Our Town
The following morning, Lorilei begins the plan to follow the Save Elena Gang. It's mainly the oldest of the Pack following them; one currently is outside the Salvatore Boarding House. April O'Brian stands outside, bored, as she waits to follow anyone that comes out of the house with a few others. Inside, Damon smiles to himself as he takes a shower, not having the facilities at the old Witches' House, while downstairs, Elena trains with a punching bag, and Alaric comes into the training room. "Hey, you're gonna hole that thing. You want to talk about it?" Alaric asks her.
"Nothing to talk about," Elena argues, and Alaric holds his hands up in surrender before moving out of the room. Damon gets out of the bathroom upstairs, whistling and finds Alaric waiting for him.
"Good morning," Damon greets him.
"You're late," Alaric tells him. "We were supposed to meet Bonnie at the Witch House in ten minutes."
"Relax, Ric. You don't want your hair to fall out," he jokes, looking at his only friend.
"Would you hurry up," The history teacher groans. "We have work to do. You know, Klaus isn't gonna spontaneously self-destruct. Why are you all chipper?"
"No reason," The older Salvatore replies, unable to stop the smile. "Be with you in a minute." Alaric goes downstairs to see Elena still training.
"So, what's got you worked up?" Alaric asks her, seeing that she is stressed about something.
"I didn't really sleep last night," Elena replies.
"Yeah, me neither," He retorts. "Probably something to do with dying..."
"Are you okay?" She asks him, growing concerned for her teacher.
"Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine," The Vampire Hunter assures her. "I think the ring, however, is running low on batteries."
"Yeah, it's another reason why I worry about Jeremy," The Doppelganger argues, stopping her punches. "If those rings have a shelf life, he is not protected, neither are you." She swings at the punching bag.
"Nice, nice, you're getting stronger," Alaric compliments her.
"I'm just channelling frustration," Elena retorts and stops her assault on the punching bag. "I need coffee." She walks into the Salvatore's kitchen, making herself a coffee after removing her gloves.
"Seems like Damon's in a good mood today," He comments, seeing the Doppelganger stiffen at the mention of the older Salvatore. "What's going on with you two?"
"Have you talked to Damon today?" She asks him, looking at him and wondering if Damon spilt the beans about their kiss last night when he came around to comfort her after having to kill the Hybrid.
"Not really. Why?" The history teacher questions, looking at her strangely.
"No reason," The Doppelganger replies shortly, drinking her coffee. Alaric looks at her but heads out, needing to go to the Witches' House with Damon to speak with Bonnie before heading to school.
At the Witches' House, Bonnie tries breaking the spell on the locked coffin, but it's still locked shut. "Why won't you open?!" Bonnie yells, frustrated, and the coffins disappear as she hears floorboards squeaking above; there's someone else in the house. "Hello? Someone there?" Outside the home, Damon and Alaric arrive.
"You didn't say anything to Elena about the coffins, right?" Damon asks Alaric as they get out of the car.
"No, I said I wouldn't," Alaric argues, already fed up with the question.
"I know what you said," He retorts.
"Why are you asking?" The history teacher asks him.
"Because protecting the location of Klaus' family is my number one priority right now," The older Salvatore Brother tells him. "And the fewer people who know, the better."
"What?" Alaric asks, looking at him and goes into the house as Bonnie slowly walks to the staircase when she spots someone at the top. It's Alaric, making her sigh in relief, and he puts his finger to his lips to keep her quiet and looks around before disappearing. A Hybrid, Hayden, walks out of the house and bumps into Damon. Hayden Vamps out at the Vampire, but Alaric shoots the Hybrid in the back before he can bite Damon, who falls to the ground in pain. Damon reaches into Hayden's back and rips out his heart.
"These Hybrids, really bringing the neighbourhood down," Damon remarks, looking at his friend.
At Mystic Falls High School, Elena prepares Caroline's locker for her birthday, putting balloons and streamers when Bonnie races over to help. "Hey, sorry I'm late, I… I got held up," Bonnie apologises, looking around cautiously after her encounter with the Hybrid.
