Chapter 11: The calm

Five years later

Chicago, Illinois

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Caroline grunted at the disturbing sound of the alarm clock. She wiggled a little in the bed and reached over the nightstand to turn it off. Then she rolled onto her back and sighed.

It's time. Wake up, she commanded herself and sat up as she finally opened her eyes. That's when she realized there was still a naked man lying next to her, stirring a little in his sleep. He hadn't left yet, apparently.

She stared at the muscular body that was very exposed due to her monopoly on the bedcovers. The man seemed to sense her awakened state and turned his head to smile at her sleepily. "Morning, sunshine." he said with a husky voice.

She grimaced and wrapped the covers around herself before stepping out of bed. "I need to get ready for work." she told him and started picking up their clothes from the bedroom floor.

"Right. Sure." he murmured, falling back asleep.

We can't have that! Caroline thought and threw his boxers at his naked bottom. "Come on, I don't want to be late."

He sighed and rolled onto his back, revealing more of his nakedness which made Caroline quickly look away as per reflex. "Suddenly shy, are we?" he asked with a chuckle.

She grimaced. "Yeah. Um. Like I said, I need to get ready for work. So, I'll just take a shower. Can you find your way out on your own?"

He stood up and walked over to her, boxers left behind on the bed. "Or... I could join you."

She met his crystal-blue eyes, dazzling smile and dusty-blonde hair and sighed. Glancing over at the alarm clock on the nightstand and seeing that she had an hour to get ready and get to work. She could afford losing a few short minutes, right?

He cupped her cheek and stroked her lips with his thumb. "What do you say?"

She unwrapped the bedsheet around her, letting the cover fall to the floor in a ring around her feet and smiled at him enticingly. "You've got ten minutes. Fifteen at most."

He smiled and pulled her in for a hard kiss. "Let's make the most of it then." he said against her lips and began walking them into the adjoining bathroom while his hands roamed over her body.


Like the planner she is, Caroline was clean and relaxed as she stepped out of her bathroom precisely fifteen minutes later. The man, whom she later remembered was named Asher, got dressed quickly and left the apartment within another five minutes.

Of course, not without the awkward goodbye where neither knew whether to kiss or shake hands or high-five or what. It eventually ended with an "I'll see you around" and a peck on her cheek from the gentleman.

Caroline was glad to sit down in her kitchen, by herself, and eat breakfast in silence… when another man walked into the room.

"Did you seriously just sneak the guy out?"

She sighed and felt her cheeks turn red as Alaric walked over and began preparing a bowl of cereal. "I fell asleep and forgot to kick him out sooner." she breathed out and poked at her oatmeal with her spoon.

"You wouldn't mind giving me some dating advice?" he chuckled and sat down next to her at the kitchen table. "Since you're doing so well here with your twentieth-something guy this month?"

"I'm not the one looking for a new epic love." she reminded him.

He rolled his eyes. "I guess not."

"So...?" she said with wide eyes.

He shrugged. "So... what?"

"Ugh!" she sighed. "Weren't you supposed to be on a date last night with... what's her name...?"

"Cassie."

"Cassie! Right." she winked at him. "And with fear of sounding like a broken record; so...!?"

He rolled his eyes at her again and took a seat across from her as he filled up a bowl of cereal. A moment of silence later, and a drumroll running in Caroline's head, he looked up at her and sighed. "She has kids." he admitted.

"So?"

He chuckled at her repeated question. "That means things will get serious really soon."

"Or..." Caroline sing-songed as she held up a cup of coffee in front of her, taking a long sniff at the favorable smell. "That means she'll want to take things slow. Could be really ideal for you."

He shrugged. "Maybe... Either way, I'm seeing her again tomorrow."

"Mh!" she nearly choked on her coffee and quickly put the cup down as she stared at him. "And you didn't lead with that!?"

He smiled at her and shrugged. "I was stalling until you'd be running late enough for work and suddenly not have the time to get all weirdly encouraging."

Her eyes grew tenfold at that as she jerked her head to the wall-mounted clock on the wall above them and gasped. "Shit!" she hissed and flashed out of the kitchen, brushed her teeth and changed in a minute before returning back to the kitchen to see Ric go through their mail.

Caroline grabbed her purse and patted Ric's shoulder. "Let me know if your lecture stretches out tonight so I don't heat up too much food for dinner once I get back." she reminded him before heading out. "See ya!"

"Bye!" Ric called out just as she closed the door behind her and hurried down to catch a cab.


"Hi, you've reached Cassandra West. Text me and I'll get back to you when I can."

Ric sighed as he heard the voicemail for the second time that morning, putting his phone down on his desk and leaning forward against his palms. A part of him wondered why he was in such a rush to break up with the first woman he'd cared for in nearly seven years... But then the haunting name showed up on his screen again, drawing his attention to his phone with a groan. That's why.

His eyes glanced down to one of the drawers by his side, finding himself painfully aware of the bottle of scotch that hid in there. He had been sober since leaving Dallas, but one day he had received that fine bottle from a faculty member as a gift. And he just couldn't bring himself to throw it out.

