A/N: Thanks for reading! This is the final chapter of season 1, and I can't really believe I made it. For me it is a huge deal to write this story and I hold this small achievement close to my heart. I have such big plans for the seasons onwards and I hope you are in for the rollercoaster of emotions that it's about to become.

Please, please, please review what you think of the story!

Chapter 20 - Beginning of the End

~X~

Harper was dressed in one of the most luxurious gowns she had ever been in. It was big and uncomfortable, but apparently it had belonged to a Lockwood back in the day, so Carol had used all her might to get Harper into it.

It was a beautiful blue gown, with light purple and aubergine shaded flowers embroidered into the corset and skirt by hand. It was off the shoulder neckline, the corset was tied in such a way that Harper could barely breathe but her chest actually showed some game. She felt light headed as Carol placed the large and wide straw hat on her perfectly made hairdo. Her hair was tied and curled in a harsh and pulling way, the pun being pulled back from her face and into her neck.

In the end, Harper looked like a real southern belle, a rare beautiful gem. Apparently though, the dress had already been imported from England, which explained the more intricate and unnatural lavish design.

"You are beautiful" Carol said and she helped Harper down the stairs to the waiting Richard and Tyler.

"Yes, so beautiful. Like a real Lockwood" Richard stated, which made both Tyler and Carol raise their eyebrows. Ever since Harper had come home from being kidnapped and tortured by Isobel, he had been extra doting on her. Almost dare they say, affectionate. Gone were the harsh words and mean stares, ignorant attitude and abuse. He had changed in the mere course of a few days. And it creeped everyone out.

"Let's go!" Tyler said and headed out in his soldier uniform, taking Harper's hand to pull her down the porch stairs and into the car.

She hadn't spoken for two days, then she had cried for one day, before becoming an empty husk of the kind and shining girl she had become in their care. It was like Henry all over again, and she had already gotten more and more nightmares about her sister too, ever since Stefan had attacked her.

Now she seemed okay at best, but Carol had still pulled her into a corset and gown to be on floats in the parade.

"It will be fun" Tyler stated as he helped her fold her dress up in the car. Harper huffed and locked eyes with him.

"If you say so"

~X~

"Say cheese!" Bonnie smiled as she aimed her camera at her best friends, Harper's eyes got a shine to them as she saw the girls again. They had come over every night up until this event, staying at her side as she recovered from the horrible events this event had brought to her. Bonnie had especially been a help for her, as she understood the supernatural side of Harper that brought forth so many horrors as she closed her eyes.

"Oh wait, hide you cast! It's not era appropriate" Caroline stated and looked at Matt's broken arm.

"Seriously?" Matt huffed and moved around as Caroline said a small 'yes!'. Bonnie grinned as she pressed click.

"Harper! I want one with you and Bonnie" Caroline ushered the girl over and hugged her as Harper practically ran into the blonde's waiting arms.

"Can you take one with me and Matt?" Harper shyly asked and looked at Matt who nodded eagerly. He had been all over her since her return, as he had blamed himself for her disappearance in the first place. Harper had been happy that he wasn't there on time, as it would've been possible that Isobel would hurt him to get to her.

"Say cheese!" Caroline said just as the two teens' eyes met in a really lovey dovey way.

"You look amazing Harp!" Caroline gushed as the girls inspected each other and Harper blushed. The girl ushered them forward as Matt stepped behind Tyler who now held the camera.

"You too Care, and you Bon" Harper looked at Bonnie, before snaking her arms around their waists as Tyler aimed the camera at them.

"Smile" Tyler said, to which the girls did. And for the second time in a long while. Harper smiled for real.

"Let's go to the floats, see you later Bonnie!" Caroline said and pulled Harper and Matt away. Bonnie laughed at Harper's shocked look before turning to Tyler.

He would be on a special soldier float that he had designed himself, which he was really proud of. Harper would be on the float after the Miss Mystic Falls one, titled 'Founding Daughters' which was dedicated to the southern women who had helped the town organize and build a school, church and hospital after the war. Also one of two confederate statues and monuments but let's ignore that part.

Harper hated the whole thing, but she couldn't hide back in her shell anymore. She had to reenter the world once more on her own two feet and to not let her demons define her or break her down. So she smiled and waved as Carol announced her float. When she saw Bonnie she smiled some more and the girl smiled back. Not even Damon Salvatore's smolder could break her down now.

~X~

Later in the Evening

Harper was happily out of the gigantic dress and with Tyler at the grill. Matt had joined them to a tournament in bar games, so far, Matt was winning.

"So unfair" Harper huffed and smacked the vampire's chest. He and Tyler were playing the finals of the tournament by the pool table. Harper had secured third place as she had sucked at darts, but had admitted defeat like a champion. And that's when Richard showed up, looking very concerned for his kids.

"What are you two doing here, I thought I told you to go home" Richard roared as he gripped Harper in an all too familiar harsh grip. Harper winced as she already felt her skin starting to bruise.

She never quite understood how he could be sto strong, it was abnormal how hurtful and angry that man could be.

"I decided not to, and besides, I'm winning," Tyler gritted out and stared down his father.

"If I tell you two to do something, then do it" Richard almost roared out in panic, and a lot of eyes turned his way. Including Caroline and Matt who just returned to the group with another round of drinks.

"Get off her" Tyler stated with a dead serious tone, ready to fight his dad in front of everyone in the Grill if he had too to make him leave his sister alone.

