Poison & Wine - Chapter XXXIX

~ * • ° • ° • * ~

Caroline, Elena, I were walking through the gym hall which is being decorated for the 20's decade dance. Caroline has a clipboard and was in charge of the preparations because Rebekah – who was originally in charge of decorations – was nowhere to be found.

"So, Alaric is trying to pull himself together, why is that a bad thing?" Caroline asked us. Alaric had called us earlier and informed us he would be leaving town for a few days without much of an explanation.

"I just – I wish there was something I could do," Elena said as she picked up a chandelier. "Where do you want me to hang this thing?"

"You know what, if Rebekah wanted to hang this monstrosity she should have shown up to do it herself," Caroline took the chandelier and handed it to a passing by student. "Just no!" She then noticed Matt and Jeremy hanging up stars in the ceiling. "What are you doing? You can't just hang them! They're supposed to trickle down."

"Trickle, duh!" Matt grinned over at Jeremy. I'm glad that Jeremy came back, things just weren't right without him. I don't think I could've handled him being gone for more than a month, even if that.

"Look at them all bromancy," Caroline said.

"Yeah I asked Matt to help Jeremy readjust. He got him his old job back at the grill," Elena said and I cleared my throat. "Which Andy also helped with."

"Thank you," I said with a grin.

"That was nice of him," Caroline didn't look like she approved.

"Jeremy has got a lot on his mind. The whole thing with Alaric has got him really stressed out," Elena said.

"You sure it has nothing to do with witnessing you and Damon getting hot and heavy in a skeevy motel?" Caroline asked.

"What?" I looked over at Elena with wide eyes. "Damon and you...?"

"No, we didn't sleep together, Andy. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to hurt you," Elena said.

"Elena, I am way over Damon, go for it. I don't care or mind. I actually think it'll be interesting to see you two together," I gave her a smile.

"Uh, thanks," Elena swallowed, obviously surprised at that.

"So who are you two bringing to the dance?" Caroline asked us, steering the conversation off of that.

"What do you mean? I thought you, Bonnie, Andy and I were going as girl dates," Elena said.

"Bonnie almost had me killed so I really don't feel like going with her," My nose wrinkled up.

"Hm, Bonnie has a date, anyway," Caroline revealed.

"What?"

"Jamie called and wanted to see her so she asked him," She explained.

"Hmm," Elena looked thoughtful for a moment.

"So here's a thought, why don't you ask Stefan?" Caroline said.

"I can't ask him on a date, I just made out with his brother."

"All the more reason! Look you're supposed to be figuring out what you want, that's what Stefan wanted you to do, right?" Caroline was moving her hands around as she spoke.

"Yeah, but..."

"But nothing! I've watched The Bachelor, okay? Fair is fair. It is Stefan's turn," Caroline said.

"Yeah and you're not biased or anything," I snapped at her.

"I'm sorry, but Stefan is her epic love. And I'm not going down without a fight," Caroline argued.

"You can have more than one epic love, Care," I turned to Elena. "I think you should bring who you want, Elena, and not who Caroline suggests. If it's Stefan then fine, bring him, but it has to be who you want... I gotta go shopping now to pick out my outfit. I'll see you all later." I walked away from them then, knowing they were probably going to say something about me behind my back but I honestly didn't care.

I was in the shop, looking at various dresses. I picked up a purple dress that was a little like something from the twenties, but I wasn't very sure about it. While I was looking at it, I heard a surprising voice from behind me.

"You know, I lived through the twenties and I really don't think that's a good choice."

I turned around with the purple fabric in my hand to see Emmeline standing there. "Emmeline, what are you doing here?"

"I came to say good-bye," She walked over to me. "There's nothing more I can do for you, Andy."

"I honestly thought you'd left already,"

"No, I stayed to make sure you were okay… but I'm going to stay for a few days to make sure everything's good when I go. It's getting harder and harder to conceal myself from Klaus," Emmeline sighed. "Please take our previous conversations into actual consideration. I know you haven't."

"I'll try."

"I guess I can accept that," She hugged me, catching me completely by surprise. "Good-bye, Andy."

"Good-bye, Emmeline," As soon as the words hit the air, she vanished. A part of me was relieved and another part was scared, but I don't why. I pushed it out of my mind as I found another costume that I liked out of the other ones.