Now he wished he had, because the urge to replace the coffee in his mug with the liquor was very strong. His hands shook slightly at the effort he put into keeping them from opening that goddamned drawer...

Why didn't he just throw it out?

A knock on his door helped pull his mind away as the university dean poked her head in with a soft smile. "Professor Richards, I was looking for you."

These days, the new alias was of course familiar to both Ric - who around here was known as Zachary Richards. But he still did get a little disoriented whenever people called him by his new name, causing him to remind himself not to reveal his true identity. He plastered on a polite smile and waved the woman over.

"Come in, please." he said, gesturing for her to sit in the armchair on the other side of his desk. "What can I do for you, dean Thompson?" he asked as he sat back with a straighter posture than earlier, observing the older lady with her white hair that stood out in contrast to her dark skin.

"Well, I was hoping to hear an answer from you by now. And yet, you still haven't told me what you have decided."

He blinked for a mute moment before remembering their latest conversation a week back. Realizing that he had gotten distracted with other things lately, one of which was calling him for the hundred time right now... And so, he hadn't really had the time to actually consider the offer of a tenure position from the dean.

"Excuse me." he said, clearing his throat as he quickly turned the phone on silent and pushed some papers to cover the screen. "I confess that it is a very tempting, not to mention generous, offer." he told her, his face set into a pained grimace as he found himself glancing back at the pile of papers on top of his phone momentarily. "And I assure you, I am deeply honored to be considered for the position. I just don't believe it-"

"Mr. Richards." she cut him off, a raised palm as she gave him a stern look that viewed her displeasure of where he was going. "May I ask you something personal?"

"Certainly." he shrugged, leaning back in his chair as he analyzed her slowly. Trying to figure out how difficult it would be to say no to this woman. Clearly, it wasn't an answer she received too often. She stood up from the chair and walked across the room, examining a bookcase with her hands clasped behind her back.

"I understand that you are unmarried. Have no children. And that you are currently sharing a home with Ms. Cara Williams; one of our very own students." she began, glancing over her shoulder only to confirm her own words by the look of his face before she continued again. "Not to mention that you have a very mysterious past and happen to be quite a private person."

"I'm not sure I follow, Dean Thompson. Are you saying that I should accept your offer simply because I don't share enough personal details with others?" he asked with amusement in his tone as he watched her walk over to another bookcase, her fingers brushing over the wooden shelf slowly. She pouted, examining some dust caught on her skin before brushing it off and meeting his eyes again.

"Not at all, professor." she replied, a tight-lipped and strange smile on her face that seemed to be more out of politeness than anything else. "What I mean to say is, that you are very well liked by your students. Your work has been nothing short of exemplary during the years we've had you here... And in my own opinion, a teacher such as yourself does not come along very often."

The tone of her voice made him question whether she was complimenting or insulting him, but he only chuckled at her words and shrugged. "I can't say that I see any of those as enough reasons to grant me tenure."

"Then you haven't been paying attention." she remarked, earning a furrowed look from him before she shook her head. "I am simply trying to figure out why you do not seem the least bit interested in moving forward with your life."

"Sorry?" he coughed out, leaning forward in a slight frown.

"Well, both your personal and professional lives seem to be at a standstill - and evidently have been for quite some time now. And, if you don't mind me saying so-"

"I'm not sure I can stop you." he chuckled.

"-You are a promising man, Zachary." she added, smiling at him with slightly softer eyes than before. "And it is my job here to find talent such as yourself and help bring them forth into the light." She smoothed her pencil skirt with her hands before sitting back down on the armchair again, crossing her legs and turning a piercing look in his direction. "I am offering you to stay at this school for as long as you may like. To teach any courses you enjoy, to earn quite a lot more than you currently do, to be granted the money for research and expenses and any projects you may want to take on during your time here. I am offering you a stepping-stone to greater and better things. To a future."

He gulped hard, feeling his determination sway lightly under her gaze. "I'm not sure I can stay in Chicago for my remaining life - accepting this position would take away the option of going elsewhere someday."

"Are you planning on leaving?" she asked then, causing him to jerk slightly as he met her eyes again. "Do you want to live somewhere else? Do you want to do something else?"

No. The answer scared him, turning his stomach and twisting it into knots.

"I certainly won't try to convince you that your life here would be better than a life in any other city - or country for that matter... But I pride myself in having sharp instincts, and I sense that you actually like it here." she chimed, shaking her head in a shrug. "Take a few days, consider my offer. It stands until the end of the week. If I don't get an answer from you by then, I will take it as a refusal."

She didn't wait for him to respond as she stood up and walked to the door, ready to leave him with a mind in turmoil. He stuttered lightly as he called for her before she managed to close the door. "Dean Thompson?"

