Poison & Wine - Chapter XVII

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I woke up with a shock, gasping as my cut ached. I looked down to see my stitches has gotten ripped out before but someone had fixed me back up.

"Hey, you okay?" I looked up to see John, Jeremy, and Bonnie standing around me.

"Yes, I'm fine," I whispered, remembering those brown eyes I saw before I collapsed. Was it all a dream, was none of what I saw real? "Who… Who found me?"

"That would be I."

I looked over in the doorway, my mind pausing in all thought, except for one thing. He was alive. It wasn't a dream, he was awake! "Elijah," I said, trying to control the urge to touch to see if he was real. My heart was uncontrollable as it beat in my chest. I felt that gaping hole being somewhat patched up.

"Are you okay, Andy?" John asked, bending down beside of me. He blocked my view of Elijah which bothered me to no end. "Did Klaus hurt you in any way?"

I shook my head, unable to find words. Elijah was awake. He was alive.

"Did he tell you the sacrifice happens tonight?" Bonnie asked, and I nodded. She answered me with a grim look. At least it was still tonight and I hadn't been unconscious through it all. I moved my position so I could see Elijah more clearly.

"Will you take a walk with me, Andrea?" Elijah asked after a moment of silence between us all.

I stared at him for a moment, trying to read his expression, but gave up with no avail and nodded. Jeremy helped me to my feet, giving me a warning look. I squeezed his hand before I followed Elijah out of the door. We walked in a silence that cut me like a knife. I just wanted to apologize already, but I don't think I could even manage syllables if I tried.

We walked a little ways, until we got to a pond that had animals swimming around like there was no worry. If only that could apply to us. But at last it was very beautiful here…

"I'm so sorry, Elijah," I suddenly burst out. "I-I didn't want to… Damon said that I needed to choose whose side I was on and—"

"Andrea."

"—I just thought that you were going to kill Elena. I mean were you? Because I don't regret it then. I'm sorry for dag—"

He grabbed my face in his hands and placed his thumb over my lips. Sparks jumped over me at the contact. "I understand why you did it, Andrea," He said, staring into my eyes. "I understand why you choose your family. I would not have expected any differently."

I stared at him a moment before hugging him close. I buried my head in his coat. "I'm sorry about Jonas… and Emmeline." I murmured into his chest.

"It wasn't your fault, don't apologize, Annie." He said, rubbing my back. I pulled back to look more clearly at him, a ghost of a smile yanking on my lips. He actually remembered that? The nickname that I didn't really think he'd take seriously. Besides, Annie was something that I'd been called when I was younger by my parents because of my love for the old movie.

"You are more forgiving than I am." I grabbed one of his hands and squeezed it tightly.

"Just because your offenses weren't some I could punish you for. Besides, I heard from Elena you punished yourself quite severely," He touched my cheek with his free hand. Before I could respond, he continued speaking. "I hope my brother did not harm you."

I sighed, closing my eyes. "No, nothing serious. I-I am just glad to be away from him. He was a complete and utter, big-headed jerk."

"Which I do have to apologize for."

I opened my eyes. "No, you don't. He made his own choice to be that way."

"I don't think I helped it any," He turned away from me, looking at the pond. I came up from behind him and placed my hand on his shoulder.

"Elijah, he told me what happened with Emmeline. He is the monster who made his own decisions, not you. You're the better man," I tried reassuring. "Don't ever put yourself on the level with him. Like I told him, you're much better company."

He turned around and placed his fingertips on my chin, lifting my face up to look at him. It was just like when we first met, but now I had much deeper feelings for him and desperately wanted to kiss him. He leaned closer to me, making our lips an inch apart. Our foreheads were pressed against one another, and I could feel his body heat. My breath hitched and my heart fluttered.

"Andrea," He murmured, putting a strain of hair behind my ear. Our lips moved closer, about to touch one another—

Someone cleared their throat, and Elijah backed away as we looked over to see Stefan and Jeremy.

"Uh, we should be getting ready to leave." Stefan said.

My cheeks were bright red, and I nodded. "To go and kill Klaus, right? To save Elena?"

"And Jenna." Jeremy added on.

I froze. "Wait, what?"

