AN: Feeling sentimental tonight, knowing this is about to end. Dont worry, it rarely ever happens. I'm not entirely happy with this chapter, but I am ill and it is sort of a 'setting up the end' chapter. And the end will be here soon. Da da da dam ... Can you hear the sound of DOOM coming this way? No? Just me then.

Chapter 39: The Written Word

(Friday the 25th of December 2009. 10.11 a.m.)

The Boarding House woke to a massive hang-over. The woodwork was creaking, water pipes groaning like a dying person.

And so was Damon.

Stefan knocked on his brother's door only to have him yell at him: "Can't a guy just die in peace, anymore?!"

Stefan sighed, trying to rub his splitting head-ache out of his temples, as he walked down into the kitchen, where Finn, Darwin and Elijah were sitting around the table.

"Good morning." Finn was looking chipper and unsteady on his legs, probably having kept his drunkeness going all night and further into these morning hours, which was probably the best remedy against hang-overs. He was wearing a grey tshirt with the words 'Follow the Mad' printed on the front. Darwin was eating gingerbread rhunes, never being one to sustain a hang-over for very long.

But Elijah looked like he had gone 12 rounds with a grizzly bear and a self-propelled lawn mover and Stefan guessed that he didn't drink excessively very often. He held his head up with an elbow on the table and a hand on his forehead, frowning and blinking as if he could hardly keep his eyes open. He was wearing the same blue pants he'd worn the day before, but now with a plain, white tshirt.

Stefan gave him a doubtful look. "How are you feeling?"

"More dead than alive, "Elijah deadpanned.

"That's not true, I hope."

"Well, he was supposed to kick the bucket sooner or later, "Darwin said cheerfully. "Otherwise, how am I supposed to pay for my computer and Magic Card addictions? Not to mention tuition fees!"

Elijah snorted. "Nothing like the support of your loving family."

"Right." Stefan went into the parlour instead, finding Elena, Alaric and Jenna opening presents.

Elena got up, meeting him in the doorway. "Merry christmas, "she said with a smile, taking his hands, and he gave her a quick kiss, not wanting to make a show in front of her family.

"So, what have you got?" he asked, trying to sound cheerful through the hang-over.

"Oh, so much stuff for the babies, "Jenna said, holding up a small, pink dress. "I really hope at least one of them is a girl."

"And i actually got a blue suit from the Originals, "Alaric gave a wry smile. "Guess the School of Poshness is still in session."

"There are something for you, too." Elena tugged at Stefan's hand.

He frowned. "I told you not to buy me anything ..."

She shook her head. "I didn't get the opportunity. It's from Damon."

"Damon?" She held out a flat packet in blue paper with no ribbons and he stared at it, half expecting it to bite him like the 'Monster Book of Monsters' in Harry Potter.

Elena sighed, pressing it into his hand and closing it around it. "Come on. Even if it's evil, I know you want to know."

He went over to the couch by himself, quickly ripping the paper off. At first, he thought it was a painting, but when he turned it around, he saw lines of silver letters on a red background. The first line was written in bold letters: 'Salvatore Family Rules.' The rest of the lines were written in various sized sentences and letters.

The first one said 'Bound by blood.' Then 'Stay honest', 'Laugh every day' , 'Respect your elders' (he rolled his eyes at that one) and 'Share your worries.'

Then his eyes fell on the final line.

He put the picture down, then picked it up again, reading the lines one more time, while Elena moved up beside him. "Can I see?" she asked, curiously.

He shook his head, pressing the letters to his chest. "No, it's just ... Well, you know Damon."

"Guess I do." She smiled and when she went back over to her Aunt and Alaric, he read the last line one more time.

'You are always loved.'

(Break)

Caroline had awoken and sat on her bed for an hour with her head in her hands. She missed her parents, she missed her friends, she missed Klaus and Rebekah. She had spent a Christmas Eve all on her own, not knowing where Klaus or his sister had gone.

She had roamed the mansion on her own, finding no solace in the stylish surroundings. And now, had she been at home, her mother would be calling her down for presents under the tree and brunch; Eggs, bacon and freshly baked bread. She no longer craved those things, but she missed the familiarity of it.

Her mother.

She felt the guilt beginning to gnaw at her, knowing that the towns Sheriff would be spending an equally sad Christmas Morning all alone, or more likely working to forget the absence of her only child.

