CHAPTER 5

Nora was clever and tried to buy as much time for Mary Louise and herself before they actually agreed to help bring Stefan back.

Nora wanted to make up for lost time with her girlfriend and even though they were planning to leave Mystic Falls, that didn't stop the brunette from wanting to spend every minute of every day with her lover.

Valerie was growing impatient. Damon was on her case about why the other Heretics were stalling so one day, while Nora was out, Valerie turned her attention to Mary Louise.

She stood, leaning against the door post while Mary Lou sat the table, reading poems that Nora had written to her years ago. She was smiling fondly at the writing and she didn't even seem to notice that Valerie stood behind her.

"You're enjoying this, are you?" Valerie asked, her tone laced with venom.

The blonde's smile still remained as she turned around in her chair.

"She really loves me, doesn't she?"

Valerie nodded, folding her arms.

"She does. She's happy now that you're back. Happier than I've ever seen her in fact."

Mary Lou smiled and Valerie walked towards her, clenching her teeth.

"But that doesn't exempt you from the fact that we have a little arrangement."

Mary Louise looked down at the floor, nodding her head slowly.

Valerie sighed and softened the tone of her voice.

"I know it's difficult now but look at it for what it is; Nora is happy and you said you didn't want her to feel hurt anymore, didn't you?"

The blonde lifted her eyes her to Valerie's.

"I did, but lying to her? Pretending that my memory was recovered during that silly spell? Is this really the right thing to do? And how do I know that if you had not of given me that protection charm, it wouldn't have worked?"

"Because something such as recovering memory is not that easy. Don't you think if it were I would've done it for you myself?"

Mary Louise nodded in agreement. She trusted Valerie and she knew that she had her best interests at heart.

"Now, Nora will continue to be happy and you will continue to play the doting girlfriend, are we clear?"

The blonde nodded and Valerie smiled.

"Good. Now see if you can convince her to help with the Stefan problem. I'm getting tired of waiting."

...

Nora came back to the house with her arms full of shopping bags. Mary Louise met her in the kitchen and she chuckled when she saw Nora struggling to get them on the counter.

"What is all that?!" Mary Lou asked through her laughter.

Nora smiled.

"I thought we would have a nice night in, so I've got us some goodies."

The blonde smiled at her thoughtfulness.

Nora really was sweet and it was now that she wished she could remember everything about their time together. Valerie's words came back to her and the smile faded almost instantly from her lips.

Nora saw it straight away and her brow furrowed.

"Mare? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just that...I think we should help Valerie with Stefan now, don't you think?"

Nora nodded but she didn't looked overjoyed about it.

"Great, I'll go tell Valerie and then we can-"

Nora stopped the blonde from walking out by putting a hand on her arm.

"Not tonight. Let's just have this night in and then tomorrow we'll tell her, please?"

Mary Louise gave Nora a warm smile and lent forward, giving her a gentle kiss.

"Of course. Why spoil a lovely evening?"

Nora smiled and then started preparing food, drink and snacks of all sorts.

Mary Louise took a seat at the kitchen counter and watched the brunette at work.

Nora turned when she felt herself being watched and frowned with amusement.

"Why are you watching me?"

Mary Lou smiled.

"I like watching you. You have everything in order and you know what you're doing."

Nora smirked.

"Except when I'm making pancakes."

The blonde frowned a little.

"Pancakes?"

"Yes. You remember, our last anniversary, I burnt a whole stack of them and nearly set the kitchen on fire."

The frown remained on the blonde's face.

"You do remember that? Don't you?"

Mary Louise forced herself to smile.

"Of course. Just like it was yesterday."

Nora smiled, content with that answer and then moved the bowls of snacks into the lounge.

Mary Louise followed her in.

"So, what are we watching?"

Nora turned around, a bright smile on her face.

"Well, I thought we could watch one of your favourites."

Mary Lou wondered which one it could be.

"Which is?"

Nora frowned again.

"Pick one. I thought you would jump at this chance."

The blonde panicked. God, how she hated lying to Nora.

