Poison & Wine - Chapter XLI

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I walked downstairs to see Jenna making coffee. "Is that for moi?"

"No, it's for your parents and I. You know they don't let you drink coffee," Jenna responded. "Aren't you supposed to be wearing your cheer outfit?"

"She quit," Elena announced, walking into the room.

"What?" Jenna looked back to me. "Why?"

"Because Caroline Forbes basically told me I looked ugly in the outfit, then preceded to tell me I needed to slim down and to stop drinking so apple juice, so I punched her and threw the poms poms at her dumb, blonde head," I grinned with pride.

"Nice, though I don't condone it."

I laughed at Jenna and took a bite out of an apple. "Jeremy locked himself in the bathroom again. Does he think we don't know what he's doing in there?" I asked her.

"He's 14. They don't think," Jenna said. Elena grabbed the coffee pot, but Jenna took it back. "Hey, you'll get me in trouble."

Mom walked into the kitchen. "Good morning."

"Morning, Mom," Elena greeted and Mom kissed her on the cheek.

"Still angry with me about the Forbes accident?" I asked her.

"It wasn't an accident, Andy, you punched her on purpose," Mom walked over to me.

"Oh, but I had good purpose!"

"You broke her nose."

"I would have been able to forgive her pride had she not wounded mine."

Mom sighed. "You're not bringing Pride & Prejudice into this. It won't lighten the situation at all."

"Come on, Mom! It was an accident!"

"And you're still grounded."

I huffed and plopped myself down in a chair. Dad walked into the kitchen and ruffled my hair. "Miranda, you know that Caroline and Andy don't get along very well to begin with."

"Not well at all," I agreed, nodding my head.

"Cut her some slack," Dad winked at me and I looked at Mom. She wasn't too happy with him by the looks of it. The scene transitioned to where it was just Dad, Mom, Jenna, and I in the kitchen.

"There is something that I need to tell you guys though," I said, my tone suddenly serious. I had kept my cool until now, but I knew I needed to tell them. "I, uh, I caught Tyler cheating on me again last night."

"What?" They all asked at once and stared at me in shock.

"But I'm okay... I think, I don't know," I ran a hand through my hair and exhaled. "I don't think we'll get back together this time. I don't know."

"You said again," Jenna pointed out. "He has cheated on you before?" I nodded and picked at a string on my shirt.

Dad started to leave but I grabbed his arm. "Don't, Dad, it's not worth it. Please, promise me you'll drop it." With reluctance he agreed.

That scene suddenly dissipated and now I'm standing in Klaus' parlor being held back by Tyler as Stefan put his hand through Klaus' chest.

I screamed for them to stop, but they wouldn't. Klaus fell dead to the ground. Stefan turned toward me and I saw that it wasn't Stefan, it was Mikael. His hand shoved through my chest and he grabbed my heart, squeezing it before ripping it out of my chest.

"Andy! Andy, wake up! Wake up! Andy!" My eyes flew open to Matt, Tyler, and Caroline standing over my bed. I was sweating and my covers were all bunched up, showing that I was clearly having a nightmare.

"Andy, are you okay?" Jeremy walked in then.

I stared blankly at them before I looked over and saw that it was a new day. I grabbed a blanket and stood. I went downstairs and ignored Elena who called out my name as I passed her on the couch. I went out the front door and sat on the swing on the porch. As I sat there, I replayed the portion of my dream that had my parents in it. That was the day that they died in the car crash. I remembered the conversation later that day that I had at school with Matt, Bonnie and Elena.

We were all walking across school grounds. Matt and Elena were holding hands while Bonnie walked on both sides of them. "Caroline Forbes told me that my ponytail lacked 'juzz'," Elena said.

Matt laughed. "I don't even know what that means."

"Caroline doesn't even know, she's Caroline and a blonde. The world screwed her on those two things combined," I said.

Bonnie stepped in. "It means Caroline is driving Elena crazy, as usual."

"I'll punch her again if you want me to!" I offered, looking over at Elena. "She won't even look at me, so I figure I intimidated her in some way or another."

