yet another reminder of Klaus would never feel for anyone the way he felt for The Slayer Cami snaps back "You had the wrong ingredients to kill Dahlia. And he has to buy time before he finds the right ones."
"How?"

WHITMORE

Damon was in full-on breakdown mode as he stares at Bonnie with un-shed tears as the two of them argue in her apartment, her having revealed she no longer had the spell to bring the others back.
Bonnie sighs trying not to burst into tears herself right now, hearing a throat being cleared the anchor looks past the vampire only to spot Enzo casually leaning against her fireplace.

"Let's not forget who else is at the top of the search-and-rescue list." he snarks with a small smirk only making her roll her eyes. Huffing the brunette beauty turns to Damon "Enzo's here."
Damon scoffs glaring at the empty room assuming that Enzo was somewhere around here "Well if it's not Mr. Butterfingers himself. How'd it feel to have your only hope of coming back slip through your fingers?"

Enzo merely grins as Damon continues to look in the wrong direction "Hello to you, too, grump pants." Rolling his eyes the Englishman throws his gaze back to Bonnie "Tell him to play nice, I have a plan."

Bonnie's eyes widen in hope, right now she would take anything, Elena, Xander, Alaric, her Grams as well as Stefan were all on the other side. So right now even a little bit of hope meant everything "Are you serious? You found another Traveler?"
Damon's eyes widen and he turns to look in the direction that Bonnie was looking at "Well then get on it!"

"Already on it mate." The vampire ghost snarks rolling his eyes before sighing "You'll still need someone to do this coming back from the dead spell. I assume you still have a witch or two in your pocket?"

Bonnie winces, that could be a little harder "More or less."

THE OTHER SIDE

Buffy was pacing back and forth in the cemetery listening to Elena fill her in on how exactly she had ended up on the Other Side. However, while as scary and shocking as a Banshee/Vampire Hybrid sounded she was still in shock over the other thing "Xander on The Other Side? What is he? He did cast a spell once...I mean it was an accident, but it worked. He's really good at Latin. It was way weird."
Elena who was sat on a nearby plot snorts in amusement after everything Buffy had heard, from a Crazy overpowered hybrid to Travelers her main freak out was that Xander might be supernatural.
The banshee runs her fingers through her hair before smiling "He's a demon magnet."
"Wait what?" Buffy gasps turning to face her "Does that mean Willow's spell never wore off? Am I gonna have a sudden urge to start planning a wedding with Spike again?!"

"No..." Elena laughs before it quickly connects to her brain what Buffy had said, her eyes widen realizing she had never heard this story and now that she knew it existed there was no way she was missing it "Did you just say that again?"

Buffy's eyes widen in panic and she quickly stops pacing turning to her sister in a panic, she really needed to get her babble mouth under control "No."

"Yeah, you did."
"No, I didn't."

Elena rolls her eyes and stands moving to stand opposite the blonde with her arms crossed "Yes, you did. You almost married Spike. Spill."
"No, I didn't. I said demon magnet then I just stopped talking." The blonde argues waving her arms around in a childlike manner making Elena giggle as they continued teasing each other like kids.

"You almost married Spike." She gasps out in laughing having to hold her stomach "Let me guess a June wedding, outdoors was out of the question."
Buffy rolls her eyes shoving Elena's shoulder slightly as she grumbles in annoyance, if she had known when Klaus ripped her heart out that she would have to deal with Elena teasing...she would rather be dead...again.
"Shut up." She mumbles before sighing and trying hard to fight the smile fighting to break through "So seriously, it's all the mystical gaga surrounding him right?"

"Bingo." The Banshee confirms as the two begin walking side by side through the graveyard "I'm sorry."
At her sister's words Buffy arches a brow turning to her curiously, Elena sighs knowing Buffy was waiting for the exact reason, she would have to make it clear "I'm sorry I acted like a baby about your move to New Orleans."

"A big baby."

"I am trying to apologize."
"You waited till we died."
At her sister's teasing tone Elena chuckles before placing her hands on Buffy's shoulder smiling brightly at her "If this is what you want...then I'm happy for you. Although I still expect an invite to the new house once there is no more Dahlia...and you beat up Klaus for killing you."
Buffy smirks slightly "Oh I'm gonna beat till he bleeds. And Dahlia...I'm thinking flamethrower. Oh, maybe explosives."