"It's okay," Elena assures her. "I just got here, too. Can you pass me the balloons?" She asks, and Bonnie hands the pink balloons. "Thanks. What got you running late?"
"I was working on some new spells. You?" She asks, lying through her teeth.
"Working with Alaric," The Doppelganger tells her. "So, I have something I need to tell you, and you're not gonna like it."
"What happened?" The Bennett Witch asks her, looking worried at her friend.
"Last night, a Hybrid tried killing Alaric and well I hate to kill him," Elena confesses, and Bonnie looks at her in shock.
"Why would you do that?" Bonnie asks her, surprised that she would kill one of Klaus' Hybrids, which probably means Klaus is even more vengeful now.
"I didn't have a choice, Bonnie," She argues.
"I get that, Elena, but killing one of Klaus' Hybrids is a death sentence," The inexperienced Witch warns her.
"I know, Bonnie. But Alaric was dying, what was I supposed to do? We need to be able to protect ourselves with Klaus and Lorilei on the warpath," The Doppelganger argues her point. "Where is Caroline? She's usually here by now?"
At the Witches' House, Damon repeatedly hits the locked coffin with a shovel, but nothing happens. "You're wasting your time," Alaric tells him. "It won't open. Did you bury the body?"
"Yeah. Any sign of our little Hybrid buddies?" Damon asks, looking around.
"Nope, just the dead one," he replies, not realising how wrong he is as another Hybrid lurks in the forest surrounding the house. "Alright, Klaus has six siblings. Rebekah is with Klaus. There was one dead kid in the old world, one dead in the new world, which leaves Elijah and two others. Three sleeping Originals, four coffins. So who is in the locked box?" The history teacher muses, looking at the fourth coffin.
"No idea," The older Salvatore Brother replies. "But whatever is in here, Bonnie seems to think that it will help us kill Klaus and Lorilei. So the sooner she can get this open, the sooner we will know if she's right."
"Oh you think the Spirits from a bunch of dead Witches that can make the coffins invisible would have figured out how to open one," Alaric grumbles, looking up at the ceiling as if the dead Witch Spirits will do something. "Fine, don't help," He looks at the house as if the Witches can hear him.
"You know that none of this is gonna do any good if Klaus' Hybrid friends find our hiding place, right?" Damon reminds him. "They need to go away."
"Oh, yeah, that's a great idea Damon. Why don't you just ask them to pack their bags and take a long rest while we are on it," He retorts sarcastically. "How about try to keep the peace? Don't attract attention to the real thing we are trying to hide."
"Well, I'm not gonna play defence when I have what Klaus and Lorilei want," The sassy Vampire argues. "They do what I say or I dumb Klaus' family to the bottom of the ocean."
"And he kills you and everyone you know like, I don't know… me!" The history teacher exclaims, pointing to himself.
"No, he's bluffing," Damon retorts. "His family means more to him than anything else."
"You sure about that?" Alaric asks him.
"Well, I don't know, Alaric. I mean, I guess there's only one way to find out, right? Call Klaus' bluff," He argues, shrugging.
"The only way to call someone's bluff, Damon, is to be willing to lose everything if you're wrong," The Vampire Slayer warns him, and Damon smiles at Alaric before leaving, ignoring his words.
Alexis and Edward get out of her car in the school car park. The male twin feels much better with some help from his big sister, Lorilei. "Where's Jeremy?" Edward asks, looking around, as the Gilbert boy wasn't there when they got up for school.
"He… I'm not sure," Alexis answers, growing worried for him. Meanwhile, inside the school building, Jeremy is at his locker, needing to leave the house earlier to grab some things for an art project at school, when he comes across Bonnie, who doesn't look too happy with him.
"We need to talk," Bonnie tells him, but he has nothing to say to her.
"I don't have anything to say," Jeremy replies, making the Bennett Witch look at him.
"Jer, we need to talk about us," she tells him, and he funnily looks at her.
"There is no us," He corrects, making her look at him in shock. "You made that pretty clear and so have I."
"What do you mean?" The teen Witch asks.
