A few days later, the group met back up at the Boarding House. Everyone was being very careful lately, since they had no clue when Katherine and her army would arrive in town. All of their houses were protected by a barrier spell, everyone was either wearing or drinking vervain, and when they weren't busy, they spent their time training in the woods together.

"So, why'd you call this meeting?" Damon asked.

"I've been looking at our progress over the last few days, and we're still not ready to take on Katherine and the others yet." Maria said. Everyone else groaned.

"No, Maria's right." Bonnie said. "I mean, we've been training together, but in order to face someone as strong as Katherine, we're going to need to work harder."

"So what are you getting at? We're not strong enough?" Tyler asked.

"Ty, they can attack at any time." Maria said. "If it's during the day, you won't be able to use your powers as strong and they could just as easily jump us at night."

"And if it's during a full moon, we're all screwed." Alaric pointed out.

"That's not going to happen again, Ric." Maria said, taking her boyfriend's hand. "Not after last time."

"Even if it did, Maria has the cure for it." Damon added.

"So, what are you getting at?" Elena asked. "If we're not ready, I mean."

"Katherine always has back-up, right?" Maria asked. "Well, we've got some back-up of our own." She looked to the doorway. "Come on in, guys!"

On cue, three people entered. A girl with long, black hair, wearing a bright orange long-sleeve shirt and jeans, who almost looked like a model, a guy with short brown hair wearing a green T-shirt and jeans, and a slightly shorter girl with light brown hair. She wore a purple top and denim skirt. Her headband kept her hair back.

"Maria!" The shorter girl ran over and hugged her.

"Hey, girl." Maria said. "I really missed you guys."

"So, these are the vamps you've been hanging around?" The guy asked.

Before Maria could answer, Damon cut in. "Whoa, how do you know that?"

"They know everything." Maria said. "Guys, these are some of my closest friends."

"And I'm guessing you're a werewolf, aren't you?" Tyler asked the guy.

"Wow, you're good." The guy said.

"Anyway, you clearly know who we or what we are." Stefan said. "So who are you guys?"

"Right. My bad." Maria said. "I'll get on introductions. Guys, this is…"

"I'm Allison." The model girl said, holding her hand. "It's so nice to meet you guys. I've heard so much about you."

"Ease up, Ali." Maria said. "Not everyone's accustomed to your…perkiness yet."

"Hey, we've dealt with Caroline this long, haven't we?" Elena pointed out.

"Hey!" Caroline shouted, offended.

"And this is Nathan and as you've guessed Tyler, he is a werewolf." Maria said.

"And you're Mason's nephew."

"You knew Mason?" Tyler asked.

"Who do you think taught him how to surf?"

"Did you also teach him how to…"

"Damon, not now." Maria said, cutting him off. "I'm sorry, it's just, my boyfriend doesn't really trust werewolves much. We've had a few very unfriendly encounters with some of Mason's old pack members."

"Yeah, those guys could be real jerks." Nathan agreed. "I cut ties with them when I found out what they were really like."

"And who's that?" Bonnie asked.

"This is Lauren." Maria said.

"Okay, and how can these two help?" Matt asked.

"Allison's a vampire." Maria stated. The group apart from Nathan and Lauren looked at her in disbelief. Then Maria smiled.

"Hey, guys!" Everyone turned around in surprise. Allison, who'd been near the doorway a second earlier, was now over by the bookshelf. The others were laughing.

"Okay, now that was awesome." Caroline said.

"I've had time to practice." Allison said. "We used to do that prank at parties."

Maria and Lauren went over to Bonnie. "So, what's special about her?" Bonnie asked.

"She's a witch, like us." Maria said. "But she has a little trouble with her powers."

"What do you mean, like is she in trouble or…"

"She's a starting witch, Bonnie. I've been teaching her small spells and stuff, but we're not sure if she can take on anything beyond that." Maria said.

"I want to help you guys, but I don't know if I'm strong enough yet." Lauren explained.

"So, how can we help?"

"That's where you come in, Bonnie." Maria said. "I need you to help train Lauren in magic while the others train with Allison and Nate." That got chaos started again.

