Hello, again! The previous chapter was the 1st part of the 22nd chapter and this is the second!

I hope you enjoy this!

Be Somebody

Chapter 22: Mistakes And New Beginnings Part 2

The Next Day: Atlanta: Salvatore residence: 1 Day Before The Mikaelsons Visit.

Hope woke up to the sound of small feet pit patting on the floor and open her eyes to see Stefanie smiling at her while Lizzie and Josie were standing in the doorway of her room and all of them had sneaky smiles.

"What?" Hope groaned not liking to be awakened like this.

"Let's make breakfast for everyone!" Stefanie whispered-exclaimed and Hope chuckled as she threw her covers away from her body and quickly grabbed her robe and put on her socks and joined the twins and Stefanie as they started gathering the ingredients for breakfast.

An hour later and many kitchenwares later, Elena and Damon woke up and walked downstairs to see a table with pancakes, juices, coffee, and scrambled eggs. Caroline and Alaric and Bonnie were the ones to join them five minutes later and were shocked watching as Hope and the twins and Stefanie were grinning and exclaiming a loud "tara!" as they showcased their creation.

Damon and Elena looked at the kitchen in fear of the sight that would meet them but were surprised to find it as spotless as it could be. Jeremy and Nansia showed up half an hour later with Jeremy helping Nansia down the stairs since her bones still felt weary.

"So, what did we learn from this experience girls?" Alaric said once Nansia finished explaining what happened and why she attempted such a spell.

"We learned that we shouldn't try spells we aren't fully equipped to handle." Nansia and the other girls' voices in sync holding back an eye roll and Alaric nodded agreeing.

"Today we will try some meditation nothing too exhausting since you're still healing but you're not off the hook." Bonnie told Nansia in a semi-strict tone and Nansia nodded as she ate her portion of pancakes.

"As for us, I have to go to the hospital and Damon will have to go check his bar to make sure everything is as it should be for New Years' Eve party tonight." Elena said as she sipped her coffee.

"And I and the girls have decided to go on a nature walk for some daughters-father time." Alaric said excitedly as he smiled at his daughters and Lizzie offered him a tight-lipped smile while Josie nodded showing minimal happiness. The tension between their family wasn't gone since Lizzie had threatened to sue Caroline for child negligence.

Jeremy then looked at Stefanie and Hope who looked disappointed but tried to hide it.

"So, girls, that leaves us three with nothing to do…want to go to the mall?" Jeremy asked them trying to lift their moods and Stefanie jumped at the sound of this and Hope shrugged saying that she would have liked to stay and meditate with Bonnie and Nansia if they would have her.

Bonnie said she didn't t mind if she tag along and Nansia said she would love that. Stefanie then exclaimed that she wanted to go to the candy factory and Jeremy agreed to say he had a few more presents to shop for.

"What about you Caroline?" Nansia asked since Caroline seemed to be the only one not having to do anything.

"I will be cooking in the kitchen for the party at night." Caroline said as she finished her cup of blood Josie had poured for her.

Nansia nodded and said if she needed help once she was done meditating she could lend a hand and Hope seconded that statement.

"Hope you can cook some authentic New Orleans dishes to bring to the party!" Damon suggested excited and Hope's eyes widen in horror and shook her head no saying she only knew how to fry some eggs and make pancakes.

Everyone let her off the hook and then dispersed to do their thing for the day.

As Hope and Nansia sat in the living room with Bonnie right before them Elena sneakily snapped a picture of them and sent it to Rebekah.

"Holy! Is that Nansia?" Rebekah texted back and Elena typed a yes as she finished tying her shoes.

"She looks a little like a younger you, around the time we had met back in high school. Hope looks really happy too." Rebekah texted and Elena smiled saying she is but she will be happier once they show up.

Rebekah texted her that they were flying in a few hours and will be at Damon's bar an hour before the year changed if everything went according to plan.

Elena smiled excitedly before she drove to work and spent the rest of her 8 hours working from patient to patient when she finally had her break and checked her phone to see a text from Rebekah telling her their flight was canceled due to severe winds and they booked a private jet to get them tomorrow morning to Atlanta if the weather permitted.

Elena thanked the Mikaelson wealth at that moment that they could rent a private jet when a commercial flight didn't fit them because she didn't want her Secret Santa to fail epically and disappoint the girl!

At the house:

Hope and Nansia were trying to focus on following Bonnie's instructions but Hope's mind drifted to the vision she had seen when she had touched Nansia yesterday.

It intrigued her and horrified her as to how cold Nansia felt at that moment yet something in that version of Nansia felt odd and older, older than she currently was.

Annoyed she opened her eyes and sighed frustrated.

"I can't! I need to ask something!" Hope exclaimed and the other two witches looked at her concerned and Bonnie nodded as Hope started telling what she saw when she touched Nansia yesterday.

"That was one of the first memories I got when I first got displaced." Nansia confirmed confused as to why was that a problem.