I was helping Elena adjust her headband for her costume in her room. Hers was completely white and I liked it, but liked mine more. I had a striped black and white flapper costume, fishnet pantyhose put on my legs, black heels, a black necklace, and a headband that had fake diamonds in the middle and black feathers came out from the top. My hair was styled just as Elena's was, though I wasn't too happy to contain my curls, I did so I would look like a flapper. Overall I thought mine was good.

The doorbell rang and she hurried downstairs to open the door. Stefan was waiting on the other side. So she had chosen him for tonight. He smiled at her. "Wow, you look very dapper," She said.

"You look um – very beautiful. Here, I got something for you," Stefan pinned a white rose to Elena's dress.

"Thank you."

"So, given our dangerous dance karma, sure you're up for this?"

"Getting out of bed is dangerous these days. But we have to live our lives.'

"Hmm. Who gave you that horrible advice?"

"Some guy I used to date said it once or twice.'

"Right."

I rolled my eyes and walked down the stairs. "Very subtle."

"Andy," Elena blushed.

"Do you want a ride?" Stefan asked me. "Or do you have a date?"

"No, I don't have a date, I'm making a statement, I guess," I shrugged it off. Not having a date wasn't the worst thing that could happen. Honestly I didn't even care since my last dates weren't the best. "And, thanks for the offer, but no, I'm not a third wheel. I'll see you both later. Don't have too much of a party before the actual party, kids."

I drove myself there like I said I would. Once I got there, I saw that the party was in full swing with lots of students dancing to the music, including Bonnie and who I could only assume as Jamie. Bonnie caught my gaze as I walked in and I simply gazed back for a moment before I headed over to Matt.

"Matty!" I called out over the music as I walked over to him. He was restocking the drink table with ice.

"Andy! You look fantastic!" He said.

"So do you!" I said. I started to say something else, but Caroline walked up to us and interrupted.

"Have I told you how amazingly awesome you are?" She asked him.

"Yeah, I'm one of the good ones, I know... Why the compliments, what else do you want?" Matt looked at her.

"I know that you and Elena have been getting closer lately... "

"And your point is...?"

"One way or the other she is pretty much spoken for," Caroline said and I stared at her in shock.

"Elena is my friend, Caroline. I'm just looking out for her."

"And I'm just looking out for you. Because sometimes the people who love her get caught in the crossfire," Caroline spotted me looking at her like I was about to hit her. "What?"

"Seriously, Caroline? Elena is human, if anything, you should want Matt and her together," I said. "Stefan is a vampire and Matt's a human. Honestly, how do you see Stefan and Elena ending? Or Elena and Damon? Her as a vampire or her dying permanently. Last time I checked she didn't want to be a vampire."

"What's he doing here?" Matt asked, pulling Caroline and mine attention away from the other as we looked over at the entrance to see Tyler waking in.

"I have no clue," Caroline said before walking over to him.

"Sorry about that, she's delusional," I said to Matt before walking away. I was asked to dance by some random guys so I did with them for a bit until there was a slow song, then I took a break.

"You've been busy tonight," Tyler said as he walked up. I took a sip of my punch. My torso and leg felt like they were going to explode so I had I sit out anyway.

"I'm having fun, Ty, you can't blame me for that," I said. I sorted Elena and Stefan slow dancing and Bonnie and Jamie. "Everyone's having fun."

"Where's your boyfriend tonight?"

I looked over at Tyler. "He's not my boyfriend, Ty. And I don't know where he is but I don't think we'll be seeing him tonight."

"Don't sound so happy," He said sarcastically.

"I am not fighting with you about this. Why don't you go dance with Caroline?" I waved him away.

"Will you dance with me?"

I hesitated for a moment. Why would he want to dance with me? "Only if you promise not to bring Klaus back up."

"Deal."

Tyler and I joined in on the slow dancing, but I made sure it was completely platonic. I didn't want to start any unwanted rumors. We danced around for one song and then another slow one came on. Tyler suddenly stopped dancing and stared over my shoulder with a glare.

"What is it?" I asked him, turning to see Klaus in a white suit with his hair slicked back looking very handsome as usual.

"Where've you been mate?" Klaus asked, his eyes trained on Tyler.

"I just got back in town," Tyler responded.

"That's funny, I don't recall giving you permission to leave in the first place," He moved closer to us. "You don't mind if I cut in, do you?"

"I do," I said, folding my arms. "And he doesn't speak for me, I speak for myself."

