Hope would be five in a few months - almost exactly a month after Elena's due date to be exact.

It was a statement that still seemed ludicrous to Caroline. In her mind, Hope was still a baby, not at an age to be thinking about schools.

But think ahead she must, because however she looked at it, Hope was just too volatile to put her in a 'normal' school.

"You're going to home-school, right?"

Caroline jumped. "Jo! I didn't hear you come in."

Jo laughed, closing the office door behind her. "Obviously - you looked like you were in your own little world."

"Sorry," Caroline said, clearing her desk. "What brings you here?"

"Home schooling," Jo repeated. "You're going to."

"Not much choice really," Caroline said with sigh. "She's too powerful. All it's going to take is for one child to upset her and we're going to have a problem."

"Well, I've been thinking," Jo said, sitting down opposite her. "My girls are going to have the same problem when they start. Yes, okay, they need to siphon first, but there's a lot of magic in New Orleans; I wouldn't be surprised if they could siphon from the buildings themselves."

"Well, I'm happy to have them," Caroline said. "You know that."

"I know," Jo said, "but it's not just us, is it? The Salvatore kids are going to have to deal with parents that aren't ageing; Henrik's going to have the same problem as Hope; hell, the werewolves' kids are now in school, but you know what kids can be like - their parents live in camps out in the bayou; I can practically hear the letters home!"

"Well, what do you suggest?" Caroline asked. "We can't stop the kids from being supernatural, and we can't change the schools."

"Actually, Ric and I have been talking," Jo said. "We want to set up a school for kids with supernatural abilities. Not just witches, but werewolves and vampires too - and whatever else we find along the way. Anyone that needs it. But we can't do it alone."

"Count me in," Caroline said immediately. "I'm fairly sure Nik and the others have fingers in every pie imaginable; we can more than afford to help you out. I mean, we'll still have to home-school to start with - this is going to take at least a few years to set up. We'll need a building, of course, and staff and a curriculum, and …" she paused, fixing Jo with a serious look. "We need a committee."

And so a committee was formed, a melting pot of humans, witches, vampires and werewolves, all of whom were eager to see such a school get off the ground.

"Okay, I'm calling the September meeting of the Saltzman Academy Planning Committee to order," Caroline said, her voice cutting through the murmur of voices.

"You guys are practically funding this single-handedly," Ric pointed out.

"But it was your idea," Caroline said with a smile. "Besides, this is supposed to be a safe space for these kids, do you really want the Mikaelson name plastered all over it?"

"No, fair point," Ric said.

"Does anyone have any objections to the Saltzman Academy?" Caroline asked. "I thought about tacking on 'for the Young and Gifted' but that feels a bit too X-Men for my liking."

There was a murmur of agreement and Helena - Laura's mother - shook her head. "If I'm honest, Caroline, I don't care what you call it; it's just a brilliant idea."

"Brilliant," Caroline said with a smile. "First things first, we need to find a place for it."

"I found somewhere just outside of town," Jo admitted. "It's this huge old manor house, plenty of space, enough distance from town that any strange events hopefully won't be noticed. I mean, it's not perfect; it's pretty run down and it would need a lot of renovation, but I'm sure we could manage. Only problem is that it's not for sale."

"Everything's for sale," Rebekah told her with a smirk. "You just have to find the right price. I can do that."

"Thanks, Bex," Caroline said. "It does sound like a great option. I mean, we could donate the plantation house but it's in the middle of a swamp, which is not ideal."

Jo's phone beeped and she grabbed it. "Sorry, that's Bonnie. Bonnie, what's up? What? Alright, just hang tight, okay?" She looked at Caroline. "We need to get to Mystic Falls. It's Elena."

While Caroline was presiding over a committee meeting, up in Mystic Falls, Elena was having a catch-up with Bonnie.

Not that they had much to catch up on - Bonnie had been over almost every other day recently. She said it was to monitor Elena's pregnancy, but Elena wasn't convinced that it wasn't to see their new house-guest.