Jeremy sighed and walked over to me. He put his arm over my shoulder and started to walk us toward the house. "Klaus took her for the sacrifice, but we're going to save Elena and her before anything bad happens, okay?"

"Of course," I put my head on his shoulder. As we headed back toward the house, I spoke in a lower the even though I knew Stefan and Elijah could hear. "Sorry you had to see that back there."

"Well, kind of anticipated it," He said, as a matter of fact tone. "Elena and you are twins. She loves vampires. It was bound to happen sooner or later."

I smacked his arm and we got back to the house, a laugh passing from my lips. Elijah and Stefan had stayed outside talking for a moment while the rest of us sat in the basement. I talked with Bonnie until Damon walked in.

"Come on, it's time," He said, then looked at me. "Nice to have you back, Andy."

I gave him a short nod as I stood. "I'm going to talk to Elijah," I headed out and went upstairs to see Alaric and Elijah speaking. I walked over. "Mind if I steal Elijah away for a moment?"

"No, go ahead," Alaric moved over to the side and I turned to Elijah.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" I asked him.

"I can guarantee you that I will not go back on my honor." He said.

"Pinky promise?" I held my pinky out.

He smiled small, sticking his pinky out after a second and curling it around mine. "Pinky promise."

I sighed. "I suppose I'm not allowed to come?"

"For your safety, I'm going to ask you not to," He said, dropping his pinky, but keeping his hand around mine.

"But, Elijah, my family—"

"Trust me, Andrea," He interrupted. "They will be fine. Klaus will be out of your life and your family's by dawn. I will see you then."

"I'm counting on it," I said as I hugged him tightly. Damon walked in with Bonnie and out the front door. I released Elijah and he left, then Alaric went after them to come along, but there was some kind of force field blocking him.

"Bonnie! What is this?" He demanded.

"I can't put anyone else at risk," She explained as they all turned to face him. I assumed it would block me from going out as well.

"I can't stay here with Jenna out there!" He argued.

"I'm sorry."

"You can't do this!" Alaric looked to his best friend for help. "Damon?"

"Sorry, buddy. She's right," Damon said as they turned around.

"No! You can't do this!" Alaric tried getting out, but it was no use. They were already gone. "Bonnie! Bonnie!" Alaric turned towards me. "How can you stay so calm?!"

"Please, just calm down, Ric," I felt my hands shaking. My sister and my aunt were at stake tonight, as well as Bonnie, Damon, and Elijah. I felt like I was breaking slowly. I headed downstairs to see an unconscious Jeremy and John. Alaric followed me.

We sat around, and eventually Jeremy awoke. After a few minutes of silence, he picked up a journal type thing and begun reading. I sat around, biting my nails. I was so nervous, what was going on? What was happening? It was then a pain tore through me.

I fell to the ground, clutching my chest.

"Andy! Andy, are you okay?!" They all asked, running to my side.

"K-Klaus!" I choked out, having spasms. "I can feel it all... Oh, God!" I whimpered and curled up. It was indescribable pain that hurt me so much deeper than when I stabbed myself. And somehow... I could feel his pain, emotionally, I mean. I felt scared and hurt. What was going on?

"Is she connected with Klaus, like Elena was with Katherine at the Masquerade?" Jeremy asked, looking to Alaric.

"I-I don't know. He might have done it when she was stuck with him." Alaric held my head up as I whimpered and thrashed around. But suddenly, the pain stopped and everything went back to feeling normal. I sat up, holding my head. It was as if nothing had happened.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," I reassured as I stood and returned to my spot. Eventually, they returned to their own, still watching me very closely, and we sat in silence until Alaric spoke up again.

"We should have heard from them by now."

"Did you read all this?" Jeremy ignored Alaric, and looked over at John, who was writing something.

"I did."

"So you understand what happened to the child's mother after the baby was brought back to life?"

What were they talking about?

"She saved her daughter. She found peace," John said as he sealed something in an envelope.

"John…" Jeremy said, clearly shocked.

John stood and handed the envelope to Jeremy. "I need you to give Elena this and also this." He took off his ring and handed it to Jeremy.

"What's going on?" I demanded, standing. Alaric looked just as puzzled.

John looked at us. "Take care of each other. Please."

I walked over to him. "What's going on?"