"Yeah, and you looked young but I had the moment to really study your eyes and they looked older, older than now. Could you possibly be able to travel back in time and somehow de-age yourself in order to kick start the whole thing? Like a time paradox?" Hope asked concerned and puzzled.

Bonnie remained silent before she got up and brought a huge book and set it between them. Then pointed a spell.

"This is a de-aging spell and how to break it. But it's strong magic. I can do it now but when I was Nansia's age I could barely do it and I was considered a strong witch for my age. Nansia has the potential of being just as strong with practice. So, there's a possibility that she does in the future but I think it's unlikely, right Nansia?" Bonnie said deep in thoughts.

"So, according to Hope's vision that I'm about to be just as strong sometime in the future? And I will go back there on the Ark to pose as some sort of descendent of mine and then once the actual younger version of me shows up I'm transferring the memories? Or the time continuum caught up with me by giving me the memories I have now?" Nansia asked confused and perplexed.

"At this point, the theory of the time continuum sounds more like the case than you sneaking in a secure prison and meeting your younger self. If Landon knows anything he knows his sci-fi but meeting your younger self is advised against doing because it might be fatal." Hope said with a confused shrug and Bonnie nodded agreeing with Hope's theory.

"So, my life is literarily a paradoxical existence in the time and space…typical! You know when I was nicknamed one of the three Commanders of Death. I felt it heavy on my shoulders as a reminder that people expected me to be ruthless and merciless and most of all not weak. Clarke had taken it in stride being called Wanheda she became ruthless for selfless reasons to ensure our people had a home, she got her hands dirty and was glad to be the bad guy just as the next day people were alive and with their families. Clarke had seen her dad getting floated for disclosing to the public that we were running out of oxygen on the Ark and the one-child rule was barely enough anymore. Her mother part of the council did some fucked up stuff and many times betrayed us because she viewed us as naïve kids and questioned whatever diplomatic moves we did for peace with the Grounders. Then got addicted to pills and it was a whole different deal which I still don't know how it concluded. Bellamy despised the title and did everything to ensure no bloodshed was needed. Both Bellamy and Clarke were literarily the head and the heart of our people, Clarke was the head and Bellamy the heart. He was the only one besides me who had a sibling and did everything to protect Octavia and I mean everything! Bellamy was undercover with the Mountain People and Octavia thought he was kidnapped then learned that her boyfriend and people were also kidnapped by the Mountain People and Bellamy had gone in to do some reckon before Clarke attacked the place after she strike a diplomatic deal with the Trikru clan by marrying their Commander Lexa and making us the 13th Clan. She went ape shit crazy marched in there with just an ax and a sword and slaughtered every guard her way until she found our people and then Bellamy appeared before her I remember she let down her weapons and bloodied she fell to her knees crying as they hugged. They were inspiring to say the least." Nansia spoke as looked at the carpet recalling all the memories. Hope and Bonnie listened with mouths slightly open at the shock.

Caroline in the kitchen listened to the story and was shocked hearing this but couldn't really understand the weight of this Commander title or the Clans' formations and hierarchy but that was understandable. But Elena was right, the future Nansia lived through…well more survived through because it didn't sound like living.

"Do you think you can teach us and by us I mean Josie, Lizzie, and me, how to fight like a Grounder and how to speak their language? You know just in case." Hope asked a little bit shy and Nansia smiled in sadness.

"No, I don't think I can train you like a Grounder that was Indra's job and right of passage and the only person allowed to give that is a Grounder by birth, I was one out of necessity. I can teach you the language though in case you have to negotiate. Not that I think it will be a case where that would be necessary but you never know." Nansia said smiling softly and Hope smiled too. Just then Bonnie brought the focus back to meditating and Hope could finally focus more on meditation.

Nansia was in a meadow and she was lying on the ground and she was staring at the clouds;

Meadow Meditation Scape:

"This one looks like a T-Rex!" Ryan's voice made Nansia scared and jumped up.

"Ryan?"

"Yes?"

"I'm meditating how can you be here?"

"Well, I'm sleeping I thought it was my dream…"

"Why would you be dreaming of a meadow in Tondc?"

"What is Tondc?"

"It's Washington DC on my earth in 2149." She said perplexed.

"Okay…that is normal…not…but when was this relationship of ours normal…" Ryan said chuckling as he laid down to enjoy the view.

"So, we are doing this?" Nansia asked a little perplexed and amused.

"Yep! I love spending time with you no matter how it is…I was actually thinking about you before I slept…nothing weird don't worry. I think that is why I'm here." Ryan said as he relaxed and Nansia looked at him liking seeing him so relaxed.

"I must be imagining this because you are happy really happy and I have never seen you this happy." She said a little suspiciously and Ryan smiled.

"Now, stop worrying and lay down with me!" Ryan said jokingly as he pulled her to him and gave her a head kiss before they laid down together holding each other.

"Please remember this moment, this is your anchor, when you feel like you can't control your magic picture yourself or us here, laying this moment, staring at this beautiful sky. Everything will be okay." Ryan said soothingly and Nansia relaxed in his arms.

