A/N: This is a long chapter, I had a lot I wanted to do here. And I'm still reeling a little from last night's TO. I hope you like this. Thank you for all the wonderful, kind words. Kaylabeth21, deviljolie, SwanQueen4055, PLL and Victorious RULE, Ellavm18, PerfectlyGoodHeart, Le26199, spongee09, jessnicole, jelsi4ever, KM, SarahCullen4, Girl96xoxo, Hopelessromanticatheart26, klauroline4life, all of our guests - thank you from the bottom of my heart! Thank you for the follows, favorites! If you're in the states, happy Thanksgiving!

tvdandtoaddiction - I hope so too! =)

We made it to Mystic Falls in a little over two hours. We had to stop to get fast food dinner for Clarice and her daughters, who I'd learned were eleven and thirteen. The younger girl was named Christine, the older daughter was Anya. They were relatively quiet as we rode along, Clarice asking us what been happening with Silas. Rebekah and I told her what we knew anyway.

We reached my old high school around ten and I was grateful it was a Friday night because the center of the expression triangle was where Bonnie had needed to be when she lowered the veil. It was where we needed to be now.

"We're here, Bonnie," I whispered, with so much hope.

Clarice had brought a ton of candles and she was setting them up with the help of her daughters. Carefully, she opened the grimoire Elijah had provided us and opened it to the page he'd marked. The tiny witch scanned the pages, her lips moving silently. She was trying to memorize it.

"Aren't you going to call your friends?" Rebekah asked me.

I shook my head. "If this works, I will."

Rebekah nodded, her sympathetic look telling me she understood.

"How long is this going to take," Rebekah grumbled.

"Don't know," Clarice asked, still reading the spell. "I've never done this before."

"So you're using expression?" I asked her. I knew it was the dangerous magic Shane had taught Bonnie.

Clarice looked up from the grimoire, her gaze locking with mine. "No," she said firmly.

"Then how are you going to pull this off?" Rebekah asked, looking doubtful.

"Without expression," the witch told her. "That can be some really dark stuff. My great aunt was almost lost to it, just like your friend here. She tried to pull my grandmother into it. It could have easily ended our line because they were both pretty fascinated with it for a while. It's very difficult to control."

Placing down the grimoire, Clarice found the place where she wanted to stand and began to chant in the same type of witchiese that I'd heard Bonnie use several times. But it felt like the atmosphere was changing around us. Every single candle was lit by flame in a single second. And for all that light, the room felt darker, colder.

"Whoa!" Christine said, her blue eyes wide as she watched her mother.

I didn't feel as if I could move in that moment as I watched the witch chant. Even Rebekah seemed mesmerized. The air around us felt charged, alive in a way it normally wasn't. Even though I couldn't see anything, I could feel things. It felt like people who I couldn't see were walking around me. It felt as if the five of us were standing in a room full of people, when in truth we were in a dark, dank cave that was huge and empty.

Please, Bonnie. Please be there.

I had no idea how long we stood there, how long Clarice chanted. The air felt heavy. I was holding my breath in anticipation too, I realized.

Clarice stopped chanting, but the rest of the magical weirdness stayed the same. The witch looked to me. "I didn't know your friend in life. Call to her."

I nodded. Please let this work.

"Bonnie!" I called. I counted to ten. "Bonnie!"

"Caroline?"

Oh my God, it was her voice!

"Bonnie!

"Caroline? Where are you?"

It was working. Clarice continued to chant.

"Bonnie!" I yelled again.

"Caroline, I'm coming!" she called back to me.

Wait. Her voice didn't come from the area Clarice had surrounded with candles. It sounded like it came from behind us.

"Bonnie?" I called.

Like a vision from a dream my best friend ran into the cave from the same direction we had. Jeremy, Elena and Damon ran behind her. She was gorgeous as ever. She'd cut off her hair in a cute bobbed style.

Tears stung my eyes to see her alive. She was alive, right?

I ran at her, grabbing her in my arms the second I reached her. I was crying in earnest now.