"Oh, nice." Elena says with a grin as she nods in total agreement before her eyes widen as she spots Buffy grab her chest "Your heart is re-growing?"

Buffy nods "I can feel it. Bonnie said I had to get to my body the second it's healed. I'm running out of time here."
Knowing that Buffy was hinting at going to check on a certain Salvatore Elena nods "I have to find Xander go. I'll call you the second Bonne brings us back."

Buffy nods hating the fact that she knew she had to go but either way, she was going to wake up soon and she still had the Wicked Witch to deal with back in New Orleans. And a baby daddy who she still definitely owed a black eye. Leaning forward she wraps her arms around Elena hugging her tightly "Give Xand a hug for me."
"Will do." Elena promises as she holds onto Buffy as though it was going to be the last time "You give Stefan one for me. Now go, find Stefan...then go kick some ass."

WHITMORE

Jessie waves throwing a smirk at Luke and Liv as they slam on the breaks of their car just before it could hit the vampire. The witches gasp before glancing behind them only to spot Caroline stood behind the car, the two vampires had them trapped, there was no running now.
"Luke, Liv." Jessie greets "Long time. Last I saw you, we were normal. Or I was and you two were liars."
Liv sighs and crosses her arms at the guy she had actually be friends with before they had all gotten roped into Mystic Falls drama "What do you want Jessie?"
"The doppelgangers are dead." Caroline says flatly as she moves to stand beside her boyfriend both of them glaring heavily at the twins.

Liv's eyes widen before a look of guilt crosses her features "Look, I know you don't believe me...but I am sorry."
Jessie smirks as his eyes slowly darken the veins beginning to form under them, "Good, because my girl's been really upset. I don't like that. So you're gonna bring them back."

Liv's eyes widen at his words as she took a slight, step back, she really didn't feel like being a blood bag today "Look, I get what you need from us. But if both doppelgangers are alive again, the Travelers can re-start their spell. Witch magic goes bye-bye and all you vamps, you're goners."

Jessie sighs before turning to face the blonde beauty beside him "Plan B?"

"Plan B." She agrees before she speeds over to Luke without a second for Liv to process what was happening the blonde vampire snaps his neck dropping his now dead body to the ground.
Caroline turns to look over at the shocked Liv who was staring at the two vampires with tears in her eyes "Your brother is now on the other side. So you're gonna help us. Because we're about to kill a lot of Travelers to bring everyone back...and your the witch that's gonna do the spell."

NEW ORLEANS

"Now what has he done?!"

Hearing her brother yelling at Camille Rebekah now back in her original body strolls into the Compound with Marcel by her side "Don't blame the messenger."
Elijah freezes at the sight of his blonde-haired sister now no longer possessing the witch body she had been in just hours ago "Rebekah?"

As he stares her up and down taking in the shock of her being back in her vampire body Rebekah sighs "Looks like Niklaus had a lot on his to-do list last night. And as for Hayley..."
At the mention of his former love Elijah's eyes fill with panic, worry filling him that his brother had slaughtered her just as he had done to Gia "What is it?"
Marcel winces knowing this was not going to go down well "When Klaus attacked me, he stole the spell I used on the Crescent wolves."

Elijah's face twitches in anger as he realizes what that meant for Hayley and her pack "So he would condemn her to the body of a beast?"
Stepping towards her brother to stop him from taking out his anger on Marcel Rebekah moves in front of Elijah forcing him to focus on her "Elijah, listen to me. Hayley will be human once a month we will find her and we will help her."
As he shakes his head desperate to go and find her Rebekah grabs his arm forcing him to stop "We need to focus on those who need saving today. Buffy's body has not yet finished re-growing her heart. She is vulnerable. After the torture we unknowingly put her through the least we can do is make sure she isn't eaten by wolves."
At the mention of the Slayer, they had both harmed Elijah sighs nodding his head making Rebekah take a breath of relief "Freya called. Dahlia is incapacitated. She has Joy and Buffy's body. They're two hours north of an orchard near Pearl River."