Stopping and turning back to him again, she watched as he dug into a drawer by his desk. Grabbing that bottle of scotch and walked over to her with a deep sigh. "You don't happen to enjoy whiskey, do you?" he asked, earning a confused pout on her face before he continued. "I got this as a gift when I first started here - before the others knew of my sobriety. I was hoping you could accept it instead."

A slow smirk played on her lips as she accepted the bottle and read the label carefully. "Such a nice gift indeed..." she hummed then. "I'm sure I will find good use for it."

He let out a breath, one mixed with both relief and disappointment as she nodded to him and closed the door. A strange sensation filled his chest as he listened to her heels walking down the hall, questions running through his head.

Of course, he wanted to accept the position - what teacher wouldn't love the security of having your career locked in for the rest of your life? Never having to worry again of being cut out due to budget costs or having a difficulty finding a new position anywhere they went... He wanted it. He enjoyed the city, the students - hell, he had even started to like the pizza here.

But staying would mean having to continue lying about who he was. His name, his history... He would be a living fraud - faking his way through the happy life that he still wasn't sure he deserved. And he would be living in constant fear of the truth getting out and having that life abruptly taken from him... Again.

He sat back down behind his desk with a deep sigh, running a hand over his face as he reached for his phone. Several missed calls and messages but not a single one from Cassie. Dialing her number again, he waited as the beeps ran through one by one. Until reaching the same voicemail again. "Hi, you've reached Cassandra West. Text me-" he hung up with a groan as he fought the worry from slithering into his mind.

She's fine. Cassie's fine. Everything is just-

The phone rang in his hands and made him jump as he quickly accepted the call. "Cassie?"

"Hi, Zach! Sorry! The boys used my phone to play some video game and I ran out of battery. And then I left to drop them off at daycare and forgot it at home and then I went to buy groceries and didn't even realize-"

The voice on the other end made him feel like a weight had lifted off his chest. Her ranting brought a wide grin to his face as he shook his head in a chuckle. Shaking off the sour reminder of why he had meant to reach her earlier and deciding to table that for now. He hadn't even realized how much he'd missed her until she let out an exasperated laugh on the other end.

"So, you know - it's just another Wednesday!"

He sighed as he decided he needed her right now, far more than he needed to push her away. "Why don't you come by campus and vent? I'll buy you your favorite - carrot cake with frosting."

"You're too good to me." she sighed happily, stinging him shortly as he thought the opposite for a second before she spoke again. "I'm going to grab my power bank and I can meet you at the café in... an hour?"

"I'll be waiting." he smiled before they hung up. Leaning back with his hands covering his face as he was hit by a wave of guilt.

You're supposed to break up with her, idiot! he reminded himself bitterly before another thought was voiced in his mind at that.

Why?


As Caroline stepped into the high-rise that was her office building, she took a deep breath and smiled all the way to the elevator. She greeted everyone she came across by name, and they greeted her back with wide grins and a 'Good morning Ms. Williams'.

That was the name they knew her by: Cara Williams. She and Ric had chosen their new identities a long time ago to protect themselves. In order to give them some time to find a home, a future. And here she was now, having finally found just that.

She went up to the nineteenth floor and met her assistant, Anna, who handed her a coffee and immediately started updating her on the schedule of the day. As she zoned out for a moment, Caroline thought of how she had finally made it. How she was really happy with her life. For once.

She had started working as a producing assistant at a local news broadcasting tv-network in Chicago a few years back. There, she had slowly worked her way up to her very own executive position and was now working side-by-side with three other co-producers of the show. It wasn't an extravagant or famous network by any means, but it did fit her like a glove.

Her duties varied as the one responsible for directing the broadcasts along with the journalists. She helped decide what news to run, which guests to interview and even what the wardrobe would be before every show. Finally, she had found something that allowed her to strive, something that she enjoyed immensely, with her organizational – and at times; neurotic – skills. She worked hard and was appreciated for it, her colleagues trusted and listened to her.

Nobody questioned whether Caroline Forbes - or rather, Cara Williams - was right for the job, because despite her terribly young age and somewhat lack of former experience in the profession – she was really good at this. She had no problem juggling all kinds of tasks and keeping a finger in all of the different projects. She loved being responsible and having people go to her for guidance and–

"… Salvatore…" the name fell off Anna's tongue, bursting Caroline's bubble and making her stop dead in her tracks.

"What did you just say?" she said and stared at her assistant.

"W-which part?" she stuttered. "The message?"

"What message?"

"From this guy, he said his name was… I-I think Devon or Damien maybe..."

She let out a small sigh, having apparently held her breath. With a hardened smile, she took a sip of coffee and met her assistant's confused gaze. "Delete it. And block any and all future calls from anyone with that surname. If I hear it again I won't be very kind to the messenger, got it?"

Anna nodded quickly and handed her a clipboard. "Here is the rest of your schedule for today, if you need me – I'll be in my cubicle… Deleting some messages."

Caroline squinted at her shortly before nodding. "Thank you, Anna." she said and turned the corner to her office. Sitting down in her chair and getting to work right away. She felt bad for a moment, snapping at her assistant like that… But she couldn't focus on that for too long. Instead, she turned to the schedule in her hands and decided to leave the strange feeling in her gut where it belonged – with the Salvatores, in the past.