As if on cue, ten minutes after Bonnie's arrival, Enzo stuck his head around the living room door.

"Elena, I'm making some coffee; would you like some?"

"Decaf please," Elena answered with a smile. "Bonnie?"

"Ah, Bonnie, I didn't see you there," Enzo said, stepping further inside with a smile. "What can I get you?"

"I don't suppose that coffee machine makes a latte?" Bonnie asked.

"I'm sure I can make that happen," Enzo said with a wink.

As he left, Bonnie's phone beeped and she checked it to find a text from Elena. Hottie staring at you.

"We are not seventeen anymore," Bonnie protested in a whisper.

Elena sniggered. "You're blushing."

"I am not … Okay, maybe I am," Bonnie conceded. "Look, he's … He's a nice guy, okay?"

"He reminds me of Damon," Elena said mildly.

"Damon without the asshole streak," Bonnie said. "Although he hasn't been as bad since Katherine came back."

"It's almost like turning your humanity off is bad for your personality," Elena said as Enzo returned with a tray.

"You've become a lot more sarcastic since you got pregnant," Bonnie said, taking the offered mug. "Thank you."

"Thank you," Elena echoed. "Are those chocolate sprinkles?"

"No coffee, no alcohol." Enzo shrugged. "Chocolate makes everything better."

"Bless you," Elena said. "I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to the day I can have a drink."

"Six weeks," Bonnie said kindly. "You're nearly there."

"I know," Elena said with a sigh. "Anyway, you were saying …?"

"I was?" Bonnie asked.

"Before Enzo took our coffee orders," Elena prompted.

"Oh, yes, I was saying I was thinking of going travelling after college," Bonnie said. "Just for a few months, see more of the world."

"Where are you thinking of going?" Enzo asked.

"I'm thinking Europe," Bonnie answered. "It feels like a good starting point."

"Certainly," Enzo agreed. "If you haven't travelled much before, it's better to start somewhere that isn't a thousand miles away culturally from what you're used to."

Elena allowed the conversation to wash over her, trying to decide if Bonnie and Enzo would actually go anywhere and if she could manage to text Caroline about it without Bonnie noticing.

"I was looking into …" Bonnie trailed off, her eyes focusing on Elena. "Elena, are you okay? You look a little pale."

"Yeah, I'm fine," Elena said, grimacing in a way that belied her words. "Just uncomfortable and … and a bit nauseas."

"Was the chocolate a bad idea?" Enzo asked, sounding concerned.

"No, that was lovely." Elena set her mug to one side. "I'm going to get a glass of water; might help."

"I can fetch that for you," Enzo offered.

Elena smiled weakly. "Thank you, but I think I need to move; the babies don't like it if I sit still for too long."

Bonnie watched her leave the room, a worried frown on her face. "She's eaten today, hasn't she?"

"Damon made breakfast before he and Stefan left to get blood bags," Enzo confirmed. "And she had a couple of bags this morning, so she should be fine."

"Good, at least it's not that," Bonnie said. "Yes, so I was looking into this company that does historical tours of European cities."

"Love, if you want historical tours, I'll go with you," Enzo offered. "I probably know more than the tour guides anyway."

"Well, you probably lived it," Bonnie said, "so I believe that." She winced as a glass shattered in the kitchen. "I swear, pregnancy has brought out the clumsy in her."

Enzo chuckled. "You sure you don't want a hand, Elena?"

Elena didn't answer.

"Elena?" Enzo called again.

When there was still no response, Bonnie set her own mug aside. "I'm going to go and check on her."

At first sight, the kitchen was empty and Bonnie wondered if maybe Elena had gone outside to dispose of the broken glass. "Elena?" She called, rounding the island. "Are you … Shit!"

Enzo came running at that, materialising by her side, only to curse himself at the sight of Elena's lifeless body slumped on the ground, surrounded by broken glass.

"Get her upstairs," Bonnie said, pulling out her phone. "I'm calling Jo."