Freya was stood bouncing a fussy Joy trying to calm her but the little girl was clearly in distress, with her father having a dagger in his heart and her mother temporarily dead she couldn't say she was surprised with the child's misery.
Hearing a gust of wind behind her the witch turns only to spot Elijah now stood opposite her "Well, my adage holds. Nothing good ever happens in a clearing in the woods."

Elijah sighs before turning to the car, moving towards the front of the car his eyes widen at the sight of a blood-covered Buffy desiccated in the passenger seat.
Clenching his jaw as he watches her he looks back over at Freya "Nothing good ever happens where my brother is concerned." Pausing he carefully lifts the blonde vampire Slayer out of the car and into his arms.
Adjusting her so her head was rested against his shoulder he then walks back over to Freya smiling slightly at Joy whose eyes were now staring at her mother's body. Her eyes wide with curiosity.

"With one exception." He whispers smiling at the girl who reaches out a hand tugging on her mother's blonde locks as though trying to will her back into the land of the living.
Elijah's heart ached at the sight "How is she?"
As the baby shifts in Freya's arms reaching for Buffy, the witch has to tighten her hold slightly "She's a Mikealson. She's resilient."

"She gets that by being a Summers woman." The Original argues thinking back to all the Summers women he had the pleasure of meeting, they had all been tough in their own ways. Joyce, who he had met once unknown to Buffy, had been smart and kind; with a bite to her. Jenna was street smart, Elena had been compassionate while Buffy was a combination of all of them.

Placing Buffy down so she was sat on one of the small wooden chairs he then moves to look at the sight before him. Klaus was laid desiccated with the golden dagger in his heart and Dahlia was a few feet away asleep.

"They were like this when I woke up." Freya explains, "Rebekah tells me Klaus had a plan to kill Dahlia. That he knew our plan would not work."
Elijah clenches his jaw at her words "Yes, according to him, our ingredients were incorrect. Niklaus infiltrated Dahlia's mind. Both he and Buffy saw the truth..." Pausing he turns around to look at his sister "...you didn't break her heart. We needed the blood of the witch she loved the most...and you are not that witch. That honor belongs to our beloved mother."
Sighing Elijah turns to glance at his brother's body, he knew now what Klaus had wanted...if they were truly to kill Dahlia...then they would have to revive Esther's original body.

WHITMORE

Damon was stood with Matt and Jeremy as he pointed at the map in front of him which showed the breakdown of the Mystic Falls gas and water lines. Given they needed to kill a hell of a lot of travelers to bring everyone back, the best way to do that was to get them in one place...which thanks to Sheriff Forbes would happen...then boom.

Explosion.

Dead travelers.

Pointing at the yellow line on the map he explains his plan to the others "A major gas line that runs underneath the town. Now, if it did leak, it could be deadly. As in massive explosion kind of deadly."
Matt's eyes widen in shock, Damon couldn't be serious right now "We can't blow up our hometown."

"Buffy blew up hers what's the big deal?" Damon asks with a shrug before rolling his eyes as Jeremy and Matt give him a pointed look "Ugh fine. This is where mama Forbes comes in. She will convince them to gather somewhere inside. Meanwhile, you two geniuses at 7:00 will turn on the gas, let it leak. We'll have about 10 minutes before anybody smells it."

"I like it." A voice says from behind them but only Jeremy heard it, spinning around his eyes widen as he spots Buffy sat on one of the desks in Elena's apartment that they were hovered into.
"Buffy."
At Jeremy's words, Damon looks up looking around what he could see as an empty room "Where is Queen Hotness?"
Buffy chuckles in amusement before turning to Jeremy "Slap him round the back of the head please."
Without another word, Jeremy does as he's told slapping Damon round the back of the head making the vampire groan "Not cool Buff! Not cool."
Buffy chuckles and turns to Jeremy "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine...just wanna get Elena and the others back. Are you okay Bonnie told us..."

"Oh, I'm gonna kick Klaus' hybrid ass once my heart regrows. But my body is being stubborn."