"You're alive," I said, struggling through tears to get the words out.

"I'm alive," she said, hugging me back before pulling away. "What is she doing?"

Bonnie left me to walk toward Clarice who continued to chant, watching us out of the corner of her eye even so.

"You can't drop the veil," Bonnie told her desperately. "You have to stop."

"You've got to be kidding me," Rebekah said from behind me.

Clarice stopped chanting, glancing back and forth between Bonnie and me.

"Is that your friend?" she asked me.

"Yes," I told her.

"Please," Bonnie pleaded with her. "Stop. The veil has to stay up."

Clarice's expression was incredulous. "Are you serious?"

Bonnie nodded, looking very concerned. None of us noticed Christine run into the area before her mother and disappear until she was gone.

"Christine!" Clarice yelled. "Holy crap! Christine, come out of there! Now!"

The younger girl had run into the other side. I didn't even know that was possible. This was bad.

"Help me!" Clarice called to Bonnie.

"Who are the kids?" Damon asked, standing protectively in front of Elena. "Who's the witch?"

Bonnie drew closer to Clarice. "I no longer have magic. But I can try to go into the other side to get her."

"Bonnie, no!" Jeremy ran up and grabbed her arm. "Bonnie, what the hell? We just got you back. You're not running in there."

Pulling against him, with no luck, Bonnie looked at Clarice and back to him.

"She's a child. I have to get her out," Bonnie implored him.

"You're the anchor?" Clarice asked her, anxiety written all over her face.

"How do you know that?" Bonnie asked her, alarmed.

"Later! Christine!" Clarice called. "Please come to me!"

"Stop!" I heard the girl's voice yell. "Why are you pushing me? Mom! He pushed me!"

I didn't know whether to be terrified for the girl or relieved to hear her voice.

"Christine! You get out right now! I can't hold this open for much longer!" Clarice's form was shaking now.

"Don't push me!" the girl yelled again. "Hey!"

Anya stood watching the scene with her arms folded across her chest. "Could my sister be a bigger idiot?"

Jeremy struggled to hold onto Bonnie who was trying to run into the other side to save the girl. Elena stayed behind Damon, concern clouding her face. Damon watched the scene in fascination. Clarice was struggling, I could feel the crazy magic atmosphere around us all fading.

"Jeremy, let me go!" Bonnie yelled at him.

"Christine, please," her mother begged. She was going to give out any moment.

I jumped when something rushed out across the line to land at Bonnie and Jeremy's feet. It was a bright burst of light, a great gust of wind from the sheer force of whatever had escaped the purgatory for supernaturals.

Clarice crumpled to the ground, struggling to catch her breath as she stared at the three figures that had just came through. Bonnie's eyes were wide on them and then she crumbled too like an old doll. Her eyes were closed and she was still.

"Bonnie!" Jeremy dropped to her side and I rushed at them.

Within a second, I heard her strong heartbeat. "She's alive!" I cried.

Elena had scrambled to Bonnie's side too. "What's happening?"

Knowing that Bonnie was safe, my attention was riveted to the group who had come out of the other side, sprawled on the ground.

The girl got up first. "That. Was. Awesome!" Her yell echoed through the cavern and her excited smile caused all the fear to drain from her mother's face. Clarice clumsily climbed to her feet and dashed over to grab her child, not knowing who the other two figures were.

They were two men. One of them slowly got to his knees, and my heart squeezed in my chest to realize it was Alaric Saltzman. He held a hand to his chest and his mouth was open as if he were just learning to breathe. His eyes were the warm eyes of our teacher not the stony eyes of the monster Esther created – to my great relief.

"Ric?" Damon asked, moving closer to his friend. He clasped a hand to Ric's shoulder, obviously making contact. "You're back?"

"I don't know," Ric said, looking at Damon, then Bonnie. Then Clarice.

"Is the veil…?" Ric started.

Clarice, with her arms protectively around her girl, and several steps away from us, nodded. Her other daughter was behind her. "The veil is up."