She closed her eyes and when she opened them she was looking at Bonnie and Hope who were meditating.

End of Meadow Meditation:

She smiled as she watched Bonnie and Hope doing their own meditations she quietly walked into the kitchen for a glass of lemon juice and she smiled at Caroline who was finishing cooking for the party.

"Need help?" She asked as she saw the bubbling sauce on the stove and instantly reached for a spoon to twirl it so it won't get burned. Caroline was busy checking the chicken in the oven and said a quick yes to Nansia's question.

"What do I do, chef?" Nansia asked smiling and feeling calm and energetic as she sipped her lemon juice. Seeing Ryan or an imaginary Ryan really helped her feel better.

Caroline asked Nansia to chop the lettuce and the seven kinds of cheeses for the cheese dip she was planning to make and the lettuce for the salad. Nansia quickly obeyed and started chopping the cheeses first.

"So, are you finished meditating or do you sneak away to avoid it?" Caroline asked with a small smirk and Nansia chuckled.

"I finished."

"Well done!"

"Thanks."

Another silence took over for a moment before Caroline yield to her curiosity.

"Is it really bad living in Greece? I mean I've seen the pamphlets for vacations and it looks amazing!" Caroline asked truly intrigued.

"It is beautiful but Greece isn't only Mykonos or Santorini or Athens as the tourist offices like to advertise. Greece is beautiful don't get me wrong but when you live just above the poverty line nothing is seen as beautiful anymore, every day is a day you have to pull through. It makes people bitter. It made me bitter. Yes, I would gladly show you around if you visit but I won't be able to see the beauty you're seeing because my perspective is tainted by the everyday struggles of living in a country that can barely keep you alive." Nansia explained as she kept cutting but then stopped when she was telling her about showing her around Greece and held Caroline's gaze to emphasize her point.

Caroline nodded understanding what she met.

"I get it, I've had parents of students tell me how beautiful Mystic Falls was but I couldn't see it…Mystic Falls for me will always be tainted with bloody memories of everything that happened and I've done." Caroline said with a sad tone and Nansia sympathized with her as she went back to cutting. Caroline kept stirring the sauce.

"If there was a way to go back, would you take it?" Caroline asked her and Nansia sighed.

"No…but I would use it to bring my sister here. Save her from our mother." Nansia said sure of her opinion and Caroline looked shocked, she hadn't known Nansia had a sister.

"You have sister?" Caroline exclaimed shocked and Nansia smiled nodding her head as she finished chopping one kind of cheese and emptying it into the designated bowl.

"Yes, she's seventeen years old. Her name is Nicolette and she's a math genius and can kick ass, she's an amazing sharpshooter and can throw a mean punch, she had heavy bones which help that. Once she saw me outside and gently slapped my shoulder as a hey but I had a bruise on my shoulder for a week from just that!" Nansia said proudly and chuckled at the story of her sister seeing her on the streets.

"Sharpshooter?" Caroline asked confused.

"Ah yes, um…my step-dad started training us in martial arts such as kickboxing, Judo, and a little bit of Karate when we were four years old, at five we would be taught how to use small knives, at ten we would be taught sword fighting, at 12 he would introduce us to guns of long-range and at 14 we would learn about guns of short-range or archery. I got guns my sister got archery." Nansia explained like it was no big deal as she kept cutting. Caroline had removed the sauce from the stove and was gaping at her.

"Did your dad expect you to need to kill people?" Caroline asked shocked. Yes, she had pressured Alaric to teach the twins martial arts because of who and what they were but she couldn't fathom teaching them such skills if they were human.

"No, he expected us to protect ourselves. We live in a world or at least I lived in a world where rape culture was the norm and 97% of the world's women were sexually assaulted at least once by the time they were 25 years old. As a parent knowing these statistics, knowing that these women were your mother, sister and wife would you want your daughters to be next; no you wouldn't so what do you do? You teach them to defend themselves hoping that they won't have to use it." Nansia explained seriously and showed how concerned she was about that way of life.

Caroline blinked not knowing what to say once again.

"Well, they saved your life, didn't it?" Caroline asked rhetorically and Nansia nodded getting the memo that Caroline didn't know what to say to this and yet she didn't want to leave it at that.

"So, how was your life living here in Mystic Falls? Elena and Damon don't really talk about it and I haven't asked Jeremy anything yet." Nansia found herself asking wanting for once not to be the center of attention.

Caroline sighed and started explaining her story. About all of them met on the first day of kindergarten in the playground after Elena dumped a fist of sand on Caroline's head saying how her hair and the sand had the same color. And how Bonnie laughed at them and somehow ended up both making sand cakes together. Then Tyler pulled Bonnie's hair during another recess and Elena pushed him ending up knocking Matt on the slide's metal end causing him to need two stitches in his gums from the fall. And that is how the girls met Matt and Tyler. And through Matt, they met Vicki.