"You intimidate everyone," Matt said. "Even Tyler." It got quiet between us for a moment so Bonnie changed the subject.

"So, as I psychically predicted, flare jeans are making a comeback," She said.

"That doesn't make you psychic, Bonnie. It means that you watch too much Top Model."

"Say what you want, Elena, but I've got a bad feeling about the bonfire tonight."

"What kind of bad feeling?" I asked.

"It doesn't matter because we can't go," Elena cut in. Matt turned around and looked at her with disappointment. Elena sighed. "I know, but Jenna's in town and my parents want to do family night. Andy can't go because she's grounded for punching Caroline."

"You both have to go. See if you can sneak out," Matt suggested. Elena smiled and Matt kissed her. "Gotta see Coach Tanner. Love you." Matt walked off.

Bonnie looked at Elena. "You didn't say it back."

"What?"

"You know what. You can't string him along, Elena. If you're not into it anymore, just tell him," Bonnie said.

Elena looked over at me. "Are you going to try to convince Mom to let you go?"

"Well, considering my boyfriend just cheated on me, I don't think my charm is high enough and I definitely won't be trying to sneak out with Jenna's superhuman ability to catch me in the act," I said. "Plus, with Bonnie's bad feeling about the bonfire, I think I'll pass on this party."

My thoughts were interrupted by Tyler and Caroline walking out the house. "Hey," Caroline said softly to me. I stared at with a blank expression again. "Tyler and I have to go, but we'll be back later, okay? Maybe we can hang out, find something fun to do?"

I didn't answer and they gave up on getting me to talk with a sigh. They disappeared from sight. Stefan walked up on the porch and noticed me staring off into space. He disappeared into the house and I stood up, going over to the closest window and staring in. I saw him hug Elena tightly while Matt watched on from the couch. They spoke for a moment before Stefan came back out and forced me back into the house, which I didn't put up much of a fight because I had nothing left in me. He brought me into the kitchen and sat me on the counter, just like Klaus had yesterday. I noticed it was 5:30 in the afternoon so I had slept almost all day. Time didn't matter to me right now, though.

"We're going to fix dinner, Andy. Are you hungry?" Stefan asked and I gave him the blank stare that I've given everyone else. "Talk to us, Andy." But I wouldn't – no, I couldn't. How could I talk right now? I just lost two very important people. Alaric and Klaus.

"What about some apple juice?" Matt walked over with a glass. "Open your mouth, Andy."

I gave them both the blank stare, which then Elena figured she wanted to help. "Let me talk to her," She said from the couch.

"Emmeline said Damon and you would only make it worse," I heard Matt whisper to her. "She gave specific instructions for you not to try."

"Why? We're sisters."

"Elena, Emmeline said she got very close to Klaus." As I watched each of them going back and forth, I realized that I couldn't stay here. I don't have anyone left in this town for me to hang on to. Klaus had become my rock in some way and now I had no one. I jumped off the counter and went upstairs without any words. I changed into some comfortable clothes before I started packing everything I'd need.

I exactly wasn't sure where I'd go yet; maybe I'd go find Kol or Elijah or maybe get Rebekah to come with me… If they hadn't taken her away also. I honestly didn't know. I could stay in town for a while and build up enough money to leave. Maybe Emmeline would be willing to help out some. I finished putting everything into a medium duffel bag before giving one long glance back at my room. There had been a lot of good memories in here, but I could hardly distinguish the good with the bad.

I walked out of my room and started to head downstairs, but I froze up as I stared at who stood in the doorway. "Elijah?" I choked out.

Elijah looked from Elena to up at me and I immediately burst into tears. I ran down the stairs and immediately wrapped my arms around him. He embraced me back tightly. "I am so glad you're okay," He whispered as he cupped the back of my head with his hand.

"I'm so sorry," I cried out as the sobs overtook me again. "I couldn't protect Klaus, I just wasn't strong enough to help him."

"Don't worry about that, Andrea, what matters concerning you is that you're still breathing," He pulled back and examined my face as he brushed my tears away. "However, there is a matter of your hair, it's an absolute mess."

