Chapter Four
When Things Were Simple

Stefan opened his eyes to the darkness, and even with his perfect sight, he couldn't make out his hand right in front of his face. A smell, however, caught his attention-rust, mold and the metallic scent that he could taste on his tongue-blood. His breath of life, the overpowering fuel he needed to survive.

He was hungry.

At this point in his captivity, Stefan could hardly move, each muscle in his body screaming to be sustained.

"Ah…you have returned to us." It was the same irritating old woman from the night (or day, he had no track of time here,) before. "I must say, you look like hell."

Stefan grunted a response; afraid that if he opened his mouth, cobwebs would sprout out, spiders and all.

"That's all right, you don't need to say anything, and I'm just coming down to tell you that your brother agreed to our terms. Just as we expected he would." She smiled as she watched Stefan's unmoving expression. The vampire was dead to the world, but even he heard what she had said and raised his head to glare in her direction. "The problem is… one of my witches hasn't returned, so we will have to wait and see what happens. If he doesn't return? Well… your brother may end up going down with Elijah."

Stefan let out a low snarl, ignoring the pain of his dry throat, at the threat towards his brother. The witches weren't fools, they had planned this all along knowing whoever turned down the offer would keep a consolation prize. He was surprised, however, that Elena would do something like that. She valued life, so denying the trade made sense, but for her to do something as rash as take a hostage while knowing the consequences was unlike her. Something had to have changed in the past month, changing her to become more aggressive towards the witches.

"What's the matter vampire? Cat got your tongue?" The Salvatore kept his eyes to the ground, struggling not to attempt to tear through the bars, assuming he could move in the first place. "No matter, personally, I hate talking to myself so I'll leave you to your own. Enjoy!"

Lazily, Stefan lifted his eyes to watch the woman leave-her heart pounding in her chest making the vampire even hungrier than before. Even as he sat against the wall unmoving, Stefan could feel his body drying out from the lack of blood. Each movement was becoming excruciatingly painful and he knew he wouldn't last much longer, even a vampire that wouldn't die could still become comatose without blood, human or animal.

He needed to feed or he may just rot away regardless of who traded Elijah.

The vampire could feel himself fading in and out of consciousness, each moment of clarity he had he spent cursing himself for being in the situation he was in. Not only was he cursing himself, but hating his brother as well for agreeing to the trade. They could have killed him by now otherwise, putting him out of his misery.

As Stefan began to drift, his thoughts traveled to what should have been simpler times, when everyone was seemingly happy.

Damon and Elena had been off spending "quality" time in Las Vegas, leaving Stefan with the house to his own thoughts. It had been almost forty years ago now-when things were easier.- The Mikaelson family had been laying low, the only ones remaining being Klaus and Rebekah. Elijah- the only one Stefan could tolerate- had left the week before, and he doubted the oldest sibling would return. Stefan figured that had been why Damon took Elena out of town, a tactic to keep her mind off of her friend's departure (and they were friends, to everyone else's distaste.). She had taken it much harder than expected and Stefan could see her relationship with Damon suffering because of it, as he hated Elijah, but she never seemed to notice. Kol on the other hand, hadn't returned to Mystic Falls for just over thirty years, in which the town was much better off, so things were finally quiet in their peaceful little town.

His phone rang reminding the vampire that silence and peace were only temporary.

"Caroline?"

"Hey Stefan, uh…are you busy?" She knew the answer to that question already, but while Caroline Forbes, one of his best friends since Lexi, was usually the more abrupt "you are coming out with me" types, she knew to leave him be when he actually had the house to himself. Whatever the reason she had for calling, it had to have been important.

"No not really, I was enjoying the silence, but I have an entire week's worth of it so I'm sure I have some time to spare." He joked playfully, expecting his friend to return the laugh, but she fell silent for a moment.

"I expected you to be brooding." Caroline's tone was flat and while she attempted to be humorous, the words had a sense of finality and death clung to them and there was so much more meaning to it than just about his day. Damon and Elena had been together for quite a few years now (a lot more than he would like to think about, but time meant so little to a vampire, especially one as young as Elena) as they spent most of their time toying back and forth with each other once she made her silent decision. The reality hurt Stefan of course and he ended up distancing himself for a while which inadvertently brought him closer to Caroline.