Caroline told them how they met little Jeremy after he was brought home from the hospital and admired the baby from afar with questions in their heads over reproductive ways. At that Nansia chuckled saying the first time she ever had questions about sex wasn't when she met her sister but after watching a movie called The Blue Lagoon with Brooke Shields. At that mention, Caroline perked up and asked about the movie plot which resulted in the two women finding one common thing from Nansia's dimension.

Once that was settled Nansia urged Caroline to continue telling her the story of how they all became friends. Caroline gladly continued as the two of them continued preparing the food for tonight. Nansia learned about Elena's romance with Matt and the party that resulted in Elena's parents' passing away and about them meeting Stefan and then Damon.

Caroline went on explaining about the supernatural adventures they were whirled into because of Elena's and Stefan's epic romance and at that moment Bonnie and Hope joined them in the kitchen and Bonnie started adding comments here and there. Hope and Nansia remained silent making themselves useful in the preparations and not hiding how intrigued and impressed they were. Especially Nansia who was now realizing she wasn't the first and won't be the last to be faced with problems caused because of their connection to the supernatural.

Hope tensed when Caroline started telling Nansia about Klaus and his siblings which cause Hope to excuse herself but Caroline was quick to stop her saying that she won't tarnish their memory with her storytelling. At that Hope smiled and sat back down and added comments here and there about the history of the famous Mikaelsons and Nansia nodded understanding slowly and creating a timeline of events and relationships in her head. Bonnie also admitted her secret crush on Kol as a young witch which caused giggles from Hope and Nansia and a loud "I knew it!" from Caroline and Bonnie to laugh blushing. Hope teased her if she would have to start calling her Aunt Bonnie too and Bonnie feverishly shook her head no saying it was in the past and now she just admires Kol as a friend.

Caroline purposefully quickly finished that chapter of the storytelling not wanting to open old wounds and soon she was telling Nansia how the group the love story between Elena and Damon and the chaos in unraveled alongside it. Hope was gaping hearing about Elena meeting with Damon's and Stefan's mum in a prison world. Nansia got confused at the mention of prison worlds and Bonnie started explaining what they were. With time everything was packed in Tupperware for Damon's bistro/bar and Caroline and Nansia were doing the dishes as Caroline finished telling them about Kai and Heretics.

Caroline took a break from her storytelling to call Damon to let him know that she finished with part of the catering for tonight and asked if they should drive by to put it in the huge freezers at the bar since there was no space in the house fridge. That resulted in the four women loading Caroline's car with the food and driving to Damon's bar. On the way, Caroline continued telling them the story and especially about the infamous June wedding at that Bonnie added a tone of funny remarks which caused the teens to laugh at the irony of Stefan and Caroline finally ending up together.

The storytelling ended the moment they pulled up to Damon's bar and Nansia's head was buzzing with this much information and seeing for the first time Damon's bar. He was calling it "Nightly Fangs" wanting to play with the whole vampire thing. Nansia congratulated Damon on managing to get off his feet and on his impending opening night.

"My uncles have a bar too called Black Diamond. It was named after my uncle Theo found a black diamond necklace in their mum's things and the land the bar was built on belonged to their mum's family he used that name as a way to pay homage to the family legacy." Nansia said as Damon showed her around and Damon smiled hearing the story.

"So, you're familiar with how things work?" Damon asked smirking and Nansia shrugged.

"Good, if ever we are short-staffed I will give you a call!" Damon joked and Nansia said if he really needed help to really call her it was the least she could do for them. Damon smiled as Nansia's attention was called to Hope who seemed to be in the bathroom.

"How are things with her?" Damon asked truly concerned about Bonnie and Caroline.

"She's fine, tired but she finished her meditation earlier than Hope and I did. We found her chatting and helping Caroline." Bonnie said truly hopeful and Damon nodded liking the sound of this.

"She's missing her family though. She comes from a truly disturbing dimension, Damon! But the good thing we have in common is Brooke Shields and her movies." Caroline added a concerned tone fully evident in her voice and Damon looked impressed at the Brooke Shield comment and nodded sadly at her comment about Nansia's dimension.

In the bathroom, Hope was admiring the tile pattern when she felt the need to pee and lowered her trousers to see blood stains and cursed realizing her period game early. Calling Nansia was the only help she could think of. Nansia rushed to her and chuckled seeing that the only problem was the mundane thing of periods and gave her the two pads she carried in her bag.

"I will use magic to fix the stains but I can't conjure period pads since I forgot to bring any with me…mind you telling Caroline if we can do a grocery run for pads?" Hope said as she tried to sort herself out and Nansia nodded as she quickly rushed to the bar where Damon and Caroline were talking.

"Caroline, mind you if we can do a grocery run? Hope needs some stuff." Nansia said as discreetly as she could and she emphasize the word stuff and Caroline nodded understanding immediately what Nansia meant.

As Hope joined them Bonnie also appeared from the back has gone to put the foods in the freezer and quickly check in with Elena about the party preparations.