I couldn't laugh despite seeing the humor in that. "I didn't know I'd be seeing you, so I didn't glamour up."

"You're beautiful just as you have always been," He assured as he pushed some of my hair back.

I bit my bottom lip and let the tears cascade down from my eyes. "I assume you're here for... Klaus."

"I wanted to speak with your family and friends about the matter of Alaric and him," Elijah held my hand as he turned to Elena who was watching us. "Perhaps we could sit down?"

"Yeah," Elena nodded slowly and moved to the kitchen. Elijah and I sat beside one another, our hands tightened around one another's.

Stefan sat his phone down. "Damon's on speaker," He said.

"What are you thinking about Alaric?" I asked Elijah, star in at him intently.

Elijah looked at me for a moment then looked at Elena. "All we need is to take that stake away from him. Once it's been disarmed, the weapon's in my possession, my family will scatter to the ends of the Earth and Alaric will follow us."

"And you'll just run?" Stefan asked next to Elena who was across the table from Elijah and I.

"We've done it before," Elijah pointed out, looking over at the Salvatore. "Klaus and Rebekah spent the better part of a thousand years evading my father. What's another half century while Elena is able to live out the rest of her natural life?"

"We've finally stopped him, Elijah. After everything that he's done to us, I can't just let you bring him back whether it's for Andy or for yourself," I flinched at Elena's words and squeezed my eyes tight.

Elijah exhaled, and I opened my eyes. He was clearly upset right now. "I give you my word, Elena. I will not revive Klaus within yours nor even within your children's lifetimes. Perhaps that will finally teach him some manners." I softly whimpered and hid my face from all of them. I would never see Klaus again... I would never see any of the Originals again.

"Why should she trust you? All you've done is screw her over," Matt asked.

"And for that, I am deeply ashamed. But know this, she could have been dead the instant I walked through that door tonight, so Elena, I leave it to you to make the decision whether to trust me or not."

Damon spoke up, "Not! Hello, did that concussion give you brain damage?! His lunatic siblings will kill you the first chance they get!"

Elijah countered quickly, "Rebekah and Kol will honor the terms. If you return Klaus's body to us, Elena will come to no harm." I uncovered my face and looked at Elena while she looked at Stefan. "Do we have a deal?"

"No! No, no, no, no. Did I mention no?" Damon said.

"Elena, it's up to you," Stefan said with reluctance.

"Oh, come on!"

"Why do you want Klaus' body?" Elena asked him.

"He's my brother. We remain together," Elijah got choked up then and I squeezed his hand tightly.

Elena sighed. "We have a deal."

"You have to let me say good-bye," I looked at all of them, but mainly focused on Elijah. If anyone could understand what I was feeling, it was him. "I never got to say good-bye to him... Please Elijah, I can't go on knowing I didn't... I didn't―" My voice broke and I couldn't even continue. Elijah looked over at Elena and she nodded. He nodded at me and I started crying which eventually led to me having to leave the room so I went outside.

Before long Jeremy walked up. "Andy?" He questioned.

"I want to be alone," I said, turning myself away from him.

"Okay... Just know I'm here, okay?" He said, hesitating a moment before he went back inside the house.

I stayed out there crying for a good ten minutes until I was able to calm myself down and that was when Elijah walked out of the house. "Why does it hurt so much?" I asked him. "I'm supposed to hate him, Elijah, and I do, but I miss him so much already. It feels like a part of me is destroyed."

"I understand your feelings," He moved over to me. "Emmeline was the one to retrieve me." I couldn't quite place what emotion was in his eyes.

"You understand why I didn't tell you or anyone about her, right?"

"Of course," He nodded. We stared at each other a long and hard moment. "I had suspicions, after all. I was the one who sired her."

"If I asked you to, would you turn me into a vampire?" I asked before I could stop myself.

"Andrea..." He turned away from me but I grabbed onto his arms.

"I didn't ask you to, but would you?"

"No," He shook his head.