"Mayor! Is everything okay?" Caroline came fast as she had started to notice her friend tearing up from the painful grip her adoptive father was holding her in. She had now been all too familiar with the treatment Harper would get at the Lockwoods, especially around Richard. And wanted nothing more than to protect her from it.

"Please Tyler, Harper, I need you to go home" Richard's tone dialed down super fast as he let Harper go. His voice sounded, pleading, almost. "Now.. take your friends with you"

"Why what's going on?" Matt asked with a frown on his face. He didn't understand what was happening, he had never seen the mayor this way before.

"I can't explain, but all of you need to get home" Richard said again, erratic in his motions to fish out something from his jacket pocket.

"Yeah okay" Tyler laid the cue down on the pool table and looked at William, silently asking him to come with them.

"Here take my car, it's outback" Richard instructed and handed Tyler the keys. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at Harper. She had driven him and Matt there in her own car, but she shrugged and looked to her friends.

"I will go with Matt, we will buy some snacks and make it a movie night" Harper suggested with a careful smile, meeting eyes with Caroline who nodded before she looked at Richard.

"Great idea Harper, let's go" Tyler said as his father nodded to Harper's idea. He was pleased they were finally going away from all the danger this night would eventually bring.

"Have fun kids, be safe" He said, before placing his hands on his face. Groaning at the mere thought that his son might still be in danger.

~X~

"Now that we got the snacks, are we gonna talk about you ignoring me?" Taylor Swift was slowly playing on the radio, none of them had the energy to lift their hand towards the dial to switch. Besides, though neither wanted to admit it, they were both secret swifties. She and Matt had taken her car, as Tyler and Caroline took the blonde's. This to leave each couple some privacy.

"Huh?" Harper blinked out of her little bubble as she had been mutely staring down the dark road, soon they would be on the road leading to the manor. They had been quick to drive to the gas station close to the edge of town on the road back to the Lockwoods, buying a copious amount of stuff to fill their bellies and hopefully mend some relationships tonight. She was driving way below the speed limit, without really knowing why. But her gut was telling her to be safe on the road that night.

"Harper, I know you don't want to-" Matt started when Harper suddenly screamed out, clutching both of her hands to her head, making them leave the steering wheel completely. Matt, in a fast move, pushed her back hard away from the pedals and further into the seat. Taking a grip on the wheel as the car rolled to a stop. In the process making her feel crushed and panicked as the ringing kept going. Eventually he pulled the handbrake, making the car stop harshly in the middle of the road.

When it all stopped, Harper was hyperventilating. As best that she could, she unbuckled herself to rush out the car. She puked on the road, she didn't even make it to the ditch. Matt went after her as he came back to his senses, the air smelt of stomach acid and burnt tires as he went up to Harper. Who was standing doubled over with her stomach content all over the asphalt as well as her clothes and shoes.

"Fuck.. Harper!" Matt gently placed his hands on her shoulders to pull her away from the scene, he felt her breaths beneaths his palms, she was not okay."Harper"

"I'm fine, I'm fine" She gasped out as the tears started to freefall down her ruined face. She was clutching her stomach, and she was shaking like a leaf.

"What was that?" Matt asked as he felt Harper's heartbeat slowing down a bit.

"I don't know" Harper rasped, her mouth stinking so gross that she soon puked once more.

"Harper, you need to go to the hospital" Matt stated as he saw what the seat belt had done to her upper body from pulling the handbrake. Bruises were showing on her arms and on her neck, and they would probably be on her legs too after falling on the pavement like she had done. He had pushed her so fast and hard away from the wheel, her frail body couldn't handle the shove. Luckily they hadn't been going down a slope or up a hill, just a plain open road.

"No!"

"What? Are you crazy" Matt moved around to meet her eyes, they were squeezed together and by the looks of it, it seemed like she never wanted to open them again.

"I can't, not again… I'm sick and tired of-"

"Okay slow down girl, you need to breathe.. Harper breathed for me" Matt stated as she started to worry again, her breathing needed to stay calm and collected. "That's it.. slow and steady"

"Thank you" She whispered, still not opening her eyes.

"No problem, now let's go home… Okay? We need to check your body" He stated with a firm tone, leading the girl back towards the car. It was a risk to put her back into it, but they couldn't just leave it out in the open either for someone to find the next day.

~X~

It was a while after the event, Harper sat on the sofa in the living room. A blanket around her as she felt her phone ring on the coffee table. She saw the number and felt immediate relief.

"Tyler?" She rasped with a hopeful tone. She hadn't spotted Caroline's car ever entering the driveway up the lawn. So she had started to worry where he and the others might be.

"Harper? You need to get to the hospital" Tyler stated with a soul crushing tone, Harper was up in a matter of milliseconds. She looked at Matt with wide eyes.

"Why?" She asked.

"Care, she is bad.. really really bad" Tyler mumbled like a crazy person and Harper went for her coat as Matt started to try and stop her.

"We will be there in 20" Harper said, meeting Matt's hard gaze that said 'Hello no, we stay put!'.

"And that's not all Harp-" Tyler sighed, and Harper could hear the tears in his throat. Harper started to pace as Matt held the car keys out of reach for her.

"Not Bonnie too!" Harper gasped as she felt chills go down her spine, and dread filled her entire being. She closed her eyes hard as she felt a headache coming, one that she hadn't felt in a long, long while. She immediately knew what this was about, and what had happened.

"They are fine! They are okay.. Harp it's dad.. he's dead"