The four women waved goodbye to Damon as they climbed into the car and drove to the grocery store and then back home where they were welcomed by the rest of the group and slowly everyone started getting ready for New Years' Eve party.

Nansia texted Ryan telling him where she would be and if he wanted to drop by in secret and to exchange their happy wishes, Ryan said he will let her know if he drops by or not saying he didn't want to impose.

Then Lizzie and Josie dragged Hope and Nansia respectfully to their room where the two tribrids were filled in on how the twins' day went as the twins were trying to find outfits for tonight.

"So, what are you two wearing?" Lizzie asked the girls confused and a little concerned.

"Um…my aunt Rebekah sent a dress over so I'm good, I won't be a fashion catastrophe. It's a cream-white off-the-shoulder gown with golden details spread all over the dress, it's Dior." Hope explained chuckling amused at Lizzie's concern. Hearing that Lizzie eyed Nansia hopeful and she rubbed her hands and said;

"I'm wearing a rosewood red dress that stops half over my calves and has a spaghetti straps tank top bodice, Elena ordered it online and it got here while I was sick. So, you're safe!" Nansia said chuckling and Lizzie let a sigh of relief.

"What are you wearing, Jo?" Hope asked Josie who seemed quiet and then Josie as if answering moved away from the en-suite bathroom door where her dress was hanging. Revealing in the process a blue strapless dress with bided top and waist with silver bids and lace gown.

Nansia and Hope wowed amazed and Josie smiled proudly.

"I designed it!" Josie said proudly and everyone including Lizzie exclaimed loudly what.

"I designed it and gave it to mum's seamstress and she made it for me, isn't it gorgeous?" Josie said proudly and the girls blinked starstruck and Josie enjoyed it.

"Well, now I look like I ordered mine from eBay…" Lizzie huffed self-consciously and showed her a golden champagne tulle dress with a neckline reaching the neck but the shoulders were naked with satin details in the bodice and neckline in a darker shade of golden.

"Girls, you both have amazing dresses!" Nansia said trying to console Lizzie and not start a twin fight. They already had enough on their plates.

"She's right!" Josie tried to calm Lizzie who shook her head and sighed.

"I…"

"You will do nothing! This dress is so you!" Hope scolded Lizzie and used her loud voice and even her eyes glowed for a second as she kneeled beside Lizzie and grasped gently her forearm.

Lizzie stared at Hope's eyes hopeful but with a frown on her face.

"Hope right, Lizzie, I bet we will look gorgeous in selfies and photos!" Josie tried to appease her twin as she rushed to her side.

"Selfies are still a thing here?" Nansia chimed from her spot shocked and the three girls snapped their heads at her with a glare showing it wasn't the time for that.

Nansia shook her head and sighed.

"Lizzie, I'm going to give it straight to you, the dress doesn't look E-Bay bought, it looks rather expensive by the amount of tulle used. And I bet if you wear it the dress would look like it was tailor-made for you which adds to the potential price. Essentially, it makes others think it's far more expensive than it actually is! And if it makes you feel badass, and gorgeous, and isn't causing you discomfort or rashes then you're literarily golden! You should feel amazing!" Nansia said with an authoritative tone as she stood up and had a stern look and tone.

It was the first time the girls before her saw the Wanheda in Nansia, although they had no idea that this was who was talking to them now, so their suspicious and shocked eyes weren't hidden. Nansia in their eyes since they met her has been an unsure ball of trauma and understandably so. But now she was stern and firm.

"Nansia?" Hope asked a little unsure and Nansia blinked as she rubbed her head and looked at Hope expectantly.

"Are you okay? Do you feel okay?" Hope asked unsure as she slowly approached Nansia but at the same time shielded Lizzie and Josie from Nansia with her body just in case.

"Yes, I feel fine why?" Nansia asked confused.

"You spoke weirdly…" Hope started explaining conflicted but Lizzie stopped Hope mid-sentence.

"You spoke sure of yourself and so commanding. You've never done that before." Lizzie noted suspiciously.

"And scary." Josie added a little confused.

"Girls, I'm fine…it's just fashion has never been my liking. I'm stressed about the party and everything…I guess I'm going to lay down for a bit." Nansia said with a shrug as she walked out of the room to hers. Only when the door was shut behind her did she let her face get screwed and so painful as she grasped her forehead and stumbled to her bed. She felt like overheating. Her neck was stiff and in pain just like when she first got the memory chip implanted in her making her access to the past Commanders.

She slammed on her bed and tried to shut her eyes and stop any light source. As she whimpered under her covers she blindly opened the window allowing the snowy crisp wind in and she felt the wind cool her head.

She doesn't know what is happening but she feels like she's everywhere at once. She knows she's on her bed but she can hear everyone in the house and the house down the street.

She wants to scream for it to stop.

What Nansia is unaware of is how the girls didn't trust Nansia's reassurance and the moment she shut her door they rushed to let the adults, specifically Caroline and Bonnie about Nansia.