Ric sat waiting at the coffeeshop as Cassie seemed to be running late. It wasn't an unusual thing for the mother of two little boys at the ages of five and seven. Even away from her kids, her mind was almost always scattered and sometimes that made for a busy schedule and a difficulty to arrive on time. So, he usually made sure to bring his work along in waiting for her to show up. This time, he was grading papers when the red curls finally popped into view.

"Hi!" she said as she gave him a peck on the cheek and sat down opposite to him. "I'm late, I'm sorry!"

Ric smiled at her big brown eyes and freckled cheeks. "It's no problem. I managed to get some work done while I waited." he said as he put the papers away. "Let me go order for us and I'll be right back."

She smiled at him and nodded as she took her coat off while he stood to take a place in line. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and started to reach for it when someone called his name. "Professor Richards!"

He looked up at two students from his class and smiled. "Hi, guys. I was just grading your papers on the roman empire."

"Really?" the girl said with an impressed smile. "We only sent those in last week, most professors take forever to even read our papers."

"Well, I happened to have some extra time on my hands." Ric chimed, earning a nod from the boy.

"Right, you don't have kids. Guess that must make things a lot easier." he said, making Ric tense up shortly.

"Yeah, yeah. It sure does." Ric said politely, luckily it was his turn in line, so he nodded at them. "See you guys on Monday." he said and turned to the barista with a clenched jaw.

"Ready to order?"

He swallowed hard and focused on the task at hand instead of the lingering words in his head. "Yeah, a piece of carrot cake and a cappuccino with soy milk. And um, one black coffee, please."

As the barista got to work, Ric reached for the phone again to check the missed call. It viewed the same number as it had the past few days, and he decided to ignore it yet again. Putting it away just as he received his order on a tray. "Thank you." he said and handed the barista some money. "Keep the change."

When Ric got back to Cassie, she looked very anxious. Her hands were interlocked on the table and her face was turned towards the window.

"One cappuccino and carrot cake for the lady." Ric said and put the tray down on their table. She gave him a smile, but he frowned when she didn't immediately dig into the pastry as she usually did.

"You okay?" he asked as she kept looking out the window.

She tore her gaze away and met his then. "Sorry. I think I might be a little nervous." she admitted.

"What for?" he asked and took a sip of his coffee.

"I need to know where we stand, Zack. Or more specifically, if me having kids is going to be a problem here."

He blinked a few times at her, not sure of what to say. "Did you get that impression?" he asked to buy himself some more time, he hadn't decided on his stance on the matter yet. Previously he had wanted to end things before their relationship became too serious, especially with children involved. But now, he found himself unsure.

"I didn't get any impression. I told you about my boys and you said 'okay'."

"Well, I don't see how you got anything negative out of an 'okay'." he said with a smile.

"So, this isn't going to be a problem?" she asked.

"Cassie…" he began. "I'm a history professor at college. It would be rather difficult to do my job if I had a problem with kids."

"That's not what I'm asking, Zack. Most people don't have a problem with kids, I'm asking if you are going to have a problem with mine."

He swallowed hard and studied her face for a moment, the beautiful red-head before him had never looked so distressed before. To be fair, they had only known each other for two short months and had been dating only a few weeks. However, she always managed to look somewhat put together and focused, despite her hair often being a mess and her clothes sometimes mismatched. But this time she was tense, stressed and had a protective look in her eyes that only mothers got.

"Did I ever tell you about Jo?" he asked and took another sip of his coffee.

"Your ex-wife?" she said uncertainly.

He nodded. "I don't usually like to discuss this but… We didn't just break up. She died."

Cassie's eyes grew wide and her hands immediately reached for his, holding them tightly. "When?"

"On our wedding day." he said with his eyes slowly starting to focus on the coffee in front of him instead of their hands in front of the cup. "While she was pregnant with our twins."

"Oh, god." Cassie cursed silently, bringing his eyes up to meet with hers.

"We were going to have two girls. They would've been absolutely beautiful, and bright and funny. Just like her, I'm sure of it." he said with a smile on his lips and glossy eyes. "And when I lost them all, I was so… broken. I didn't know where to even begin-" he swallowed hard and took a breath to regain his voice. "I slowly dug myself out of that hole, but there will never be a day that passes by that I don't think of them. That I don't miss them. Ever."

She had started tearing up herself as she studied him. He took a deep breath before he spoke again. "So if anybody can understand baggage, it's me. And you having two beautiful boys, who love you more than anything. Well, that could never be the negative kind."

They smiled at each other for a moment, she stayed silent as if to make sure he said everything he wanted to. "And I think the question here isn't whether I can handle yours. But rather if you can deal with mine." he added honestly.

She brought one of his hands up to her lips and planted a kiss on his knuckles. "I don't mind being here for you, if you want me to."