"What she saying?" Damon questions curiously as his eyes land on a spot not noticing that Buffy was stood right there smirking at him "Buff, I told you if you wanna see me naked all you gotta do is ask."
"Ugh." The blonde groans, end of the world...sort of anyway...and he was still cracking jokes.
Shaking her head she jumps off the desk she was on and turns to Jeremy "I gotta go, few more dead-os to see. Some to avoid busy bee. Be careful...and if you die, I'm going to kill you."

THE OTHER SIDE

After he and Lexi had spent hours in search of a blonde before looking for Alaric who surprisingly wasn't in his normal place day drinking at The Grill Lexi sighs as she takes a seat. "Remind me again why you and Buffy didn't go to Rome?" She asks with a chuckle before groaning in disgust at the potato skins on a nearby plate, if that's what life had in store for her when she comes back she wasn't seeing the big deal. Because yuck.
Stefan shakes his head in amusement as he stands with the best friend he had missed so much "Oh Buffy went...I on the other hand was attacked by Silas and locked in a safe to drown for three months."

"Right." Lexi chimes in as she stares at him "And then you made it out and yet, you're still here."
"Not for long." He reminds her a small smile gracing his lips "Got a life planned out. One I really want to start."

Lexi couldn't help but grin happily as she spots the happiness practically pooling through him as he spoke about leaving Mystic Falls and heading out to finally start a life with Buffy "I saw the photo of that house. It's cute."

"Yeah, it is." A new voice says causing the two to turn only to spot Buffy stood in the doorway, dried blood covering every inch of her clothing, her shirt torn but Stefan didn't even notice as he stares at her completely mesmerized. Ever covered in blood she was beautiful.
The blonde makes her way over to him and surprises him by pushing his chest angrily making Lexi snort in amusement "You had to stay alive for 3 weeks Stefan! How hard is that!"
Stefan turns to Lexi for help but she merely chuckles watching in amusement "She's got you there."
Stefan sighs before turning back to the blonde who was still hurling insults at her, without a thought he grabbed her face and cut her off by kissing her.

Buffy gasps in shock before leaning into the kiss, however, she couldn't really enjoy it as she felt eyes watching her. Pulling back the couple glance at Lexi who grins and waves them off "Oh continue...I'm just wondering where the popcorn is."
Buffy lets out a small embarrassed giggle as she hides her head in Stefan's chest before turning back to Lexi "Good to see you, Lexi."

"You too girly." Lexi says pulling the blonde into a hug, Buffy smiles into the embrace before pulling back with a smile, she still liked Lexi, she was pretty cool and still made her top 5 list of her favorite vamps.

Lexi smiles brightly before smirking over at Stefan playfully as his eyes widen in panic, she had that I'm planning something that is probably going to embarrass you look.

Opening his mouth to stop whatever she had planned Lexi threw a hand around Buffy's shoulders "So do I get to look forward to a Bachelorette party when I'm back to dead living."
At Lexi's words, Buffy's jaw drops open and she begins sputtering "Um...I...uh...Stefan help."
Stefan chuckles quickly glaring at his best friend "Thanks, Lexi." He mutters sarcastically.

The elder vampire merely laughs in amusement however before the conversation could continue it was cut short as the three turn only to spot Liz enter the Grill followed behind by Markos.

"Listen I might not carry a lot of weight with you people but I'm still the sheriff and I still represent the people who live here."
At Liz's words, Buffy cheers "Go, Liz!" She cheers before gasping as clutching her chest as she feels a warmness begin to fill her.
"What if they're an open bar?" The three hear Liz ask making Stefan who was holding onto Buffy who was breathing deeply look up as it clicks in his brain exactly what Liz was doing "She's trying to gather the Travelers."
"Yep." Buffy tells them "Damon's big hero plan. His hair's huge right now so you know it's serious."
As the blonde gasps again Stefan catches her "Buffy, what's happening?"
"It's her body." Lexi explains watching the blonde in worry "It must be almost healed. It's summoning her back. She needs to go. Now."