"No, it's fine," Tyler ignored what I said and walked away from us.

"Always having to be the alpha male," I looked away from Klaus and watched other people. "Next time ask me for the dance, not my ex-boyfriend."

"Come on, one dance, Andy… I won't bite."

I looked at Tyler who was over at Caroline. They looked like they were fighting. I skeptically took Klaus' offered hand. He led me out onto the dance floor. "You would've loved the 1920s, Andy. The girls were reckless, sexy, fun. They literally used to dance until they dropped," He said.

"I feel like I'm about to do just that," I said, looking over to see he was very close to me. I looked up to meet his eyes. "I was attacked for the third time this month. This seems to be a running theme now."

"So I heard," He was making circles on my back with his thumb. It was driving me crazy and I had no clue why. Elijah had done the same thing to me.

"How else would you know? You abandoned me, remember?"

"Odd word choice."

"Well, it's what I felt at the time and even now, not that you would have noticed..."

"You think I don't notice things, love? You think I don't notice the bags under your eyes? Or that you've gotten skinnier since Homecoming? I notice everything, Andy, and I can see you are on the verge of breaking. Has any of your family and friends noticed that?" He asked and my following silence gave him an answer. "I want to help you."

"How? By compelling me?" I demanded, looking over at him with hatred. "By kidnapping me from everything I know again?"

"By counseling you, by being a friend. Maybe even one day by being a lover."

My breath escaped me then as I stared into those eyes. I had a wave of feelings hit me like a ton of bricks and I clenched his hand tighter. "I don't know about that," I said despite my inner butterflies, my gaze moving away from him now.

"You should be nicer to me. I'm leaving town tomorrow. I'd invite you to come with me but we both know you're not ready to leave this town," He said.

"You're... leaving?" I squeaked out, as I stopped dancing. He immediately pulled me back into the dance, though.

"It's time for me to move on, Andy, I can't stay here forever."

We were quiet for a few moments before I spoke in a small voice. I kept my gaze on his tie. "Would you stay if I asked you to?"

"If that's what you wanted, I would stay."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I would never ask you to do that, not with everyone trying to kill you here. I wouldn't put your life at stake like that, Klaus, I could never."

Klaus stroked my cheek with his hand. "You mark my words. A small town life won't be enough for you in the end, Andy. Eventually you'll come around and find me." He said softly.

"You're going to at least check in, right?"

"If you want me to."

"Stop saying that!" I pulled away from him, clenching my fists by my side. "I don't want you to stay if that's not what you want. I don't want you to check in if that's not what you want. It'll mean nothing to me if you don't want it."

He stared at me a moment. "No, I don't want to stay if I don't have a good reason, love, but you would be that good reason. Of course I would want to check in to see how you were doing. Did you not hear a word I said before? I want to help you."

"You can't help me when you're gone, so maybe we should just say good-bye and get it over with. I mean everyone else I know hates you anyways so maybe it's best if we never speak again," I was upset and didn't want to be here anymore, so I pushed past him and left from the gym.

"Andy!" He grabbed my wrist and turned me to face him, pulling me close to his chest.

"Just stop, Klaus," I pulled away from him. "I don't want to get any more involved with you than I am now before you leave. I don't want to miss you."

"But you will."

I nodded, my gaze finally moving up to meet his. "That is the worst part, knowing how much I'm going to even after everything you've done." I said before I turned around to continue on until I saw a salt line and stopped. "What is this?" I asked. Klaus moved to my side and saw what I was talking about.

We heard Stefan's voice from behind us. "Your mother is back, Klaus."

Several candles were lit around the classroom and Bonnie was chanting. Damon, Stefan, Klaus, Jamie, Jeremy and I were there. Damon had already told me that Alaric stopped taking his herbs that Bonnie had made for him and we would have to talk about what to do with him after we sorted this out. I stood by Klaus's side, feeling safest there for some reason.

"She does this all the time, right?" Jamie asked aloud. I felt bad for him because he was human and wanted a carefree night.

"What's taking so long?! All boundary spells have a loop hole," Klaus demanded and I put my hand on his arm to try to calm him down.

Matt entered the room. "People are walking right out of the dance, past the barrier."

"Matt, Andy, and I can leave. We can stop Esther ourselves. We just gotta find out where she is," Jeremy suggested.

"It's suicide, Jeremy," Stefan said.