He looked at her in awe for a moment before he spoke again. "I hope you can forgive me for not telling you about this sooner…"

She shook her head. "That doesn't matter whatsoever." she said with a smile and glittering eyes. "I'm glad you told me now."

Ric cupped her cheek and leaned over to kiss her softly on the lips. A smile spreading on both of their faces as she kissed him back. And that flutter in his stomach that showed up in that moment… It was something Ric hadn't felt in years.

He got so swept up in it that he didn't even notice his phone vibrating on the table between them. In that moment, he didn't care about anything other than keeping the sweet feeling inside of him alive for just a little while longer… Because he was worried about when he would be lucky enough to feel it again.


Caroline found herself working through lunch, again, and tapped her nails over her desk as she read through the latest viewer report. The knock on the door made her finally look up and meet Anna's face as she walked inside her office.

"I have the rest of the reports for you, Ms. Williams." she said as she left a folder on her desk. "Did you need me to order something for you?"

"Hm?" she said, blinking as she studied her. "Oh, right… No, I'm good. Thank you, Anna."

"Is that some new diet or something you got going on?"

Chuckling lightly, she shook her head as she leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. "No, not really. I just get swept up in the work sometimes, I guess."

"Don't I know it."

The words seemed innocent enough, but they still made the vampire hurry to try and evade any possible suspicion. "Actually, I think I didn't realize how hungry I was. Could you get me a Caesar salad from that cute little bistro down the street?"

"Of course." The young girl said with a smile and a nod before turning to leave. "Oh, and you got another mail from that friend of yours, Beatrice Banks. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but we were really swamped with the new recruitments. Won't happen again."

Her face turned into a wide grin as she heard the name. "Thanks, let me know when the food gets here. And if you see Dylan on the floor, ask him to come by the office with the latest batch of resumes for the intern's position."

"Consider it done." Anna said with another friendly smile over her shoulder before closing the door behind her.

Caroline immediately opened her mail and began to read through her inbox, quickly pressing on the one from 'Beatrice Banks'. Another fake name of course… And as she read through the latest update from Europe, she couldn't help but shake her head in a chuckle. Apparently, the mail had been sent days ago but she hadn't seen it until now. This was their arrangement, she would get an email letting her know that her friend was safe – and in return, Caroline would call the number to a burner phone and leave a voicemail.

It was kind of funny actually, the way they lived double lives and contacted each other in codes… But it was also kind of sad, because while Caroline's updates usually involved the latest gossip in her office – the emails would contain all the travels and adventures that she wished she could have herself. Instead, she was busying herself with hiding in plain sight. Ducking strange calls on her phones and diverting questions about her past. She hurried to call the cryptic number, eager to continue living vicariously through this little routine.

The familiar tone rang through the air before she began to record her message, an act she had gotten used to over the years.

"Hi, Bonnie. It's me."


Ric had just received his lunch when the door opening behind him sent a ringing sound throughout the diner. Turning several heads in the direction of the bell, but he didn't need to turn around to know who it was. The hairs standing up all over the back of his neck was enough confirmation, especially after having dodged calls from him all week. The only question in his mind was how he'd found him.

He soon heard the stool next to him move as the man sat beside him in silence, the waitress cast a glance to the addition by her bar with a raised brow. Probably asking herself who the dark-haired man was and why he was sitting by her most regular costumer.

"How did you know I'd be here?" he finally asked, not bothering to turn to the vampire as he leaned over the countertop beside him.

"I have my sources."

Focusing on the dish with the week's special, Ric watched his hand snake in and grab one of the fries off the plate. It didn't bother him, the man had taken far more from him in the past than some food.

A hell of a lot more.

"Why are you here, Damon?" he muttered, feeling the itch in his fingers to flag the waitress back and as her to pour him a glass of whiskey. Or ten.

"You haven't been answering my calls."

"And that wasn't clear enough a message for you?" he scoffed and sipped his coke - finding himself wishing it burned its way down his throat in the way the other dark liquid would have.

"I wouldn't have come if it wasn't important. You know that."

"That doesn't mean you have the right to be here."

"We need help, Ric."

The words made him shake his head in a cold chuckle before he decided to meet the man's frosty blue eyes. "Of course, you do. Did you guys do a whole divide-and-conquer thing? You're here with me while he's off hounding her?"

Damon seemed to stiffen at his words, causing him to cock an eyebrow and chuckle dryly again. "My brother isn't with me." the Salvatore told him, a strange expression flashing over his face for a moment before he continued. "I haven't exactly spoken to him lately."

"Cry me a river." Ric muttered as he turned back to his food again, digging into his burger before it could get cold.

"When did you start carrying these around again?" Damon asked, drawing his eyes to follow the movements of his hands as he opened his leather jacket up, revealing a wooden dagger and some vials of vervain. His face seemed amused, and it made Ric want to stake him right there and then. If Damon hadn't already confiscated the emergency stash from his car, he probably would have.

"Since your hell forsaken name started showing up on my phone." he answered with a sneer.