"I'm not brooding, but you don't exactly sound so peachy yourself, what's up?"

The vampire was much older than his friend could hear her as she bit her lip, and he couldn't help but wonder if it was out of fear or sadness.

"It's Bonnie, will you meet me by her place?"

Stefan's stomach turned, Bonnie Bennett was getting older, and with her age, much more vial towards vampires. As she aged, she seemed to forget that they were her friends.

"I guess I can do that." He replied tentatively, wondering if Caroline's voice of regret was due to seeing her old, bitter friend or if there was a deeper issue. Regardless, he agreed to leave right away, hoping it wasn't anything too serious.

Bonnie's home had become aged, just as she had. The yard was spattered with brown patches from not being taken care of, the porch was cluttered and the garden was dead.

This time however was different. When Stefan pulled up to the house, the garden was flourishing with life, flowers blooming bright as if it was spring, even though it was the middle of fall. Even the grass was a wonderful shade of green, covering the entire lawn even where the dead grass once was. It gave the image of the perfect suburban home.

Stefan stepped out of his car and saw Caroline pull up as well. It was nearly the year 2044, and everyone still drove cars on the roads of Mystic Falls, their own way of keeping the small town vibe.

The blonde nodded casually to the Salvatore as they walked up the pathway to knock on the door and while expecting to see the wrinkled dark skinned woman, with greying hair and dismal clothes, both vampires were shocked to see a young woman instead. The girl who stood before them, wearing a bright pink dress and a grin on her face as if she were reunited with her best friends again, she looked so familiar but Stefan couldn't quite put his finger on where from.

"Hey guys! Thanks for coming!"

Stefan turned to Caroline, who stepped back on her feet awkwardly.

"B-Bonnie?" The vampire stammered, stricken with fear.

Stefan thought the green grass and bright garden was strange, but Bonnie Bennett standing before him, her old fifty year old body replaced with the image of a twenty five year old version of herself was unexpected-shocking even.

"What? You two look like you've just seen a ghost." The witch winked, motioning for her friends to enter her home.

The vampires examined her home carefully as for a moment; Stefan wanted to believe he had traveled back in time somehow, but the inside of the house was still the same.

"Bonnie… what did you do?" Caroline waved her hands around the house accusingly and then towards her friend's appearance. "You should know it's not a good idea to use so much magic!"

The very stubborn witch narrowed her eyes disdainfully as her friends betrayed her. "Well that doesn't sound very fair. You vampires can use your abilities whenever you want to, but witches have to abide by nature." She hissed, a common argument between her and her friends, "But that's not what I called you for."

Stefan and Caroline both exchanged worried glances, slowly but surely, Bonnie had begun using her magic recklessly until being sanctioned by a group of "elder" witches, punishing her for the abuse of power. She had been doing well, only becoming angrier over time. This overload of magic was not a good sign.

"So why did you call us here?" Stefan prodded, seeing his friend this way (even if she didn't feel the same of their relationship) was upsetting. The abuse of her power would not end well and to do something so vain as to make herself look younger was so unlike her.

"I wanted to tell you guys…I did a spell. I needed to continue the Bennett bloodline so…" she began to stumble over her words, already dreading the outcome.

"Spit it out Bonnie." Caroline folded her arms over her chest as she tapped her foot impatiently. Stefan would have told her to relax, badgering the witch wasn't a good idea but he couldn't help but match his friend's irritation.

"I'm pregnant." Bonnie murmured, her deep brown eyes that only yesterday were fading with age glistened in excitement.

"What?" Stefan's voice jumped as Caroline stepped forward, not sure if she could believe it.

"You used magic to get pregnant?" The blonde began to tug at her own strands of hair in frustration. "Is that even…legal?!"

The witch nodded, but shifted uncomfortably, Stefan could see she was convinced that what she did was right. After all, the Bennett line needed to be continued, but her friends saw exactly what was happening.

Bonnie Bennett was out of control.