"I'm alive?" he asked incredulously.

"Guess so," Clarice told him.

"Ric?" Elena grabbed him, hugging him fiercely to her. Jeremy followed suit.

"Seriously?" Damon shot a glare in Clarice's direction now. "He's alive? He's back?"

"We could always kill him and test the theory," Clarice snarked.

Rebekah chuckled behind her. I'd almost forgotten about Rebekah in all this. Bonnie was alive. I was so relieved Clarice's daughter wasn't hurt. So happy and grateful that Ric was back. That would mean the world to Elena, Jeremy – all of us.

But Rebekah's blue eyes widened in something like horror and I followed the line of her gaze to the third party who had come through from the other side. Another man with very familiar features. Like Ric, he moved slowly as if trying to figure out what happened. When he rose from the ground, I heard Rebekah's gasp the moment I recognized him.

"Kol!" Rebekah cried, looking like she wanted to run at him and run away from him all at the same time.

Ric and Damon grabbed Elena, pulling her towards the exit while Jeremy stood his ground, glaring at his old rival.

Kol looked disoriented for a moment but then his dark eyes sparkled with the same mischief I remembered. He held up his hands to Jeremy, grinning.

"Hold up there, Gilbert," Kol told him. "I'm not a threat to you. I'm just happy to be back."

"Are you kidding me?" Damon was livid. "Whose bright idea was it bring back original baby brother?"

"Hey," Christine told him, pointing at Kol. "He pushed me too!"

Damon's brow furrowed. "Why are there kids here?"

"Kol?" Rebekah made her way around me to reach her brother. She looked a little afraid of him.

"Rebekah," he said, pulling her to him in what appeared to be a genuine hug. "So glad to be back. You've moved on from the quarterback then?"

Pulling back from him, she eyed him warily. She'd told me what happened the last time she'd talked to this brother. How he'd gone after Matt.

"You're going to leave Matt alone," she told him.

"Honestly, sister, I'm not here for retaliation. I'm just back." Smiling warmly, well warmly for Kol Mikaelson, he then turned his attention to Clarice and her girls. "There they are."

Even Anya, tough little thing that she was, looked a little concerned as he approached.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked Clarice.

Standing now, she pushed her younger girl behind her. She seemed okay after all that had happened. Using so much power always devastated Bonnie. It was curious.

"I think so," she told him, studying him. "How the hell did I manage to bring you back?"

"Nuh-uh," Christine said from behind her mother. "I brought you back here. And you pushed me!"

Kol chuckled. "Aren't you a delightful little darling?"

"I'm not your darling," Christine told him, all fire. "And don't push me."

"Wait, is he…?" Anya started to ask.

"An original," Clarice told her, "and our ancestor."

"What?" Damon moved a little closer to their group. "Ancestor?"

"So that line exists," Elena said, standing with Ric. "I read about you when we were looking for anything to help us with Silas. A line of witches that descended from the original witch. I didn't think you'd still be around."

"That's where I remembered that symbol," I told her, having helped them research. It was the symbol from the coin Elijah found. The three roses.

Kol's attention turned to me when I spoke. He winked at me.

"Great so now we have original witches?" Damon threw in there.

Clarice shook her head. "We're witches, not immortal. But our line goes all the way back to this guy."

"Sorry about that," Damon said.

"Can we go someplace less creepy to talk?" Elena asked. "Are we done here?"

Clarice nodded.

"Let's all head for boarding house," Elena told them.

Damon shook his head. "No originals in the boarding house."

"Damon," Elena said to him warning.

"It's okay," Rebekah said. "We'll need another car to get everyone back to New Orleans. Kol and I will head over to the mansion, get another car there. Give everyone time to talk."

I didn't miss the look Rebekah shot me. I nodded to her. It was incredible what just happened. And quite a bit overwhelming. Ric was back. Kol was back. Bonnie was alive but unconscious. There was a lot to talk about.

I helped the witches gather the candles while Jeremy gently picked up Bonnie. Elena came over to give me a hug.