Buffy takes a shaky breath as she stands up it was time to go full-on Flash and get to New Orleans and pray that someone had gotten her out of this damn outfit she had been in for days. Hopefully Rebekah, hell she'd even settle for Freya at this point.
"I'll see you soon Lexi." She blonde says offering the vampire a small smile squeezing her wrist before turning to Stefan with a worried look. A part of her was so scared to go, that he wouldn't come back...she had all these horrible thoughts in the back of her brain that something was going to go wrong "Stefan—"

He could see the worry all over her face as her eyes filled with tears, inhaling tightly he cups her face his hands looking into those beautiful green orbs of hers, he was coming back to her, he was gonna make sure he did everything in his power to do so.
"I'm coming back to you." He promises "I will come back to you." Pausing he kisses her softly and as he pulls back he leans his forehead against hers holding onto her wrists a part of him not wanting to let her go.
"You better."
"I don't have a choice. I owe Klaus a beating for ripping out your heart." He jokes making her giggle in amusement while only made him shake his head in amusement when she arches a brow at him giving him her are you kidding me face "Okay fine, I can watch while you kick his ass."
Buffy giggles a small tear escaping her before a gasp falls from her lips. She knew she had to go now, she had to "I love you."

"I love you too. Now go."
Without a word the blonde speeds away, it was time to end Dahlia.

NEW ORLEANS

After dumping Klaus's body as well as Dahlia's carelessly in the Compound Rebekah's eyes widen as Elijah finally returns again this time carrying the still blood-soaked blonde who smelt like a drowned rat.
"She won't be down for long." Elijah tells them as he points at her hands where the desiccation was slowly beginning to fade.
Rebekah nods a wave of guilt filling her as she looks at the girl who was pretty much her best friend, the girl that was a better sister to her than Marianna most of the time.
"Give her to me." Rebekah tells him "The least I can do is make sure she's not covered in blood and dirt when she wakes. She's going to be pissed as it is. I'll get her cleaned up and changed."
Elijah nods before carefully handing the still dead Slayer over to Rebekah who walks out of the room to go clean Buffy up.

As she goes a small puff of black smoke fills the room before an annoyed Marianna Von Swartzchild strolls out of the mist with a martini in her hand as she tapped her Prada shoes against the floor.
The witch scans the room quickly glancing over at Elijah "May I say, brother, one voicemail is just as effective as 15!" She hisses before downing her vodka martini and placing the glass on the table before moving to take a seat.
Crossing her legs the witch taps her nails nervously against her leg "Remind me, why I'm here again? Something about Nik being demented. We already knew that. May I remind you that a new regent has just been announced which means traitors against spirits aka me. Even less welcome in this bloody city."

Pausing the witch frowns as she spots Freya who was staring at her with wide eyes "Ah yes...original, well me. Hi. Elijah talk." She says waving Freya off not having the time or the patience to deal with introductions, she couldn't stay in this city too long not without an uncomfortable amount of witches coming at her for daring to set foot here again.
"We're to bring Esther back."
At Elijah's words, Marianna's eyes shoot open and she groans, this officially was the worst day of her eternity "Why? I like her better dead."

"We need her alive to kill Dahlia. Davina was preparing a spell to raise Kol with his ashes—"
Raising her hand the witch clenches her jaw in anger, she had been all over the globe for weeks trying to bring Kol back and now they wanted to ruin any and all chances of bringing him back to bring back Esther instead "You want to trick Davina into using her one shot to bring back Kol to bring back our Mother instead." Rubbing her forehead in exhaustion she stares down at Klaus' desiccated body "Bloody hell. Is there no other way?"
"We could dig a deep hole and leave both our problems at the bottom of it." Elijah suggests as he glares down at his brother and Dahlia just as Rebekah re-enters the room having cleaned Buffy up who should be waking soon given how close the wound on her chest was from being fully healed once again.

"I say we choose a more permanent option." Freya suggests as she glares down at the woman who had made her life hell for 1000 years "Find the white oak stake. Kill Klaus Dahlia dies with him."

Before anyone could say another word a blonde blur speeds over to Freya grabbing her by the throat pinning her to the wall. Before Freya could even scream a newly awake and furious Buffy Anne Summers shoves her hand into the witch's chest.
Buffy who was now free of blood and grime and stood in a pair of black jeans and a pink silk top, glares up at the gasping witch her eyes flashing back the veins pursing under her eyelids as she glares hatefully up at the witch. Hearing Elijah take a step forward the blonde turns giving them all a view of her demonic face "One step...and I rip her heart out. Comprendee?"
Mary merely snorts in amusement from her place beside Marcel "Aw these family reunions are always are a blast."