The moon was going to be full that night, so it was Tyler and his pack's best chance at finally beating back against the witches. The weather- as dismal as it was- was not cooperating and the hybrid could sense a powerful storm coming their way.

The wolves had a plan and the witches hadn't given any trouble in the past couple of years so they wouldn't expect that they were going against them. It was also helping their cause that the witches lacked the power they needed to truly annihilate anyone.

It should have been easy, that was what the entire pack had assumed when they agreed to follow Tyler into the fight. They should have had the element of surprise, but they were wrong.

The battle started as suddenly as the storm, and they intended on using the distant thunder to blanket over their movements to cover the sound. The witches, a group of ten, should have equally matched the pack of wolves- even if they had a hybrid.
It started in a rush, Tyler jumping from the trees while quickly shifting into his wolf form, taking down a witch as the others- powerful from the pending full moon- surrounded the rest, prepared with the few weapons they had.

They were unable to stop the surge of power that emanated from the witches however, as it pushed the pack away and caused them to scatter and in turn separating from each other. Wolves were strongest in a pack so the further they distanced themselves, the weaker they became and the witches knew that.

Tyler, being the only one in his wolf form (a benefit to being a hybrid) was hyper aware of the others separating, each trying to take down a wolf.

The fight was much harder than they expected, and while the witches were weaker than they used to be, they were surprisingly able to overpower them. Tyler had underestimated them, and for that thought, he digressed. He was the strongest, the fastest and in turn, Tyler Lockwood was their leader and led those who trusted him into a battle they couldn't win.

Before everything began, life was simple. There was no 'pack' to worry about; there weren't witches around every corner trying to wipe out all of the supernatural species (in theory).
He wasn't anybody's leader; it was just him…and Caroline with their friends.

Then as everything went, things had to get complicated.

The hybrid found himself-his wolf- pinned to the ground by magic and his brain began to buzz. He could handle the witches, drive them away from the rest of the wolves.

Protect the pack.

It would only take a moment, and they could win. They could survive and that was what mattered.

Fighting the magic, Tyler, in his grey wolf form, pushed himself off of the ground fighting back the power that held him and lunged, latching himself onto one warlock's throat tearing it out. The other wolves, not being able to shift at will, quickly regained their positions as the other forces of nature focused their powers on Tyler.

The momentary lapse of focus from the magic however, drove Tyler against a tree, forcing him to change back into his human form. With his back broken, but still healing, Tyler struggled to his feet as the group of five witches (those that were left) pounded him down with more magic, giving the other wolves a chance to take them out one by one. The only problem was while the wolves were physically stronger and much more volatile by nature, the witches were cunning.

A blinding light flashed around them and the wolves human screams erupted through the outskirts of the forest. Blinking his eyes to regain focus, Tyler rolled onto his back, now fully healed and took a sniff into the air. The wretched stench of witch magic filled his nostrils, there were more.

With a groan, the hybrid , still disoriented from the light, tried to stand when a figure with long flowing black hair stood above him, placing her heel against his chest pushing him down to the ground.

"You should have stayed hidden mutt" the woman's voice boomed, "Do you really want to fight us?"

Tyler let out a cough while attempted to push her off of him, but the woman's magic was too strong. He moved to fight her again when a blur rushed over him, pushing the witch and dragging her to the ground where the figure, which Tyler had trouble making out, snapped the woman's neck.

The sun was still up, but covered by the clouded blanket as a storm moved in. Night would be coming soon, and the full moon would force Tyler's pack to shift. Elena knew the risk, a werewolf bite was lethal to vampires, but she needed to find Elijah and if dealing with the wolves was what it took, then so be it.

Both Elijah and Stefan were her friends, she couldn't let them die and if they didn't grab Elijah and bring him somewhere safe, the witches would seek him out and kill Stefan regardless. The only reason they had left the Original alone for all of this time was because of how well he was hidden, and he was heavily protected.

"I can't believe this." Damon grumbled under his breath. The vampire made his issue with their first "recue" mission well known before they left, but Elena ignored him. She had her mind on the task at hand.