"Elena is out there and she's no doubt going to try and kill Klaus and you don't know if he's the creator of your bloodline or not," I spoke up.

Klaus suddenly moved from my side and grabbed Jamie by the throat and started to strangle him. "Suicide would be disappointing me! Now work your magic, witch or I'll start killing people you fancy,"

"Let him go!" Bonnie said.

"Not until you get us out of here."

"Klaus!" I chastised, but he didn't even flinch.

"Ah, don't be stupid, Klaus," Stefan stepped forward. "Bonnie doesn't give a damn about us. The only reason she's helping us right now is to save Caroline and Tyler. You start killing the people she cares about, she'll tell us all to go to hell."

Klaus released Jamie and looked at me. I was glaring at him and walked over to Jeremy. "Do we have some weapons with us?" I asked my brother.

"Yeah, in the car."

"You and Matt go get that stuff and I'll meet you in five at the front of the school. Sound good?"

Matt and Jeremy nodded before leaving and I walked over to Bonnie. "Thank you for this." I said to her, my tone neutral.

"I owe you." Bonnie nodded then looked to Jamie. "Jamie, why don't you help them get the weapons out of the car and then come right back?"

"Sure," Jamie nodded and left from the room.

Bonnie grabbed a map from the wall and sat it on the teacher's desk and turned on the table lamp. Stefan said he was going to go tell Caroline and Tyler what was going on and left. "Andy can make a blood donation for your locator spell," Damon said.

"No, she is weak enough already," Klaus stepped forward. "I'm sure the younger Gilbert boy would be happy to."

"No, I can," I insisted. "Going to get Jeremy is wasting time. Here, Bonnie." I still wasn't too happy with her, but at this point I was only focused on making sure Klaus and everyone else was okay.

Bonnie looked at Klaus and Damon. "I have to do this with you two lurking over me?"

"You're still mad at me for what happened to Abby," Damon rolled his eyes. "Let me apologize; I'm sorry Elijah forced us to turn your mother into a vampire to save Elena's life. Didn't exactly have a choice."

"There's always a choice. Whenever you make one someone else suffers," Bonnie sneered at him.

"Let's cut the dramatics and begin, shall we?" Klaus said.

Bonnie cut my palm and the blood poured onto the map. She started chanting and he blood formed a circular pool that doesn't move. "Esther is fighting me," Bonnie said.

"Esther couldn't possibly have this much power. Unless she's channeling something," Klaus said.

"A hotspot?" I suggested and Klaus' face turned into a scowl.

"Get the other humans ready, I know where she is."

Jeremy, Matt, and I slowly inched forward the Salvatore crypt that we had been at not too long ago for Caroline's birthday. Who would've thought that the Salvatore crypt was placed right where Klaus ripped out Esther's heart? I accidentally stepped on a twig and not long after that Esther came out. We all pointed our crossbows at her.

"Don't move!" Matt ordered.

"Where's Elena?" I demanded.

Elena walked out of the crypt. "Andy! Jeremy!"

"Let her go," Jeremy said.

"How foolish of you, to risk your life in the defense of those who would kill you," Esther looked at all three of us but stopped her fiery, judgmental gaze on me. "But if that is your choice." Esther used her witchery and made Jeremy point his crossbow at me while mine went toward Matt and Matt's went to Jeremy's. Shit.

"Matt! Andy! Drop your guns!"

"I can't!" I said.

"I can't either! I'm not controlling it!" Matt said.

"Esther, stop it!" Elena shouted.

Only if Emmeline was here. I should have known something crappy would have happened at this stupid dance, something always does. Suddenly Esther froze up then dropped dead to the ground. Alaric was standing behind her. He looked around us as we dropped our weapons to the ground. "Oh, my God. Where's my ring?" When he saw Elena's expression he said, "Tell me what happened."

She explained everything to us that happened. Esther made an invincible white oak stake and turned Alaric into a vampire, though he had yet to complete the transition. After she finished explaining she spoke solely to Alaric. "Let's speak in private, Ric," She disappeared into the crypt. He slowly made his way into the crypt. I went over to Esther and turned her body. "Who would've thought her own creation would be what killed her... again."

"Let me handle her," I looked up to see Klaus approaching.

"Will you give us a moment, Jer?" I asked him. Jeremy stared at Klaus a very long moment before disappearing into the crypt. "So is this good-bye or were you planning that for tomorrow?"