"Buffy..." Elijah tries but the blonde merely grabs the scythe from her side launching it at the Original without care, the axe digging into his stomach causing him to drop. Rebekah gasps and quickly turns to aid her brother while Buffy's gaze remains on the witch.

Ignoring the stares of the people she very much didn't like right now Buffy tightens her hold around a screaming Freya's heart "Now...I have had a very bad...well year. So I'm a little vengeful. And now that I'm freshly cleaned and dressed...thanks, Rebekah..." She mumbles focusing back on the witch "...let's just say I'm a little testy. Threaten to kill him again...and I start ripping off parts like you're a piece of Lego."
Without another word the blonde releases Freya dropping her to the floor carelessly before turning to the others the black veins under her eyes slowly disappearing "So...real plan now."

"He tore your heart from your chest?!" Freya exclaims in disgust as she clutches her bleeding chest, unable to understand how Buffy could refuse to even entertain the idea of ending Klaus to end Dahlia.
Buffy's eyes darken and she crouches down in front of the witch glaring down at her, as much as she wanted to kill Freya for the hell the witch had put her through for days, right now they needed her "And Klaus will pay for what he did to me. But we are not killing him, plus if he dies so does his sire line, and given the man I love is in that line I'm not gonna let that happen." Standing the blonde turns back to the group only to freeze as her eyes land on the dagger in Klaus' chest "Um...is it supposed to get all gooey?"

Elijah frowns and the group all turn only to spot the dagger in Klaus' chest beginning to melt away, they were running out of time. Dahlia was fighting against the dagger, if they had any chance of succeeding they had to get Esther's ashes...now.

THE OTHER SIDE

Elena was making her way through Mystic Falls in search of Xander, as she reaches her old street the Banshee comes to a screeching halt as she spots something she hadn't seen in over a year...since the day it had burnt down. Her childhood home.
Slowing down in her steps the brunette finally comes to stop in front of her home "What the hell?" She whispers as she takes a hesitant step towards her old home in confusion. This wasn't possible, Buffy had burned this place to the ground the day Joy was born. There had been nothing left...yet here it was as though nothing happened.
Nervously making her way up the familiar porch steps the Banshee pushes open the door her eyes widening at the sight, there was construction tools all over the place, a half-built wall that still needed to be finished between the living room and the dining room but...it was all pretty much the same.

As she walks in tears fill her eyes as she remembers back to the secret blueprints for that project Xander had refused to show her. He had done this, all of it, he had spent every second since he moved here rebuilding her childhood home for her...so they could start their lives together.
A small gasp escapes her lips as she stares around happily tears pooling in her eyes, she just couldn't believe he had done this for her.
Hearing the door slam shut behind her the brunette spins around with a bright smile on her face only to halt as instead of seeing Xander she spots the woman who had killed him.

"Alina." She hisses her fists clenching together tightly.

Alina smirks brightly as she faces the Banshee "It's time little girl. I'm going to take you where I took Katerina and then my temporary eternity becomes permanent. But I'm on a little bit of a time crunch so...you ready?"
The banshee clenches her jaw and pulls off her jacket tossing it to the floor as she faces off with the hybrid, if Alina was so set on dragging her down, then Elena wasn't going to go easy.
Alina merely chuckles in amusement before pulling off her own jacket and clicking her knuckles "Let's see if you have the Petrova fire."

MYSTIC FALLS

Standing in the woods just outside of the anti-magical barrier as he waits for the time to come for his idiotic plan Damon was fiddling with his phone. He didn't know why because he knew they were all coming back, but for some reason, he wanted to get this goodbye done...just in case.
Dialing the second number on his speed dial he waits patiently hoping that she had actually been able to re-grow a heart; that still threw him for a loop. When immortal beings said immortal...it was serious cause damn what he would not give to be heart rippage free.

"Damon?"

The vampire smirks at the familiar voice "Well hello again Queen hotness. Nice that I can actually hear you while you make fun of me."
"I was not making fun of you." She laughs softly making him smile "Okay maybe a little."