"Are you kidding? Why'd you even bring her if she can barely defend herself?" Damon asked.

"Don't even go there. She's my friend." Maria said firmly.

"Seriously, man. What's your problem? Lauren's like a sister to us." Nate said.

"Yeah, and no one talks about her like that." Allison added.

"Everyone calm down." Stefan said, trying to keep the peace, but it didn't last long.

"Right, how am I supposed to do this?" Bonnie asked. "I could barely handle my own magic when I started practicing."

"That's not true. You had me." Maria pointed out.

"I don't see how you ended up with this guy, Maria." Allison told her.

"Hey, back off. She's our friend too, Allison." Caroline pointed out.

"So, I was friends with her long before you were."

"Ali, does that really matter?" Nathan asked.

"Shut up, Nate!"

"Enough!" Everyone turned to look at Matt. "Look, we are all in this for a reason, to prevent this Katherine person from starting a war in town, but we're never going to be able to face her if we're all fighting each other."

"He's right and besides, we need to get back to practicing." Maria said. "Now, I know some of us have more experience than others, so Caroline, you're with Allison. Tyler, you're with Nate."

"And the rest of us?" Jeremy asked.

"We'll figure out the arrangements later." Maria said. "For now, I want anyone that doesn't have a supernatural power to stick with the normal training schedule."

"Yeah, quick question, who are these guys again?" Lauren asked.

"She brings up a point." Allison said.

"Right. I forgot." Maria said. "Well, Ali, the blonde you just insulted is Caroline, so I suggest you apologize before things get even more out of hand."

Allison went over to Caroline. Lauren turned around. "Whoa. You have a lot of positive energy."

"Is that a good thing?"

"It usually is." Maria told Elena. She went over to Lauren.

"How can you tell?"

"Sometimes I pick up small vibrations, feelings. It's how I discovered my magic. Maria's been helping me with spells ever since." Lauren told her.

"I'm guessing that guy who keeps glaring at Nate is your boyfriend." Allison said. Maria turned, looking at Damon.

"Yeah, that's him."

"So you're the famous Damon Salvatore."

"How do you know about me?"

"Maria would always talk about you." Allison said.

"Okay, Ali, we get it!" Maria said, cutting her off there. Yes, she had a crush on Damon even before they met in Mystic Falls, the night she met Elena. It didn't mean that she wanted him to know that.

"I'm Elena." Allison got a good look at her.

"Wow."

"I know, we're completely identical on the outside, but nothing alike inside." Elena said.

"Yeah, Maria told us you were a whole lot nicer than her." Allison said. "I've never met this Katherine, but I did see a picture of her once."

"Allison, I think you might remember Stefan." Maria said. Allison turned to the guy next to Elena.

"Weren't you at that party in Italy?" Allison asked. He looked at her in shock.

"How did you know about that?"

"Maria dragged me over there. She wanted me to meet Lexi."

"I dragged you over there? It was your idea!" Maria pointed out.

"It was the eighties, how am I supposed to remember?" Allison asked.

"While bringing up memories is always nice, we're kinda in a situation here." Tyler pointed out.

"So, where are we supposed to practice?" Nate asked.

"I'll show you guys." Maria said. "Speaking of which, we all better get back to training soon." She began to leave the room, and then hesitated. "You're not all going to start fighting each other if I leave the room, are you?"

"I'll keep things under control here." Elena told her.

"We'll help her." Bonnie said.

"Thanks." Maria told them. She walked out of the room. She was getting ready to change into her workout clothes. Without turning around she said, "I know, I should've told you they were coming. I was worried you might try to pick a fight with Nate."

"Not that I don't appreciate the extra back-up, but a little warning would've been nice."

"I've already set up a place for them to stay while they're here." Maria told him. "Look, can you try to be cool around them? They're like my siblings. The four of us have been together for a couple years now."

"I can't make any promises, you know."

"I wasn't expecting you to." Maria said. "Now can you please let me change?"

"Hey, about what Allison said down there…"

"Can we please talk about it later?" Maria asked. She was already embarrassed enough.

"No problem." When she turned around, she was relieved to find Damon had left. She quickly changed and left the room.