"I assume right now is as good as any other time," He closed the distance between us and held my face in his hand. I thought he might kiss me on the lips, but instead he placed his lips on my forehead. I started at those pink lips as they pulled away from me. "I will speak to you as soon as I get to Chicago, Andy." He leaned his lips to my ear and whispered the next words. "I'll miss you until we meet again." He kissed my hand then before taking Esther's body and leaving. My heart was about to jump out of my chest with emotion. What was going on? Why was I feeling this?

Damon moved into my view. "You're not together, huh?"

"We're not, we're..." I spotted Caroline and Tyler walking up, looking solemn. "Excuse me." I headed into the Salvatore crypt. Alaric was hugging Jeremy. "Klaus took Esther's body. Damon, Caroline and Tyler are here... What's going on?" Jeremy walked past me with tears streaming down his face without a word.

"Andy..." Alaric walked toward me and I immediately knew what was going on.

I burst into tears. "No, please, Ric. No, no!" I covered my face as I began sobbing and he hugged me tightly.

"Andy, I can't let my alter ego be a vampire, he would kill everyone."

"Klaus can compel him away, Ric! He can do it, just let me ask."

"No, he wouldn't be able to compel me, not the vampire that I would be," Alaric forces me to look at him. "Hey, I need you to be strong. I need you to keep on training so you can protect yourself. I need you to take care of your brother and sister. Most importantly, I need you to take care of yourself."

"I love you, Ric," I cried as I hugged as tightly as I could. I stopped crying right after that, though. I needed to be strong like he said, even if I didn't want to be.

"I love you, too, Andy," He said, his voice hoarse. I pulled back to see he was tearing up. Slowly, I backed out of the crypt and almost tripped. When I turned around, our whole gang and Meredith were standing there with candles.

I ignored everyone else and went up to Damon, knowing he would be upset about this. Alaric and he were best friends. We stared at one another before embracing each other. "I'm so sorry, Andy," He whispered.

"Yeah, I am, too," I said before pulling away from him. I walked away without another glance back at any of them or the crypt where my friend/guardian would die at. I got to my car and climbed in. Immediately I punched the steering wheel over and over again until I couldn't anymore. I wanted to cry so badly right now but couldn't. I was feeling so dead inside.

And I only wanted to be comforted by one person right now.

I didn't even realize it but I was already driving toward that person. Within minutes I was standing on his doorstep and knocking on the door. "Andy," Klaus opened the door, still in his white tuxedo. He almost instantly noticed something was off with me. "What's wrong?"

"Alaric's dead," I managed out through my tears. "I didn't know—I didn't want to go anyone else right now. I needed to see you." I began to cry again.

He stepped to the side to let me in. After entering, he put his arms around my shoulders and led me to the parlor and sat me down. I didn't realize until he put a blanket over me that I was shivering. "Do you want something to drink?" He asked.

"I just want you to hold me and tell me everything's alright," I whispered. Sure enough, he took off his coat before climbing under the blanket with me and wrapping his arms around me.

"Everything's alright," As soon as he said it I burst into sobs. I snuggled into him and let it out all and he allowed me to. "It could be worse, you could be trapped in a farm house with walkers surrounding it." He had been making a The Walking Dead reference. So he had watched it until the second season.

I laughed briefly but still cried. "Can I stay with you tonight, Klaus? Until you leave in the morning?

"Of course," He wiped my cheeks before picking me up bridal style. Within seconds he was laying me on a soft bed with silk sheets. He took off my shoes then disappeared, returning a moment later with a shirt similar to the one I wore in Portland. "Change into that. I'll return once you've finished." He was gone and I did just as he said. I had calmed myself down enough to get changed and climb under the covers.

"I'm finished," I said aloud so he would here. Sure enough he entered – shirtless – with only jogging pants on.

"Goodnight, Andy," He kissed my head and stared to leave but I grabbed his wrist.

"Stay with me, Nikki?" I asked in a small voice.

He nodded. "As you wish," He turned off the lights then climbed under the covers with me and I snuggled up to him. Almost instinctively his arms stairs around me tightly.

"Promise me you'll never die, Klaus," I whispered into the darkness.

"I promise," His thumb made circles on my back. "Get some sleep, Andy, you need it."

I don't think if I hadn't had been there with him that I would have been able to sleep, but I did. And I slept the most peaceful sleep I've had since my parents' deaths.

~ * • ° • ° • * ~

The End of Chapter XXXIX