The vampire closed his jacket again and laughed at that, turning Ric's stomach into knots as his former friend responded. "Guess you can take the hunter out of Mystic Falls but not the other way around, huh?"

"You realize that I'm fighting every single fiber of my being in an effort to spare your life, right?" he said, wiping his mouth with a napkin. His voice was calmer than he had expected, but maybe that was a good thing. The man by his side didn't intimidate him - he hadn't for nearly a decade. And his sudden appearance in the city hadn't fazed him as much as he'd thought it would.

Perhaps he had expected him to show up every single day since they left Virginia, or maybe he just didn't have the strength to continue carrying the hate in his heart any longer. His life was certainly far shorter than the man to his right, after all...

"We have a problem, Ric."

His words made him stiffen as he decided to turn around and really look at him now. The eternally young looks almost seemed to have faded since the last time he'd seen him. The professor could even swear that he saw some new wrinkles by the corners of his eyes as the vampire grimaced before explaining further.

"We need Caroline's help."

"We?" he echoed, unsure of what that meant considering he had just told him that the younger Salvatore wasn't with him - this time.

"Me and Enzo." he explained, leaning forward against his crossed arms with a sigh. And for a moment, the man that Alaric had formerly called his friend looked so broken and tortured that he almost felt bad for him. Almost.

But more than anything, he felt a hollow sense of indifference. And somehow, that upset him even more. He used to hold onto the hatred for the vampire like a life raft, but that had also been a prominent reason for his drinking. And he had no interest whatsoever to indulge in something that would push him down that road ever again.

Damon ran a hand through his hair and over his face, the action looking odd and unfamiliar... He seemed genuinely nervous. As if he really hadn't intended to come here, to return to his life again. And yet he had, and that fact was enough to plant a seed of worry and unease in Alaric's soul. Despite the horrendous and unforgivable sins the vampire had made, he had also been his closest companion once. Ric would have, and had in far too many occasions, trusted him with his life. And seeing him this pained made him concerned, and not only for himself and Caroline. But for Damon as well. What the hell had he gotten himself into now?

"Connie." he said, turning to meet the waitress' dark eyes with a short smile and nod to the man to his right. "Another special, please."

She nodded and leaned back towards the kitchen to place the order just as he glanced back to the Salvatore with a determined look in his eyes.

"Tell me everything."


When Caroline was headed home that later that day, she decided to leave a second message for her absent friend. Her previous one somehow felt inadequate as she didn't have the time to tell her everything she wanted to before her work called for her again. "Bonnie, I wanted to say something."

She had gotten out of her car and began to walk down the street to their two-story townhouse. "I saw the date and realized that your birthday is coming up. I don't really know how I had managed to forget about it until now… But I guess that's what happens when you erase everything from your old life, including your calendar." she chuckled at the last part and searched for her keys, pressing the phone up to her ear with her shoulder.

"I really wished I could see you… But I get that it won't happen. Truth is we probably won't ever see each other again." she cleared her throat as she found herself choking up slightly. "Anyway, I wanted you to know that I'm thinking about you. And that I really hope they do something nice for you since I won't be able to… Well, Enzo might but I don't know if I can trust Damon to come through on that."

"Well, that stung."

The voice made her drop her phone on the floor as the door closed behind her. She froze up and stared at the man leaning against her dining table. His dark hair was longer than she remembered, and his eyes carried something heavy in them… But it was him. And for a moment, she wondered if she had fallen asleep and was dreaming, or if she had been jumped and was now hallucinating…

Because there was just no way in hell that Damon Salvatore could be standing in her kitchen.

Then another thought hit her, and she started to scan the rest of the living area, spotting Enzo as he stood up from a chair and met her eyes with a grim look. Somehow, she knew what the answer would be, yet she couldn't help but ask the question in her mind anyway. "Bonnie?"

"We have a problem, Care-Bear." he said, nodding towards Ric as he came out from his bedroom, carrying his tablet in hand.

"Care…" he said with an equally grim expression on his face as the vampires. "You should probably sit down for a minute..."

"If this means Valerie's on her way-" she began but Enzo interrupted her.

"No. This isn't about her. Nor Stefan."

She swallowed hard, seeing the writing on the wall but wishing deeply that she was wrong. "Tell me." she looked at Ric with a clenched jaw.

"Something's happened to Bonnie." he said softly then, a pained look in his eyes as he confirmed her fear.

"We don't have time to waste, if any one of you would answer your damn phones

then we would already be on our way…" Damon said restlessly.

"What are you talking about?" Caroline said with a panic in her voice.

He crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. "The band is getting back together, Barbie. And you better get packing; your flight leaves tonight."

"Flight? To where?" she asked him as he started walking towards her.

He grinned at her, giving her a wink as he finally spoke. "The Big Easy."


Present Day
New Orleans, Louisiana

People seemed to finally have forgotten all the scary things that go bump in the dark in the French Quarter, if the crowds of tourists in Roseau's tonight was any indication.