"I mean, we're not a thing anymore, remember?" the Gilbert boy replies. "I need to go." He walks away, finding Alexis and Edward. Jeremy wraps his arm around Alexis, who blushes and accepts the touch. Edward looks at his twin and friend in shock but happy for them, seeing how happy his sister is.
"You seem to miss a lot when you're dying in bed," Edward remarks, earning a scoff from his twin.
"You were not dying," Alexis scoffs, making Edward look at his twin in mocking shock. Down the hallway, Bonnie watches Jeremy as he wraps his arm around the younger McKnight twin and kisses her on the forehead. She feels burning jealousy in her stomach as she looks at them. Jeremy and Alexis head to class while Edward heads in the opposite direction, not paying attention to everyone as they look at the new couple walking through the school. Alexis can't help but blush as Jeremy keeps his arm wrapped around her shoulder. She loves the feeling, but everyone's attention is a little unnerving.
In the car park, Caroline parks her car and spots her boyfriend, Tyler, waiting for her. "I can't talk to you," Caroline tells him.
"I know you're upset, but…" Tyler argues, trying to talk to her.
"Upset? You keep pushing it! Klaus almost got Alaric killed! And before you ask me to understand or to support you, can you at least tell me what you're planning to do about your attachment to Klaus?" She asks him, hating the way her boyfriend acts.
"There is nothing that I can do or want to do about it, Caroline," He argues. "That's the point. I just want you to know that I understand why you can't be with me. Even if you want me to put you first, before anyone, I won't, I'll never put you before the Pack that seems to understand me better than you do. And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I just want you to know that."
"I'm sorry too," the young Vampire mutters, looking at him disappointed. Tyler gives her a small drawstring bag, which she takes.
"Happy birthday," The young Hybrid says before heading into the school, leaving Caroline alone, who looks around, unsure if she wants to attend school anymore. She opens the bag and finds a charm bracelet with a C, an F, a football helmet, and a cheerleader's megaphone, among other charms. Caroline looks sadly at the bracelet in her hands and then looks up, watching the other students moving around the parking lot towards the school. She seems to spot couples everywhere, even Stefan and Blake getting out of his car and heading to the school, not seeing Bobby getting out with the others and being dropped off by some of their parents. Bobby accidentally bumps into Caroline, who frowns and goes to snap at him but stops, looking at him properly.
"Sorry about that," Bobby smiles and heads into the school.
Klaus looks around the manor, impressed with the finishing touches, though there is still a little more work to do. Lorilei comes over, dressed for work at the bookshop with Greta and Maddox, while Klaus and some of the Pack and builders continue renovating. "Where are you going, Love?" Klaus asks her, watching her check her bag for everything.
"I am going to the bookshop; I need to check a few things," Lorilei replies. "Why don't you deal with the riff-raff first, then you can come over?"
"The riff raff?" He questions and sees Damon leaning against the doorframe of the entrance to the house. "Ah, I'm surprised you're still in town. I would have thought you would be hiding somewhere in fear of what I might do to you." Lorilei kisses Klaus on the cheek before leaving, and Damon watches them as she passes him.
"Be careful, Damon, wouldn't want you to lose your head," she warns him. Then she heads out the door, saying her goodbyes to the Pack and builders.
"I live here Klaus," Damon tells him, ignoring Lorilei's warning.
"Well if we're playing this game, then… I was here first," The Original Hybrid argues.
"You know, I don't like your Hybrid friends. They are everywhere, kind of like fleas. I want them gone," He demands, not realising how many there really are in Mystic Falls.
"Yeah, well I kind of like having them around," Klaus retorts. "You know, I'm hurt. I hoped that with us settling in Mystic Falls we'd get past the whole killing each other business. But here you are, engulfing vervain like the rest of them, I'm sure. So much for playing neighbours."
"Neighbours don't start killing people," The older Salvatore argues, looking at him and thinking about Alaric, his only friend.
"Okay, granted, that was a little extreme, but I get a little moody. Just ask my siblings. Speaking of whom, isn't it time to get over it and give them back?" Klaus asks him, wanting his two older Brothers back and his younger Brother along with the locked coffin.