"I'd get Rebekah or Kol to do it, then," I squeezed his arm, preparing to ask for my next request. "Take me with you, Elijah. I don't want to stay here."

"You're hurting, Andrea, I understand―"

"Elijah, please, don't leave me here," I implored him. "I can't stay here anymore."

"You would be leaving behind your family and friends, your life... You would give that all away?"

"To be with Rebekah, Kol and you? Yes, even if that meant running from Alaric for the rest of my life," I grabbed his hands now. "I deeply care for each of you and I don't want you to leave and one day feel that one of you is dying... I have come to care for your family deeply and I want to be able to be with you all, wherever that may be. Elijah, just consider it, okay? Promise me you will."

"You need to consider it as well, Andrea, I don't feel like you truly want it," He glanced at his watch and back out, seeing that the sun was now setting. "I will return later so we can speak again." He placed a kiss on my forehead… And with that, he was gone.

I went back into the house and saw that Stefan and Elena were nowhere to be seen but Matt and Jeremy were in the kitchen. "Andy? Will you come in here for a minute?" Jeremy asked and I cautiously crept over. He held out a tea cup to me. "Taste this and tell Matt what you think about his tea." I skeptically took it and brought it to my lips. I took a big sip for some reason and immediately regretted it. It didn't taste right. "Ew," I sat it on the table and they laughed. I went and grabbed my bag off the stairwell before sitting on the couch to wait for Elijah to return.

Sometime in that wait, very soon after drinking that tea, I started to get drowsy. I looked over at them, seeing they were hovering, watching me intently. "Did... Did you... drug me?" I wasn't serious when I asked that, but by their expressions I knew that they had.

"We have to make sure Elena and you are okay, Andy," Jeremy walked over to me as Matt went upstairs with another tea cup. "You won't be safe if you leave with Elijah." How did he know about that?

"I'm... I'm going to... kill you..." After that, I slipped into the darkness.

Jenna and I were getting snacks in the kitchen on family night when Elena called. "Hey, it's me," Elena greeted me.

"Elena, hello!" I put it on speaker. "Jen, it's your least favorite niece!"

"Elena, your dad is making me play Pictionary. I suck at Pictionary," Jenna pouted.

"You do suck, Jenna. You're terrible," Dad walked into the room and ruffled my hair. "Andy is fantastic, though. She's my little artist."

"Bite me, Grayson," Jenna said and I snickered.

"Listen, do you think someone could come pick me up?" Elena asked.

"Oh, having second thoughts about ditching family night?" I asked, giving Jenna a pointed look.

Mom entered the room. "Elena, everything okay?"

"Matt and I got into a fight. He was talking about college and marriage and all the stuff that he always talks about and I just, I couldn't."

"He doesn't really care about that yet, honey, he's just trying to figure out how you feel about him right now."

"I don't know how I feel."

"Yes you do. You're just afraid to say it."

"Yeah, but I don't want to lose him."

"You're not gonna lose him, honey. You're setting him free," Mom then promised that Dad and her would come pick her up – much to my disapproval because I wanted to pick her up – and then they hung up.

"How come you never get me inspirational relationship advice?" I asked her as she hung up the phone.

"Because you never come to me about that stuff, you think you have it all figured out," Mom said. "I've not helped you with anything since the fourth grade when you dislocated your arm."

"Pretty amazing, am I not?" I grinned at her.

"Yes, you are," She kissed my forehead. "We'll be back in twenty minutes. Think you can hold the fort down until then?"

"I believe so," I smirked over at Jenna. "Though, I can't promise that I will crush her in some more Pictionary in your absence."

"That's my girl," Dad ruffled my hair again and gave me a small hug before Mom and him left.

A sudden burst of pain made me spring out of sleep and I cried out in pain. "Andy, what's wrong?! Andy?" Elena was holding onto me and I saw we were in Matt's truck and that Matt was driving. The pain lasted a moment and I immediately burst into sobs as I realized that something had happened to one of the Mikaelsons… but I couldn't figure out who I just felt the familiar feeling from when Mikael and Finn had died. They didn't know what was going on until Matt got a call.