"Nansia?" Caroline's concerned tone sounded through the door.

"LEAVE ME PLEASE!" Nansia whimpered in anger and pain as she held her head.

"ARE YOU OKAY?" Caroline pressed and Nansia sat up and glared at the door eyes glowing icy blue and pain but a tired and angry sigh blew out of her lips as she jumped off the bed and marched to the door swinging it open.

"What is the meaning of this?" Nansia asked her tone deeper and confused as traces of pain evident in her eyes.

"Nansia? My god is cold!" Caroline exclaimed as she rushed to shut the window. Nansia just stood in the sideway rubbing her head.

"Nansia?" Bonnie got her attention and Nansia's eyebrows furrowed.

"I don't feel well, I have a splitting headache." Nansia said unsure as she looked between the vampire and the witch concerned.

"Maybe you over-exhaust yourself?" Caroline asked suspiciously.

Bonnie was quick to grab Nansia's temple as Nansia sighed feeling relief in Bonnie's cold hands against the temple.

"Oh, you're burning up! You better lay down and I'll bring something to cool you down." Bonnie said concerned as she quickly climbed down the stairs and Caroline helped Nansia back to her bed.

"Why am I always causing goddamn problems for fuck's sake!? I'm sorry guys!" Nansia exclaimed guilty and annoyed as she shook her hands over her head as looked at Caroline desperate for an answer. As Bonnie had gone downstairs she had let Jeremy know of Nansia's condition and he walked upstairs and to Nansia's room to check on her. He heard her ask Caroline why she was causing problems and he couldn't help himself.

"You don't…" Jeremy started to say trying to console her.

"Bullshit, Jeremy, I do! Going to sleep…go to the party without me." Nansia exclaimed angrily and defeated as she sat up on her bed.

Jeremy for the first time since agreeing to adopt Nansia felt that he must step in and step his foot down with that thought he walked to her door and slammed it open causing Nansia to jump while sitting under the covers.

"Nansia! You're going to this party because it's essential for you, Elena and Damon want you to see how we celebrate here and give you a nice holiday to remember! You're part of this family now, a family that understands how it is to have relapses and PTSD and especially trauma that expresses itself in physiological illnesses! You shouldn't feel ashamed for relapsing if you can call this that. Yes, you can come later than we all going to arrive since you need time to settle down understandably but you are going to come even if hell freezes over! You got that?" Jeremy yelled loudly and his eyes and face showed a mixture of understanding, anger, and annoyance.

Nansia had frozen in her bed looking up at Jeremy feeling worse instead of better but she knew he was right at the same time, she feared ruining the party with her problems.

"Crystal…" Nansia mumbled slightly afraid but mostly shocked.

After that Jeremy gave her a shoulder squeeze and told her to take a nap and put an alarm on her phone for an hour and a half from now.

Nansia did as she was told and happily obliged the nap part of the whole order.

During the one hour and a half, everyone besides Nansia started to get ready slowly, having showers, fixing their nails, and just recharging their batteries. Lizzie, Josie, Stefanie, and Hope did their nails while watching some Disney Christmas movie, little Stefanie bathed in the attention she was getting from the older girls and felt as if she was also in their little group.

For a ten years old girl, she was too isolated, she wasn't allowed to go to Mystic Falls and only saw her uncle Jeremy once or twice a year. She could tell they were hiding something but now during this week her Uncle Jeremy and Uncle Ric have been spending time with her telling her stories about witches, werewolves, and vampires and teaching her martial arts.

She wasn't dumb or oblivious not to notice the odd things happening with Nansia and what she was talking about. The moment her uncles started telling her stories of the supernatural she easily pieced everything together, her family was of supernatural origins which meant she might be a witch like Lizzie and Josie!

In her room, she tried to do small spells she had heard the girls do. But nothing worked until yesterday. She was in the toilet peeing when she heard whispers. She finished from the toilet and followed the unintelligible whispers as they got louder. She saw a figure standing opposite their house but the Christmas decorations from the houses around did nothing to illuminate the figure it looked like a male and he looked like he was of pure darkness. Stefanie tried to not look at him her gut was telling her not to look at him.

Just then the figure started walking at an uneven speed, his body moved slowly but his speed was too fast to be considered humane.

She had yelled loudly no and banged with her hands the window she was looking outside from just then a blue transparent shield extended from her hands and engulfed the neighborhood and their house incinerating the dark figure in the process. Tired she turned around and tried to walk back to her room only to see her mother standing in the hallway, dressed in a black gown and her hair looked messy and curled.

"Mum? What are you doing up and dressed like this?" Stefanie had asked her mum but the woman just tilted her head studying Stefanie and smiled kindly.

"I'm not your mum, little one, I'm Katherine, your mum's doubleganger. Quite the power you have for someone who is of inactive witches' bloodline." Katherine had spoken with an impressed tone as she stood before Stefanie and kneeled to be at Stefanie's eye level.

"Who was this figure?" Stefanie had asked Katherine not really finding her sayings odd since she had realized her family's legacy.