"I'm so glad you're back, Care," she told me. "I've missed you. And now Ric is back. It's been a very good night."

I loved to see her smile. So much that I decided not to tell her I wasn't staying. Yet.

After everything that had happened, Clarice insisted on staying the night at the boarding house so she and her girls could rest. Rebekah wasn't happy about it when I called to let her know. But Kol took their side, telling her we'd be on the road in the morning. He came on the phone to ask me if I spoke to his brothers, not to mention him. He wanted his return to be a surprise.

Oh, it would be a surprise all right. I just hoped it was a good one for his original brothers.

Damon and Alaric were drinking, catching up by the fireplace. Bonnie, Elena, Jeremy and I made our way into the kitchen. We were all tired but there was so much to catch up on, particularly for me.

I couldn't believe the Silas situation was over, just like that. Elena told me all about the fierce love triangle that was Silas, Amara and Qetsiyah and how it all went down. The three of them were dead. Amara had been the anchor for the other side but Qetsiyah had transferred that honor to Bonnie, who now kind of existed in both worlds. Her magic was gone but she was here and alive. Still, the idea that every time a supernatural passed over to the other side had to go through her? That would suck. The fact that she was the anchor was how she knew where to find us with Clarice trying to pull down the veil.

"How are you feeling?" I asked Bonnie, still in awe that she was really there.

"Exhausted," she told me. "I'm new to this anchor thing. I thought people crossing over the other side from here was bad. That took a lot out of me."

"I still don't understand," Elena said. "How were they able to come back?"

Bonnie shook her head. "I've been thinking about that. I think it must have something to do with that witch."

"Clarice?" I asked.

"Yeah, I was scared when that girl ran into the other side. I didn't feel like she'd be trapped there because she's alive, but I was worried about the consequences from it. I thought if anyone on the other side attached themselves to her, she could pull them out with her." Her dark eyes looked to me. "I didn't see a lot. I saw Ric trying to push her back out on this side. He was just trying to help. She'd grabbed his wrist when they came back through so I think she did pull him out inadvertently. I just hope there isn't a side effect from that."

"But he'll be able to stay right?" Jeremy asked.

"I think so," she told him.

"Then what about Kol?" I asked.

Worry was etched in my friend's features. "That I'm not sure about but I think it has something to do with the witch."

"She's strong," I told them. "I watched her take Rebekah down on her front porch with so little effort."

Bonnie nodded. "She brought the veil down and she wasn't using expression. She wasn't even using dark magic. My family has some strong witches, you guys know that. I had a lot of power before I… But this woman? I've never felt anything like it. Not even with Qetsiyah. And the kid, the one who ran into the other side, I could feel magic coming off her. She's potentially stronger than her mother. It's scary."

"The mother recovered so fast from messing with the veil," Elena pointed out.

"Was Kol able to come back because Clarice is that strong?" I had to ask.

"And she's his bloodline," Bonnie said.

"Wow."

"Caroline, what scares me is the three of them, with that sort of power, in the hands of the original family," Bonnie told me.

"I know." I sighed. "Silas was the reason why they sought them out anyway. But now that he's no longer a threat… There's still the whole thing with Tyler."

"You've seen Tyler?" Elena asked.

I nodded then launched into the story of what had been going on that I knew about. Hayley, the baby, Tyler and his plans. Marcel and Klaus' quest to take back New Orleans.

Neither Elena nor Jeremy seemed terribly surprised by what was going on in the world of the originals. Bonnie, however, hung on every word I said.

"If they use that child to create a hybrid army," Bonnie said, "it could be a death sentence for vampires."

I nodded. "Clarice thinks it would have a bad impact on witches too."

Jeremy snorted. "So if Klaus knew he could make more hybrids using his kid's blood, why wasn't he been working on a hybrid army?"

"Because he doesn't want that anymore," I snapped at him. "He wouldn't sink that low."

"Wouldn't he?" Bonnie asked.

That pissed me off. "No, he wouldn't."