"Klaus is dead," He said in a soft voice. "Alaric killed him."

I started punching the dashboard and screamed out in agony. He couldn't be dead... He just couldn't. He promised me he wouldn't. Eventually my sobs turned silent and Elena held me in her arms. I only let her because I couldn't muster the strength to push her away. "Got it, Jer," Matt said softly into the phone before hanging up.

"We have to go back," Elena said to him, laying her chin on my head. "Listen to me, Matt, if Klaus is the one who turned their bloodline, then they're all gonna die." Matt didn't respond to her. "We have to go back, Matt!"

"Elena," He said quietly.

"What?!"

"Damon's not with them."

She paused. "What?"

"He's a hundred miles out of town," Matt glanced over at her. "I can keep driving to him or I can turn around and go back to Stefan. It's your choice."

As soon as he said it, I knew who Elena would choose and she did. She decided and we were on our way back to Mystic Falls like that. She called Damon to have a good-bye, which I blocked out, but he hung up on her and she started crying.

"You don't realize how much you care for a person until they're gone," I managed out and my bottom lip trembled. "I wish it had been me Alaric had staked."

"Don't say that, Andy," Matt said.

"I'd rather experience that a million times than what I am now," I whispered. "Why did he have to be so stupid?!" I punched the dashboard again. "He was leaving town, he was going to get away so no one would try to kill him! Damn him for making me care for him! Damn me for caring!" I started to sob. "And damn you all for taking him away from me."

"Andy, calm down, it's okay," Elena tried soothing me but it didn't work.

"Nothing is okay, Elena! Everyone care for is dying in front of me and I-I can't do anything about it! Is Elijah next? Is Matt next? Is Jeremy? I can't live this way anymore, Elena, I just wanted to be happy! People I love keep killing each other time and time again, is there no break?" I said and hid my face. "I just wanted him..." Whoever 'him' was, I was unsure, but I had an idea.

Elena got another call – this time from Caroline – and stayed on there for a few minutes before hanging up. "What now?" Matt asked.

Elena was getting teary eyed. "It's Tyler, he um... he's…" I started crying all over again. So I was wrong about my guesses of who it was going to be next, it was Tyler. And I didn't even get to say good-bye.

"Damn it!" Matt choked up and started hitting the steering wheel with his fists. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

"Matt, Matt! Stop it!" Elena begged.

"This isn't how our lives are supposed to be, Elena," Matt was crying now.

My phone rang and I reluctantly answered. "Hello?"

"Andy," Elijah's voice filled my ear and I cried out.

"He's dead, Elijah."

"...I know. I'm coming to get you and we're leaving. Where are you?"

"We'll be back any minute," My hands shook. "I didn't get to say good-bye to him." I know I wouldn't actually be able to say good-bye, but still.

"I'm so sorry, Andrea."

"I just want him back, Elijah, I already miss him so much," I started crying again. "And now Tyler's gone. I can't lose anyone else."

"I know..." There was a long pause before he spoke again. "Andrea, I think Rebekah's going to try to kill Elena to kill Alaric."

"What?" I looked over at Matt. "Drive faster, Rebekah's coming after Elena," I looked ahead.

"I need to call Stefan, but my phone's going dead," Elena said and Matt allowed her to borrow his.

"We're getting to Wickery Bridge," I said to Elijah, looking over at Elena as she dialed Stefan's number. "I think—"

"Matt, look out!" Elena yelled and I looked ahead just in time to see Rebekah standing in the middle of the road. The last thing I saw was us plunging toward water.

I don't know how long it had been when my eyes snapped open, and saw blue everywhere. And I was in a car. In the water. With Matt and Elena – who were both unconscious. I toppled over several times. I kicked and thrashed to break my captivity in this stupid truck as the water teased my lungs. The water was cold against my skin and it was squeezing my body.

I wanted nothing more than to be out of this stupid truck and panic rose consumed me as I helplessly banged my hand on the windshield and I even tried to bash my elbow through it, ignoring the pain that followed, but the windshield didn't even budge.