"I don't know but I sense it too and came to see what it wanted but before I could get there I saw you use magic. How long have you been able to do that?" Katherine had asked with a soft and caring voice so as to not project her past hatred against Stefanie's parents and family and not to scare the poor child.

"I didn't use magic…" Stefanie had tried to hide the fact that she was trying to use magic.

"Lying isn't a nice thing, Stefanie, if you're afraid that your family won't believe you or support you, you are wrong, this family of yours will support you and believe you. So, what really is it?" Katherine had said seriously and comforting.

"It's not acceptable that I fear I won't get but I saw me, me from the future the moment we met I felt something break in me suddenly my consciousness isn't as it used to be. I'm more…I'm older…I try to pretend that I'm not because I don't know what is happening. Is it like this for witches? Because I feel like I'm split between two personalities. Like right now, in the bathroom I was ten now I'm this…what's happening?" Stefanie had rambled concerned and perplexed as she searched hopefully in Katherine's eyes for an answer.

"Oh, dear!" Katherine had mumbled realizing what was happening. She had gently asked Stefanie to show her, her bedroom and once Stefanie locked the door Katherine had started explaining;

"You and I even your mum and your cousin Nansia, are types of witches gifted with time magic or Traveler magic as it's more recently dubbed. This type of magic might grand our abilities to travel between dimensions and even time travel but it doesn't come for free. A rule for use of such magic is to never meet the past version of you. No one had attempted to do that fearing death but I guess people got curious in the past and attempted. The future version of you is completely unscathed in this the past version of you is the one left behind suffering. You are in the second stage of time memory dysplasia. Your subconscious mind is shifting between ages trying to understand where it belongs because we are all made out of atoms, the future you is a negative atom not meant to be here while you are a positive atom meant to be here, you came close in physical proximity and because opposites attract, you started fusing to be one atom, one person. The first stage was for your magic to be triggered the second stage happened because a future version of you came back and was again close by." Katherine had explained keeping a low voice and sympathetic tone. Stefanie had listened horrified and worried.

"What is going to happen to me? Is there a way to fix it?" Stefanie had asked concerned and terrified.

"Yes, you need to ground your magic and mind to the present. I can guide you through meditation but you need to repeat that meditation for the rest of your life, it's the only way to keep those stages at bay if you don't you will go insane." Katherine had said seriously and Stefanie's eyes had watered and lips trembled.

"You got this, Stefanie, it's not too late." Katherine had tried to console her and instinctively hugged the young witch who started sobbing in her embrace.

They had stayed like that for a few minutes before Katherine urged Stefanie to start the meditation and walked her through it. Two hours later at 5 am, exhausted Stefanie was tucked in by Katherine and said good night promising to be watching over her. Katherine then left the room and walked down the hall to Nansia's room where she came face to face with the shadow figure again.

"Stay away from her!" Katherine had growled as her eyes glowed red and she waved her hand over Nansia casting a protection charm over her and then tried to grasp the shadow person.

The moment her hands waved through the shadowy figure it became clearer of a boy around his seventeenth age of life.

"Help me!" He had whispered frantically before the shadowy mist overtook him and only screams were heard in the room causing Nansia to wake up mumbling disoriented the name;

"Thomas."

Katherine in a blink of an eye had become invisible and looked at Nansia concerned and intrigued. Who was Thomas? Why is that figure watching over her?

Nansia fell asleep instantly as she had woken up not sensing anything wrong with the room.

Those events happened the previous night.

Now she was getting pampered by the girls on the way to the New Year's Eve party. Stefanie was dressed in a blue knee-length tulle and velvet dress with a tank top bodice. Her hair was down in a half up half down updo and very light makeup with a soft red matte lipstick.

"Thank you, girls, I feel like a princess!" Stefanie said happily although the happy smile wasn't reaching her eyes. Nobody noticed and that saddened her more she tried to push it down for the sake of the holidays.

She watched as the other girls got dressed and she felt so proud of them but she didn't know why. Then she remembered what Katherine said, her mind isn't her own or this version of herself.

She walked out of the room went into her room and she sat down and started meditating.

Nansia was awakened by Hope who was half ready telling her it was time for her to start dressing and getting ready. Nansia woke up halfheartedly before Hope tried to persuade her that it would be fun to dress up and at the party.

Nansia gave in and allowed Lizzie to do her hair and makeup while Josie and Hope were trying to steam Nansia's dress which had some wrinkles on it. Then Hope showed her some nail polishes she had, courtesy of Rebekah's, that went well with her dress color and makeup.

Nansia then sat in a corner and did her nails while everyone else was finishing up getting ready. Then she walked around the house checking in on everyone while trying to break into the shoes and get used to them. She had found Stefanie meditating and quietly exit the room thinking that maybe Bonnie had put some exercises on her too or it was part of the gentle parenting Damon and Elena were trying to do.

Soon Josie had urged everyone to start getting pictures to commemorate the occasion and a kinda family photo shoot took place for a few minutes.