She let the tears flow for a couple of minutes, wallowing in her despair and loneliness. Then she fought the rest back, determined to stay strong and not let the bitter frustration overtake her.

She got up, walking to her bathroom to wash her red, puffy eyes with cold water. She swung the door open then gasped as she saw the red, elegant words scribbled on her mirror. At first she thought they were written in blood, but then she realized they were written with her lipstick. She read them to herself.

'Such is my love, to thee I so belong,
That for thy right, myself will bear all wrong.'

And on the edge of the zink was a black box. She opened the lid, gasping at the contents. A silver comb with green stones ... Were those real emerald? She took out the comb,noticing the small note underneath. She put the box down, reading the words on the paper written in the same handwriting as the words on the mirror.

Dear Caroline.

This is your true gift: You are free to leave. Go to you family. I only ask that you do not forget me. Maybe one day, I will be worthy of your love.

- Klaus.

(Break)

By noon, all the presents were opened. Kol paraded around in a new tshirt with the text 'I am your BOSS' printed on the front, Darwin got a brand new laptop from his family and was arguing with Jeremy over whether it was a boy or a girl. He finally named it Dagny. Damon still snarled at anyone, who got anywhere near the door to his room and Finn was watching Star Wars, drinking a shot of tequila everytime someone said 'blast'. By the end, he was singing 'Shiver Me Timbers' while an enthusiastic Jenna clapped out of sync.

But Elijah had taken up residence on the front steps, brooding. Soon the Christmas celebrations would be over and the New Years would be coming fast, and along with that the full moon, the werewolves.

And the sacrifice.

They had yet to tell Elena's family about the threat Klaus had issued. The demand he made that Elena was handed over to him by Wednesday night, or people would be killed.

They had no plan, no moonstone and for all they knew, Klaus still had Caroline.

The door opened and closed, but Elijah didn't have to look up to see, who was approaching.

"What are you thinking, brother?" Finn sat down beside him, taking a swig from a bottle, before handing it to Elijah.

Elijah gave Finn a quick look, deciding that he seemed more like his usual self, though a bit more serene than bitter. Then he sighed. "I'm thinking how useless it all is." Finn raised an eyebrow at him, and he elaborated. "Our purpose is to stop Klaus, yes, but how long can we keep that up?" He shrugged, fingering the label on the bottle. "If not this month, then there's next month and the one after that. And maybe a thousand more in Elena's lifetime."

Finn nodded slowly, fixing his eyes on a point in the horizon. "I've been thinking the same." He took a deep breath. "I cannot allow Niklaus to break the curse, Elijah. I would kill him, before I let that happen."

"The only answer seems to be killing him in the sacrifice, as was been the plan from the beginning, "Elijah said, grimacing as if the words hurt him. "But he will be expecting that and there is no way the Salvatores or the Gilbert will let the sacrifice happen."

"And Elena?"

Elijah took a drink from the bottle, before handing it back to Finn. "She would die, before she let anything happen to the people she cares about. And maybe anyone else for that matter."

Finn turned his head, giving his brother a thoughtful look. "Would she now?"

(Break)

Caroline stood on the doorstep, indesicively. Then lifted her hand and knocked. Seconds later, she rolled her eyes, grabbing the doorknob and opening the door.

This was her house for Christ's sake! She had lived here her entire life!

She entered the hall, looking around. Everything seemed different, smaller somehow but still, she could've sworn nothing had changed. There were absolutely no Christmas decorations.

"Mom?" she called out hesitantly.

"Oh my God!" She heard her mother get to her feet in the kitchen and the chair topple over. Feet moving quickly, and her mother appeared in the doorway, dressed in her uniform and looking haggard. She covered her mouth with one hand as she took in the sight of her daughter.

Caroline let out a sob. "Oh, Mom ..."

And then her mother's arms were around her, both of them crying.

"I thought I'd lost you. That you were dead."

Caroline laughed through her tears. "You know me, Mom. Harder to kill than a weed."

Finally, her mother pulled away, holding her at arms length and letting her eyes look her over for any injuries. "What happened to you?"

Caroline met her mother's gaze, slightly taken aback by the mass of raw emotion she saw in her eyes.

'This is it, "she thought, 'if there ever was a time to come clean about everything, this is it.'

She put her hand on her mother's arm. "Come. Let's talk in the kitchen."

AN: The words on the mirror are from Shakespeare's Sonnet nr. 88. A personal favourite.