Either that, or they were all ignorant enough to underestimate the very real dangers of the city's night life. However, reports of missing backpackers or monthly spikes in the murder statistics had stopped keeping people from coming to the city in a thirst for exploring its culture and entertainment. And one special musical act at Rousseau's was partly the reason why tourists were gathering every week for the Thursday night show…

"Welcome, welcome to the Crescent City…" the current barkeeper, Weslin, introduced himself to the audience and began his rehearsed coverage of the city's darker history. "Where the supernatural hides behind every corner, magic swirls in the Mississippi breeze and all responsibilities and reason are left at the other side of the state line. This is the city that care forgot! The city where everyone can feel free to finally be their true selves, no matter how wild, dark or twisted that may be. Because, believe me, we're all just as wild, dark and twisted ourselves. Otherwise none of us would be here in the first place!"

Some cheers and applause spread around the crowd as Marcel made his way to his usual table. Davina was already waiting for him there alongside Josh. "You're late." Davina whined once he reached them.

"Pleased to see you too, D." Marcel smirked and leaned down to give her a peck on the cheek before turning to pat Josh's shoulder. "Glad to see you doing your part of keeping the waiters away from this young lady." Marcel said as he nodded towards the empty table.

Josh glanced over to Davina as Marcel took a seat. "See, I told you he'd have my head if I let you have anything with a higher alcohol percentage than a Diet Coke."

Davina snorted in response. "Do I have to wait until I'm 30 before being allowed to get buzzed in the King's presence? It's not as if either of you actually waited until you were of legal age before drinking."

The men threw each other a side glance before clearing their throats non-discreetly. "Well, I do happen to come from a different time, Davina." Marcel said with a wink.

"Yeah? And what's Josh's excuse?" she challenged with her arms crossed over her chest.

"I came out while I was fifteen in a very old-fashioned and very catholic family, I had issues. Okay?" Josh protested.

"Well, I have issues too."

"Sure you do, princess." Josh sneered and rolled his eyes. "Should we get right to work?"

"Let's." Marcel said with an amused smile. "I hear Hayley's part will be held up by you tonight." He nodded at Josh, who nodded back.

"Well, let's ensure we have our business in order once the Mikaelson's finally decide to grace us with their presences." Marcel scoffed and turned then to Davina. "Update on the witches?"

"The coven has acclimated smoothly and continues to grow stronger." the young brunette relayed with a smile. "These days, there really are no divides left within the faction. We are a united coven, in every sense."

"Did you consider my proposition?" Marcel asked.

Davina looked down at the table. "I don't know if the witches would agree to it."

"To what?" Josh drawled slowly as he raised a brow between them. Earning a sigh from the witch before she turned to him.

"Marcel wants the faction to become members of the Strix."

"Really?" the man said as he shook his head in disbelief. "You do mean the organisation with vampires, right? There's no club or whatever with a similar name that I don't know about?"

Marcel pointed an exasperated look at the younger vampire. "The organistation have had a coven of witches since the beginning, and now that the Sisterhood isn't active anymore, we need a new one."

"I get that, I really do." Davina sighed out. "I'm just not entirely sure it's the best idea right now."

"Just promise you'll consider it?" he pleaded with a frown, eliciting a nod from the girl in response. "Thank you." he smiled before turning to Josh again. "Let's move on; status on the werewolves."

"Well, Hayley and I have been hearing some rumors of stray wolves seeking refuge in the Bayou. So far, no one has been spotted, there's just been some missing supplies and sometimes there are traces of unfamiliar scents around the woods. But there's no actual evidence of outsiders trying to infiltrate the Crescents…"

"Put some night walkers on it to see if those mysterious scents are nothing but thrill-seeking tourists exploring the Bayou and accidentally moving things around." Marcel said, making Josh nod and bring his phone out to make a note of it. "And I'm guessing there are still no news on Lucien?"

"No, he seems gone for now. Although, some of his properties around the country have been shutting down for unknown reasons. I let Elijah know about it yesterday so I'm guessing that's why he and Klaus are prolonging their trip." he said distractedly as he wrote something down.

He put his phone away and grimaced slightly. "Also… Many of the older vamps are starting to request daytime rings; they think you've forgotten about their hard work now that you're spending so much of your focus on the Strix."

"Tell them my focus is spent on establishing a trust inside the organization as well as amongst the several different supernatural groups of this city, which can't be half-assed just because some ladder-climbers are tired of the night shift." Marcel said with enunciation.

He clasped his hands together in a swift change of mood and smiled brightly. "Now, I'd say the business part is over. Are you both staying for the show?" he said, just as a spotlight suddenly pointed at him and the crowd started cheering for the King of New Orleans to join the musicians on the stage.


Lucien let out a long sigh as the dead waitress fell to the cabin floor. "Well, that was fun while it lasted." he chimed as he hid her behind one of the bathroom stalls and cleaned up. Taking a look in the mirror in front of him, he dried off some blood on the side of his face. Wearing a wicked smile before heading out.