"Caroline, what's going on with you?" Bonnie stared at me. "I'm guessing that you and Tyler are broken up now and I'd blame Silas for that, because apparently he really messed with his head. But what's going on with you and Klaus now?"

"You didn't talk to Tyler," I told her. "He was totally himself when he showed up to take Hayley that night. He knows what he's doing and he's out to destroy Klaus. And yeah, we're broken up. He hates Klaus more than he loves me. End of story."

Tears stung the backs of my eyes. Elena's hand slid over mine. "I'm so sorry, Care."

"I am too," Bonnie continued. "But you need to get away from them, Caroline. Stay here. Tyler may be down there and plotting his revenge, but that has nothing to do with you now. And you could get caught in the crossfire, hurt, killed."

Her words stung even though I knew she was coming from a place where she cared about me.

"Come on, we can do the whole college thing now like you always wanted," she smiled, appealing to the hopes I'd had before all of this happened and I'd learned that she'd died.

"I promised him I'd come back," I said slowly.

Anger flared in Bonnie's eyes. "Did Klaus threaten you?"

Yeah, but not in the way you're thinking.

"No," I admitted. "I'm just… I'm going back."

Bonnie winced, looking at me like I had two heads. Jeremy's expression wasn't a lot different.

"Care, are you with him now?"

I hated the way Bonnie was talking to me like I was a crazy person.

And I hated lying to my friends. I always had. And I wasn't good at it.

"Yeah, I guess I am," I admitted.

"Caroline…" Bonnie glanced helplessly to Elena. "Do you think he compelled her?"

"I'm right here, Bonnie. And no, I'm not compelled." I glared at her. "Is it so hard to believe that maybe I'm going back because I want to?"

"Yes, it is," she said. "Caroline, you know all of the things he's done. To Elena, to all of us. How could you possibly feel anything for him?"

"We've all done terrible things, Bonnie," I said more sharply than I intended to. "I killed twelve witches to save you."

Blowing out an exhale, she stared me down. "You can't even put yourself in the same category as Klaus, Caroline. He's a monster. He killed Jenna, Elena, Tyler's mother, his own hybrids. Look how he treats his own family. Please, think this through."

I knew everything she said was right. I'd thought about it all hundreds of times. But it didn't change how I felt…

"I have Bonnie," I said finally. "And I love you guys, but I'm going back."

Bonnie looked to Elena to help her make a case. Elena's expression was sympathetic.

"Bonnie, if that's how she feels…"

"I can't believe you of all people aren't trying to stop this," Bonnie told her.

"How am I any better?" Elena said. "I'm with Damon. He's done a lot of terrible things too. He killed Jeremy. He killed Ric. He turned your mother into a vampire, Bonnie. You accept the fact that I'm with him."

"Damon loves you," Bonnie pointed out. "He has feelings. I doubt Klaus Mikaelson does."

"Oh I wouldn't be too sure about that," Damon came sauntering into the room, coming a stop behind Elena's chair. "Klaus loves blondie here. It's pretty obvious."

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Even so. She could get hurt, she could get killed. All it would take is for him to get really pissed at her and he might even do it himself."

Anger mingled with a shiver of fear at her words. While I didn't believe Klaus would hurt me, his temper was breathtaking and unpredictable. I'd be lying if I said I had absolutely no fear of him.

"Bonnie," Damon implored her. "Ease up. This could be a good thing. Blondie gets in with the originals and they're on our side, right? It's muscle. That's not a bad thing especially now that you are magic… less."

"You're drunk, Damon," Elena turned to look up at him.

"Not that drunk," Damon assured her. "Blondie, if I were you, I'd do what makes you happy. But then, I always do."

Damon, not my favorite person in the world by any means, was taking my side. I nodded my thanks to him, earning me one of his signature smirks.

"Let's get some sleep," Jeremy told Bonnie with a gentle hand on her shoulder.

She nodded but her attention was still on me.

"Just think about what I said," Bonnie told me.

And I would. But it wouldn't do a damn thing to change the fact that I couldn't wait to see Klaus.