Nansia smiled as she watched herself in the mirror, she looked like an alien the shade of red reminded her of the red dress she was wearing…more like the red dress she made by soaking red roses and tulips then sinking the fabrics, and then sowing it for a whole year to make anything resembling a dress in 2149, she wanted to have a nice thing to wear in case Emori and John Murphy ever got married.

"You okay?" The voice of Hope shook her out of her headspace of the apocalyptic world she had been to a lifetime ago.

"Yeah…I had tried to make a similar dress like this back in 2149 but it became a skirt…a good skirt." Nansia said smiling sadly. Hope smiled and asked for what occasion.

"My friends John and Emori, I had a hunch that they would get married soon…if they have I've missed it…but I wanted to have something nice so I tried to make a dress by soaking it in water that I had soaked tulips and roses in to get that red color…it was a skirt…I'm still not good with sowing or measuring…and my maternal grandaunt was a seamstress…she made my mum's wedding dress to my step-dad…she would be turning in her grave seeing how bad I am with a needle!" Nansia mused as she fixed her dress hem and readjust her bra.

Hope listened intrigued by how in one sentence revealed more things about her life pre-2149 and during 2149.

"I think your grand-aunt would be proud for all the other things you're good at. As for John and Emori, there's always a wedding gift you can give them if you ever go back there…you make them something for example." Hope said encouragingly and smiled to Nansia through the mirror as she too fixed her dress. Nansia just smiled in thanks before they heard Jeremy saying it was time to pile up in the cars.

Everyone was dressed and piled it in the cars and Nansia decided to check on Stefanie who seemed withdrawn from everyone while they were already seated and waiting for the others.

"Stef? Are you okay?" Nansia asked concerned and Stefanie sighed and looked at her.

"No, but I will be…" Stefanie said seriously and then put headphones on. Nansia eyed her with furrowed eyebrows and then met with Damon's eyes through the review mirror who just shrugged unsure too by his daughter's demeanor.

They arrived at Damon's bar and they were surprised to see how festive it had become in a matter of hours, Jazzy Christmas music was playing and people were having fun already, food were laid out and drinks were being served all over.

"Great turn out!" Hope yelled over the music to Damon who smiled in thanks and went to mingle with his guests.

Hope found the girls, Josie and Lizzie, sitting in a booth while they watched around them trying to accumulate to this new environment. Nansia and Stefanie were taken by Elena and essentially paraded around being introduced to colleagues of Elena's and more friends. Caroline and Alaric helped the employees to pour out drinks and serve the food equally while Bonnie and Jeremy were catching up with some hunters and witches who were invited to this party.

Seeing as the girls weren't doing anything Hope was just admiring the art on the walls and recognized a painting of her dad's which she found odd but smiled as she studied it.

Bonnie found her about an hour later as she ate some of the food and watched the snowfall from the window in a corner of the bar.

"You okay?" Bonnie asked concerned and Hope nodded not really liking how she felt a little down.

"I'm just bored. I expected something crazier, it's pretty tame for a new years' party and I've heard about the legendary parties you used to throw at the school…when it wasn't a school." Hope said to Bonnie a little bored and Bonnie chuckled.

"Just wait, it's only 8 pm, kid. None of us are drunk enough to wild out yet." Bonnie said smiling and then Jeremy came rushing to them asking if they had seen Nansia and Hope said she was with Elena. Then Jeremy handed them a small suitcase and Hope eyed it a little confused and in disbelief.

"Is, Professor Jeremy, going to DJ?" Hope asked shocked and Bonnie looked surprised too at the suitcase.

"I am." Jeremy suddenly said from behind Bonnie making her jump and Hope looked at him confused.

"Why were you looking for Nansia if you must set up?" Hope asked confused and unsure if she followed his train of thoughts.

"I was worried that Nansia might have another episode with Elena's need to parade her around so I wanted to check in with her, she's fine. Want to help me set up?" Jeremy explain as he took more wires and cables out of his backpack.

"Sure." Hope said as she stood up and Bonnie assured her she would look out for her plate.

"What set are you doing?" Hope asked interested after Jeremy gave her some tasks to complete and she was trying to untangle a bunch of cables.

"We are nearing the end of the 2020s so I suggested starting a journey of hits that happened during 2020 and onwards and adding some Christmas remixes in there. Get the excitement and endorphins pumping!" Jeremy explained as he set up the laptop on the stand.

"Nice! Remind us what we loved about the passing decade." Hope noted with excitement and Jeremy smiled liking seeing her happy. They got busy setting up and that kept her busy and didn't see Jeremy doing thumbs up to Bonnie who grabbed the plate and drink and then nodded to Elena and Nansia who quickly exited the bar with smiles.

Well, this is the end of the 2nd part! What do you think? Too many things happening at once, eh?

Things are sort of getting into a trajectory for the beginning of my multiverse of chaos I have come up with.

Thank you for reading and take a look at my other stories!