What did I do to deserve this? Was it because of my choice of whose side I was on? Is that the cause of my death?

My heart originally thumped hard in my chest as my fear grew like a wildfire, but now it began to slow down and heard each heartbeat grow slower after each thump. That sick feeling twisted in my stomach as I horribly accepted the fact that I was going to die and so were Elena and Matt. Each heartbeat slowly came after the next, the seconds between each thump increased. I could feel the water filling into my lungs and the last attempt on the windshield was pointless.

I felt so exhausted, defeated, helpless, and light and I could feel myself beginning to fade away. Part of me wanted to die quickly while a separate part of me didn't want to accept the idea of death. Though I could hardly think straight, I knew I wished Elijah and Klaus with me were with, or at least one of them, though I don't know which I'd rather have with me right now. Then again, I don't want them to die.

The water turned more and dark by the moment. I became light-headed and my eyes began to droop. I fought to stay alive, but I felt myself beginning to slip into the darkness. All I could think about was the ones I were leaving behind... Caroline. Damon. Jeremy. Stefan. Bonnie. Kol. Rebekah. Emmeline. Elijah... Elijah and Jeremy were the most painful to think about. I would've included Rebekah, but she is the one causing my death. I don't think Kol would be destroyed about my death considering we had only two conversations. The rest, I assume, would mourn. If not for me then Elena.

I faintly heard the window crack and shatter and then something touched my arm. I thought that I could feel the water move from beneath me, but I slowly gave in, fading into the darkness. I had never felt so confused nor exhausted in my entire life. Was this even real right now? My body had practically turned completely numb due to the cold water. Although, the feeling was coming back... Something was touching my upper arms that was actually quite warm and held onto both of my arms.

My body was growing heavy and I could faintly feel myself being pulled away. The water was slowly drifting, moving from me... I began to fade away once more. I felt like the water was rocking me just like how the sea does; I felt myself drifting, and then returning. I would rise, and then fall – floating and falling in the same order, again and again.

I suddenly felt pressure being applied to my chest. I would've cried out in shock, but my voice was caught in my throat; I felt a lot more pressure in my lungs. Something blocked the air from entering into my lungs. Something was caught in my lungs so I couldn't exhale air and I couldn't feel any air in my lungs, feeling something swish in them instead. More pressure was added to my chest and it was quite strong. The liquid swished in my lungs; the liquid began to gurgle in my throat, and then ooze from my mouth. The strong pressure was added once again which resulted in more liquid seeping out of my mouth.

I flinched as I felt pain in my chest and lungs and instantly started coughing up a storm.

A waterfall came pouring out of my lips, and I was left gasping for sure. The air still felt so nice; I continued to cough and release a waterfall until all the water was gone.

I felt a hand pat my back, trying to help me with the remaining water, but the person slowly stopped patting my back. Clearing my throat a couple of times, I breathed in for air. I had seriously thought I would never be about to breathe in air again.

The same hand began to gently rub my back and I breathed in again, and an abrupt pain hit my chest. A cry of pain escaped from my mouth. "Shh…" The voice hushed in a gentle tone. Every breath I drew in, caused a sharp pain in my chest and the sharp pain repeated after each breath.

"Ow," I managed to get out and felt the hand move from my back. I noticed my hands were already bruising slightly and they bled a little where scraps took place, though the injuries weren't too bad, they stung. I looked over at the person to see Elijah sitting there, soaking wet. "Where's Klaus?" I asked before I fainted.

When I came to again, I was in dry clothes and in my own room. Elijah was sitting on the edge of my bed. How long had I been out? "Where's Elena? Where's Matt?" I asked, shocked when I didn't feel any pain.

"Andrea," He gently said. "They're okay and so are all your other friends, but we should go."

"What? Why? Where are you taking me?"

"To the hospital, Elena is there," He said gravely.

"Why? You said they were okay."

"She died, Andy, with vampire blood in her system."

You've got to be kidding me.

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The End of Chapter XLI