"Are you going to chicken out on me?" she catechized, pulling her hair into a ponytail. Elena wasn't sure if she could trust her friend's intentions, his concerns were (rightfully so) with Stefan and he would stop at nothing to stop him, even if it meant killing off the vampire population.

"No Elena." He huffed, grabbing his duffel bag as the brunette armed herself as well, "That doesn't mean I am going to be happy go lucky about it. Do we even have a plan?"

Truth be told, Elena didn't have a plan, she was going to go where ever her heart directed her and that meant she was going to need to keep a hawk eye on Damon, and find the wolf with witch power so she could save Elijah and Stefan.

No. Stefan and Elijah.

Her heart was putting the Original first, but her brain knew she still had to save Stefan.

"I am going with the flow Damon." She snapped as she strapped her dagger- a custom made weapon given to her, with a silver braided hilt and amethyst stones molded into it's base. On the blade was an inscription Elena couldn't understand, and never got the chance to ask the original owner what it meant. She had held onto it all of these years as a personal item, and a useful weapon. It was one of the few objects left that she treasured.

Damon rolled his eyes waving her on and giving a few parting words to Jack before opening the front door. Elena pat the hybrid on the shoulder, and hoped Caroline was enjoying their warlock captive. The vampire shook the thought off however, trying to remember back to when things were simple and wouldn't end up with the world of death and destruction she lived in now.

She followed Damon out the door, and took in the scent of pending rain and she could hear the thunder coming from the east. They needed to hurry.

The vampires soon picked up their speed, not wanting to waste any more time and soon arrived on the south end of Stephen's Woods.

"Sounds quiet to me…" Damon arched a brow without taking a step into the woods, "We don't have time to do a search and rescue Elena."

The brunette rolled her eyes, approaching the trees when she heard a loud bang from the opposite side of the forest.

The sound brought both vampire's attention to the air, thick with the power of magic.

"Looks like we won't have to search for long." She pointed through the forest, "Sounds like they are on the other side." Elena tried not to worry about the witches nearby.

Damon nodded in agreement but rolled his eyes unreasonably. They needed Tyler to find Elijah, and regardless of the Salvatore's hidden intentions, they each had a common destination.

Quickly, the vampires cut through the forest to find themselves in the middle of a warzone. The wolves (thankfully in their human forms) were fighting off the large group of witches who were over-powering the vampires' allies.

Without hesitation, the two partners parted ways, Damon, rushing to help Elena's high school friend, while the younger placed herself in between the others, both quickly taking out their opponents.

Once their surroundings settled down, Tyler pulled both vampires aside sharing his gratitude. Elena hadn't seen the hybrid since they made the deal to help each other, but even she could see the difference in his demeanor.

"You know I appreciate the help, and not to sound ungrateful or anything, but uhm…what are you doing here? You have perfect timing." Tyler crossed his arms over his chest as if protecting himself from the vampires that had saved him.

"Tyler, we need your help." Stefan, Damon and Caroline stood before the hybrid, all three of them looking ragged.

The hybrid raised an eyebrow as he stood in the Gilbert living room, Elena was nowhere to be found.

"I'm assuming this has to do with the hybrid's fleeing with their tails between their legs and Klaus apparently being desiccated?"

Stefan nodded gravely as Damon peered out the curtains nervously.

"Klaus and Elijah have both been desiccated, Kol and Rebekah are dead." Caroline approached the hybrid and took his hand. "The witches are attacking the vampires, soon the wolves."

Tyler loosened his hand for a moment of shock. Klaus' desiccation should have been means for celebration, but by the look on Caroline's face, they were still in danger.

"What could I possibly do?" he questioned, confused. These vampires were his friends, or sometime like it, and Caroline was the girl he loved, but still, he had to be wary. From the grave expressions on their faces, it looked as if a war was beginning between the vampires and witches. The thought of this was foreign to him. Together both species would destroy the balance and in turn, the wolves as well. He had found a pack of wolves, who decided to stick close to him after news of Klaus, but by the way everything was coming out, it would be difficult for them to get to safety.