He smiled weakly at me. "You are a smart girl, Andy. You don't need me to help you. I want you to live your life, okay, sweetheart? Don't choose your first love because you feel like they're the one for you. You might be surprised to see who else you can fall for. But please be careful who you fall for, preferably stay away from vampires. I love you, Andy." He hugged me then, which I immediately hugged him back.

"I love you too, Dad," I said, tears brimming my eyes, and I felt his grip tighten. I didn't know what was going on, but I didn't like it.

There was a noise from upstairs that distracted us from one another.

"I think they're here!" Alaric said.

I pulled back, seeing tears in John's eyes. We all rushed upstairs to see Damon standing over an unconscious Elena and to see the sun had risen. Where were Jenna, Stefan, Bonnie, and Elijah?

"How is she?" Jeremy asked.

"I don't know yet," Damon said, staring at her face in worry. You could tell how genuinely worried he was for her. This was such a different Damon than I used to know.

"What about Jenna?" Alaric asked. Damon looked over at us, but didn't say anything. "No." Alaric said in shock.

"I'm sorry, Jeremy and Andy," Damon finally said. John looked at us then went outside.

"What about Elijah?" I asked after a moment of my own shock, but Damon didn't answer, because Elena woke up and gasped for air.

"Elena!" Damon exclaimed.

"Damon?" She asked.

"How do you feel?" He asked.

"I feel fine."

I looked over to see John looking at us all. He took a breath and then I saw him collapse. I fell back myself, staring in shock.

Jenna was dead. John was dead. Who was next?

"Andy?"

I slowly looked over to Elena, and held tears in my eyes. No. No. They couldn't be dead, there was no way… I seriously needed Elijah right now.

I stood at my car, watching as they placed roses on the graves. They were dressed in all black dresses or suits, while I was in a black dress pants and a long sleeved black shirt. My hair was in horrible condition and I had sunglasses on to cover my eyes that were constantly threatening to spill tears.

I didn't want to feel anything whatsoever. I felt numb and that's because what Stefan revealed to me.

"Elijah had been the one to save Klaus, Andy." He had said. Elijah had gone against his honor, his promise, and saved his brother. That was when I went numb. And, now, when they were being respectful over there, I was trying to hold myself together over here. I didn't deal with death very well.

I saw Elena crying, and then Caroline and Bonnie hug her. I looked in the opposite direction, wishing strongly for a scotch at this moment. I didn't want comfort from anyone. No one could make this pain better.

"Andy."

I looked to see Stefan standing there. "Yes?"

"I'm so sorry—"

I cut him off with a shake of my head. "Please don't. I don't want to hear it or anything fairly similar."

Jeremy walked up. "We're going to eat at the Grill now, are you guys coming?"

I twirled a cigarette in my fingers, out of their sight, though. "I think I'll pass," I turned and went to my car door. I started to get in, but Damon blocked my way.

"Why don't you stop acting like you don't care? You're not a vampire, you don't have a humanity switch, so stop pretending."

"Everyone's dying around me, Damon," I said, my voice cold. "I'd rather not care."

"Too bad," He said. "Now, take those stupid sunglasses off and go mourn with your brother and sister."

"You can't compel me, I'm on vervain," I pointed out bitterly.

"I don't care, go."

"No!" I tried hitting him, but he caught my wrists. "I'm tired of mourning! I'm tired of everyone around me dying! Jenna's gone, my parents, my actual parents, are all gone! And Elijah…" My bottom lip trembled. "Elijah's God knows where. God, I just want to punch him!" I sat on the ground, putting my head on my knees. All I could feel was anger and sorrow, but anger was drowning the sorrow. "Why?" I murmured. "Why would he save Klaus after promising me? Why did Jenna have to die? Why did John?" I felt my body shake with sobs, but no tears nor sound escaped me. I felt arms pick me up and I snuggled close, hoping to find Elijah's scent but finding a different one instead. I closed my eyes, letting exhaustion take me.

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The End of Chapter XVII

A/N: So, thank you all for reading this chapter and hope I didn't disappoint with the sacrifice. The connection of Andy feeling Klaus' pain will be explained in more depth in two chapters. Please review!

~ The Onceler's Unless