"I think you should pick for me."

Nora smiled.

"Ok, I will."

She then went back into the kitchen to fetch the drinks and pretty soon, the lounge looked lovely and cosy and Mary Louise wanted nothing more than to snuggle up to Nora on the couch and rest her head on the brunette's shoulder while they watched whatever it was Nora had chosen.

Valerie came downstairs just before they were ready to start and she gave Mary Louise a look before heading for the door.

"You two have a nice night." She called before they both heard the front door shut quietly.

Nora sat down first and took Mary Lou's hand, pulling her gently down next to her.

The blonde smiled and tucked her legs underneath her, getting comfortable.

Nora put the film on and they watched it all the way through to the end with Nora commenting on something she thought wasn't right or something that Mary Louise liked. It was nice and comfortable but when the credits went up, Mary Lou was sad that the night was ending.

Nora got up and headed for the stairs.

"Where are you going?" The blonde asked brightly but she also felt lonely when Nora moved away from her.

Nora turned back, a knowing smile on her face.

"To get something. Meet me in the garden. I won't be long."

Mary Louise smiled and then did as instructed.

The garden was dark but there were a few lit laterns that made it feel warm and restful. Mary Louise wondered if it had always been like this and tears stung the backs of her eyes as she wished she could remember. Nora was a lovely girl and Mary Louise now knew that it had to be true that they had been together, who wouldn't want to be with Nora, she was perfect.

Mary Louise turned once she heard Nora's boots on the concrete.

"There you are."

Nora smiled nervously and took a step towards the blonde.

"I know this isn't as special as when you did it but I'm going to try and hope that this is what you still want."

Mary Louise watched as Nora produced a ring. It was beautiful white gold with a little diamond in the center. On the band, written in ittalics was the words 'Eternity'.

Mary Louise felt tears coming forward again as Nora looked into her eyes.

"You were right before; 133 years is not enough."

Mary Louise hated that she couldn't remember saying that.

Nora took the blonde's hand and slipped the ring onto her wedding finger.

Mary Louise looked down at the ring and her brows drew together.

Nora's heart almost stopped.

"Mare?"

"I can't do this..." She whispered, her eyes not leaving the ring on her finger.

"What? Have I done something wrong? Is it too soon? Tell me."

Mary Louise shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"I can't do this to you."

"Can't do what to me? Mare, please, I don't understand."

Mary Louise lifted her tear stained face to look Nora in the eye.

"I've...I've been lying to you."

Nora frowned.

"Lying to me? Lying to me how?"

"I haven't got my memory back, Nora. I can't remember a thing."

"But when I kissed you, you didn't pull back and I know you feel something I-"

"You're right, I do. I do feel something but I don't remember any of it. And as strange as this sounds, the only thing that I am completely sure of is that over time, pretending to love you...I actually do. I love you, Nora."

The brunette stared at the blonde and shook her head.

"I can't believe this...you lied to me, but why?"

"Valerie said that-"

"Valerie?! Why would you listen to her?"

"Nora, please hear me out."

"What else is there to say, Mary Lou? You've listened to Valerie and she's twisted your mind to make you rely on her! At what point did you think that lying to me was the right thing to do? And Bonnie, she did that spell, why didn't it work-"

"Valerie gave me a charm. She said the spell could harm me rather than cure me. That's why it didn't work." Mary Louise explained.

Nora turned away from her and Mary Louise grabbed her arm.

"Nora, please. I'm sorry...I love you."

Nora looked down at the hand on her arm.

"And you think I could ever love someone who lies to me like you have?"

"Valerie said that-"

"And you trusted her...I loved you, I told you I loved you but still, you went to her."

Nora pulled her arm away harshly and left Mary Louise standing there, tears falling down her face and a heart that was breaking for the one she loved above everyone else. If only she could remember.

Author's Note- So Mary Louise has been lying all along! Valerie has been manipulating her and poor Nora didn't have a clue about any of it! Think they can work it out?

I'll update soon so you can see what happens for yourself.

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