"We need you to find the Originals. " Stefan told him, his voice solemn as he looked to the floor, "And we will need your help…fighting against the witches."

"I'm sorry…you want my what?" Tyler was angry already, the vampires, though his friends and allies, never came around unless they needed something. Even after the time he had shared the woods with Damon, he wouldn't put it past him to have some sort of underlying goal.

"We know there is a wolf with witch blood in your pack. We need her help." Elena repeated, her voice calm as she tried not to sound annoyed. They needed to hurry and while she appreciated his need to defend his pack, they were on a time limit before the full moon. Quickly, she explained the situation to her friend, and the need for his help.

Tyler rolled his eyes and waved to a young woman with long curly red hair, dressed in a dirty white t shirt and grass stained jeans.

"Olivia, these are my friends Elena and Damon." He quickly introduced.

"Vampires." Olivia's bright green eyes narrowed as she gave them both a stout nod.

"Yes, but they are all right, trust me." He reassured the girl, giving Damon a glare as if to say "don't let me down". "They need your help."

Elena always found the pack dynamic interesting, they seemed to always trust each other as if it came naturally to them, a completely different system from the vampires.

"We need you to get rid of the desiccation spell on the Originals, or just Elijah." Elena blew through the explanation before Tyler could flip out. Generally speaking, the vampire race was much safer as long as the Originals remained where they were, but after yet a third explanation of their "half done" plan, they knew what needed to be done. With a dagger in each Mikaelson brother's chest, just in case, they would need to pull it out before reviving them. A promise was given to Tyler, only Elijah was going to be recovered, Klaus could stay where ever the hybrid put him (which wasn't revealed).

"There's one problem guys. I don't have that kind of power…" the red-headed wolf's eyes dropped to her feet, "I would need to draw from another source, another witch but no live witch is strong enough."

Damon's eyes gleamed in attention, a look Elena had grown familiar with over time. He had an idea.

"No live witch?" he reiterated, "What about Bonnie?"

In theory, this witch could draw from their friend's grave, as it has been done before, but it would be risky, and by the look of Olivia's expression, she knew that.

"It could be worth a shot." She shrugged, looking to Tyler for guidance, but he looked to the vampires for input, or reassurance.

"Is it that important?"

Elena nodded as she brushed dirt off of her jeans thoughtlessly. "We wouldn't be doing this if not. Trust me, we are saving lives."

Tyler nodded to Olivia, to Damon and Elena's relief. He trusted them, so they had to keep their word.

"The thing is, we have to leave…now, before she wolfs out on us." Damon moved to her side, and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, which she was clearly not comfortable with. The reaction wasn't a surprise, it was in a werewolf's blood to avoid vampires at all costs.

Olivia nodded weakly and prepared to leave while Tyler told them where Elijah was located which thankfully wasn't far, and he was safe.

They only had a few hours before sundown, and Elena could tell the wolf girl was not confident that she would even be able to perform the ritual.

As Elena and Damon turned to leave, with Olivia close by, she could feel Tyler grab her arm, turning her back to him.

"Elena…" the hybrid seemed distracted, "How's Caroline?"

Elena paused, feeling guilty, she hadn't even thought about Caroline since they arrived, yet after all their years apart, the first thing Tyler did when he had the chance was ask how she was doing. Her friend didn't even know she was going to find Tyler.

"She's all right." She responded with a partial smile. "She is doing as well as expected, but she thinks about you from time to time." She winked joking, Elena knew very well how often Caroline thought about him, which was every night. "You should take your pack back to the Salvatore Manor, there are other vampires and a hybrid, but I doubt they will give you any problems."

Tyler smiled as he patted her arm reassuringly.

"Just don't get Olivia killed all right?"

Elena smiled and waved off her friend, running after the wolf and Damon.

To those of you who are reviewing/following etc, you are all incredibly awesome! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, personally I hated it, Stefan is a hard character for me to write (and even harder when he is by himself lol) but this was an important tie in chapter I think. The next chapter will be another EE scene and then before you know it, Elijah will be back into play :)

Please please review :) Everyone who does get's a gold star (or something else really awesome, I just happen to like gold stars lol)