"Mean." He teases before smiling as he hears Joy babble in the background making him sigh in relief, she had managed to get her kid back, hopefully, that meant Dahlia would be singing Ding Dong soon enough "So is it Ding Dong the witch is dead yet?"

"Not yet. But soon. The plan is tonight." She admits nervously before sighing "How's Operation Massacre."

Damon snorts as he moves to lean against the tree relishing in this small moment, he missed talking to her, they hadn't done enough of it lately. Once this was done he was going to change that "Well assuming Donovan knows the difference between a water and a gas main...should run smoothly. Unless you have that little explosion necklace you gave Billy Idol."

"Afraid not. Pretty sure that's somewhere in the remains of Sunnydale with the rest of the Hellmouth."
Damon chuckles softly before sighing, he knew Buffy would kill him when she found out, and if he lied and she found out, she would make it hurt. At least with her far away in New Orleans, it was safe to say she couldn't kill him right now "So um...here's the thing. I was gonna lie but with you being in New Orleans and unable to kick my ass...project kaboom needs someone to trigger the explosion, so to speak."

NEW ORLEANS

Buffy's eyes widen at his words as she lets them sink in, taking a shaky breath she walks over to Joy's crib placing the little girl down before moving into her own bedroom a horrid feeling filling her chest.

"No." She whispers through the phone "No...Damon, I have a bad Slayer...Spidey sense thing going haywire in my head...my sister is over there, Stefan and Xander too and Ric...if something happens and you're there too, you're all gone. No. No..."

"Go with your first instincts, Damon." She hears him mumble to himself before he sighs deeply "Buffy, listen to me, technically this is only half a suicide mission. I'm coming back."
"What part of Slayer worries are you not understanding?!" She hisses as she glances out of the window before sighing "Damon..."

There is an inhale of a deep breath as Damon sighs before finally speaking again "Do you remember when we were in St. Louis. And you were so sad missing Joy, so I made you dance to the Devil Went to Georgia town on the top of the bar."

Buffy lets out a small puff of air in amusement remembering back to that day, it had been the first time she had smiled that whole Summer "You always know how to cheer me up."

"Oh yeah. Well bourbon does that too." He teases before exhaling loudly making Buffy close her eyes imagining herself stood beside him right now.
"Think about that." He says suddenly his voice heavy with a note of sadness making her tense, she didn't like the way he was talking right now "Think about how in the past 180 years...meeting you, falling for you, becoming your friend. Being your partner in crime...has made all the pain worth it. I don't regret a thing."

Buffy takes a shaky breath as she listens to his words tears beginning to spill down her face as a feeling of dread fills her gut, he couldn't talk like this right now...because this...it sounded like a goodbye.
Taking a shaky breath the blonde moves to sit on the edge of her bed her voice coming out in a harsh whisper "Why does it sound like you're saying goodbye to me?"

"If I was saying goodbye it would be epic. I can assure you that Buff." There a fumble of sound and a swift sound of a car door being opened making Buffy tense glancing at her own clock quickly. There it was 7:00. It was time for Operation Massacre.

"Damon..." She whispers softly "...you better come back."
"Promise Buffster. Who else is gonna threw a kick ass housewarming party for you...and drink all the booze." Buffy lets out a small giggle through her tears before sighing as she hears him start up his engine "I love you, Buff."

"Love you too, jackass."
"Bitch."

"Dick." She retorts before laughing alongside the vampire for what could be the last time, not that she wanted to believe that. He was coming back they all were...because she wasn't sure how she would survive if they didn't.

"I'll see you soon."

MYSTIC FALLS

Damon wipes a tear from his face as he hangs up after his call with Buffy, inhaling tightly the vampire clenches his jaw as he stares at the line he was about to drive over. This was going to suck, he was going to feel getting shot all over again "Why do I do these things?" He mumbles to himself before spotting the text from Liz.
"Time to go." He mumbles before pressing on the gas straight into Mystic Falls heading for the Grill, as the magic begins spreading out of him Damon groans in pain as blood begins to pour from a bullet wound in his gut "Come on!" He yells pressing down on the accelerator before finally he drives right into the Grill, the whole place blowing straight to hell.