He blended in easily with the others at the docks, with his suit and briefcase, rushed steps and determined path. The cruise ship behind him had vacated all other passengers already and the harbor filled as they scrambled to find their next ways of transport. But he was suddenly stopped in his track as he recognized two faces in the crowd. One man with dark brown hair, stiff posture and an expensive suit. The other wore a long, gray cape with dark clothes underneath, chains dangling around his neck.

The Mikaelson's.

Lucien rushed behind a shipment container and hid, watching them from a distance. They were loading off some luggage and compelling one of the employees in customs to not ask too many questions. Then they seemed to be trying to get ahold of a car out of there. Cursing silently as he tried to figure out whether it was more dangerous to wait for them to leave or to try and sneak away before they could spot him.

He then noticed a man and a woman stepping into a cab and decided to join them, rushing to the man and immediately compelled him to let him ride with them. Then he made sure to cover his face with his hand as they passed the brothers.

Safe for now, Lucien thought and looked at the couple from his middle seat. Another wicked smile spread over his lips as a plan formed in his mind. "This will be a nice ride." he grinned.


"Daddy, daddy!"

The happy chant could make even the darkest of hearts grow tenfold as his daughter rushed towards him. Klaus had barely stepped into the mansion when a the seven-year-old wrapped her arms around his legs. He lifted her up in the air and spun her around, making the child giggle and shriek. "Did someone miss me?" he said with a ridiculous smile on his face.

"Yes!" Hope laughed as he kissed her forehead. "Mom said you were coming tomorrow."

"Well, my darling, I decided a father simply shan't be kept away from his daughter for longer than a week at a time." he said and put her down on the ground, kneeling before her. "Guess what, dear?"

"Presents?" she squealed and jumped with excitement.

He laughed. "Well of course, said father shan't return to said daughter without presents! That simply wouldn't do now would it, love?"

"Just don't tell me it's more of that British salt toffee…" Hayley sighed as she stepped into the hall to greet him. "It made her sick the last time."

"Well, of course not." Klaus told her. He and Hope shared a look, he winked at her which induced another giggle from the girl.

Hayley rolled her eyes at that, a content smile playing on her lips. "And Elijah?"

"He needed to drop off some contraband with Marcel on his way over here." Klaus explained as he pulled out a gift from his coat. A small square packaging, the content being quite obviously not candy – this time. "Now, Hope. I brought this for you to share." he explained as he handed it to her.

The child scrunched up her face in confusion as she fumbled to unwrap her present. "What is it?" she asked as she revealed a book.

"It's the Velveteen Rabbit." Klaus said.

Hayley walked up to them and smiled. "Wow, I used to love this book as a child. I never really had anyone to read it to me though…" she said and looked at Klaus with a slightly bewildered face.

"Then I suppose Hope shall read it to you." he said with a soft smile before turning to his daughter again. "Won't you, dear?"

Hope nodded repeatedly. "Yes, mom. I can read it to you!"

Hayley laughed. "Well, let me go make some tea for us and we'll have a nice little reading in the library. What do you say?" Hope nodded again and smiled at her mother.

As Hayley left, Klaus took his daughter's hand and subtly hid a piece of candy in her little palm. Making her giggle some more.

"Ah-ah!" he whispered to her. "Remember what I taught you." he said and raised an index-finger to his lips. She mimicked him and they both hushed together. "It'll be our little secret." he said and gently pecked her nose.

With a big smile, Hope scurried away to join her mother. Klaus was just about to follow as his phone started ringing in his pocket. He picked it up in one swift movement. "Did you manage to drop everything off at Marcel's?" he asked but was only met by silence.

"Elijah?" he said and looked at the phone screen, realizing he hadn't done so before answering the call. The number was unknown.

Finally, a voice started talking on the other end. "U-uh... I..." a man stuttered.

"Who is this?" Klaus said gravely, trying to determine whether it was a threat or prank call. Neither being favorable options for the poor lad who decided to call this number.

"Sir, I… I just…" the voice muttered on.

"Well, spit it out!" Klaus ordered.

"You... Um... You told me to get ahold of you and to interrupt whatever you were doing if-"

"Come on, mate. I don't have all day." he warned.

"She's here, sir."

Klaus blinked a few times, about to ask him who on earth this man was talking about when it hit him. And it hit him hard. All he could do was utter a single word as he felt his body freeze to the spot. "When?" he asked, his voice thick as he desperately tried to control the overwhelming thoughts in his head.

"I saw her exit her plane about half an hour ago... and I've been calling you ever since to inform you." the man continued. "But there's something you should know, sir."

"What?" he croaked out.

"She flew in from Illinois instead, Chicago I think. And... she didn't come alone. There's a man with her."

He nodded to himself, wondering for a moment which one of the male members of that godforsaken gang of Mystic Falls that she had chosen to bring with her. But he couldn't focus on that for longer than a few second before his mind and all his senses were attacked once more by the realization...

She came.

Caroline Forbes is in New Orleans.