"Klaus, get your Hybrids out of Mystic Falls or I will remove them myself," Damon threatens him.
"Hmm. You see, if you continue to threaten me, I'm gonna be forced to retaliate. Kill people. And it will get messy again," He warns the younger cocky Vampire.
"Do whatever you want, I don't really care," The cocky Vampire retorts. "Or you know what? Maybe I do. Maybe I care so much that I'll drop Elijah in the Arctic."
"Well, maybe I'll be willing to lose one Brother if it means killing you and your friends," The Hybrid snaps, though he doesn't want to lose any more of his family.
"Try me, let's find out," Damon retorts, feeling confident.
"Is everything okay?" Mindy asks, coming over to Klaus and Damon.
"Everything is fine, Mindy," Klaus assures her. "Damon was just leaving after failing to make his point." Damon grows angry and impulsively decapitates Mindy, using a saw from the work table beside him and rushing over to Mindy, cutting off her head clean off before looking at the angry Original Hybrid.
"Well, one down," Damon remarks. "You may want to, ah, send the rest of them away before it gets messy, again." He throws the saw back on the table and quickly leaves before Klaus can retaliate for what he did. Klaus looks at the dead body of Mindy, feeling angry and guilty for what has happened.
Caroline comes home, not wanting to go to school after seeing Tyler and puts her stuff down. Suddenly, Elena, Bonnie and Matt jump out from behind the wall, surprising her as she jumps, clutching her racing heart to see her friends with balloons, party hats, and a birthday sign. "Happy birthday!" Matt exclaims happily at his ex-girlfriend, holding some balloons and a bottle of tequila.
"What are you guys doing here?" Caroline asks her friends.
"Well you blew off school and missed our work of birthday art, so…" Elena tells her, taking off the crown she's wearing and putting it on Caroline's head.
"Change into warmer clothes, we are going to the Falls. Smores, camp fire," Bonnie informs her.
"Cake, like when we were little," She adds.
"Except for the tequila!" Matt beams, waving the bottle to show her.
"Thanks, guys," Caroline replies, smiling sadly. "Really, um, I'm just not feeling my birthday this year."
"I'm sorry, what?" Bonnie asks her, the three friends looking at each other. "You already claimed your birthday as everyone's favourite day of the year."
"Yeah, and now, it's just a reminder that technically, I'm dead," She argues. "Look, I didn't even like 17. And the only point to being 17 is to get to 18, it's a filler year, I'm stuck in a filler year."
"You're not stuck, Caroline," Elena retorts. She does not understand her friend's feelings and ultimately dismisses them, which hurts more.
"Yeah, I am, but it's okay," The blond Vampire grumbles, hating how Elena dismissed her feelings. "You know, it's all good, I'll be fine. But I just need some time to wallow in it."
"Okay, well I think I have another idea," She tells her, smiling.
"What do you want me to do with her head?" Daniel asks, looking at the body of the dead Hybrid, knowing Klaus is angry at the loss of a Hybrid and upset.
"Bury her in the garden," Klaus tells him. "She said she liked the flowers Ava and Maggie put in the other day."
"Got it," Daniel mutters and carries Mindy's body outside, passing Tyler, who watches in concern.
"You called? I'm here," Tyler says, coming into the manor. "What happened?" He watches the body covered with a sheet.
"What happened is Damon had two possibilities and he chose the one that made me angry," Klaus replies. "I need you to help me to do something about that."
"Can't you just leave me out of it?" He asks, not wanting to hurt his friends.
"Very well," The Original Hybrid says, surprising the young Hybrid.
"What?" Lockwoods questions, looking at his Sire in shock. "You're just not going to ask me?"
"I give my other Pack members choice in what they do. Why wouldn't I give you the choice?" Klaus argues.
"Why now?" Tyler asks him, wondering if he can trust Klaus.
"I've had time to think about it. And I know I put a lot on your shoulders when dealing with your friends. But I need you to understand, Tyler, you are a Hybrid," He tells the teen Hybrid. "Your friends want to kill me, Tyler. Where do you stand on that?"
"I want no part in killing you, Klaus. I don't want to feel in the middle anymore. But I don't want to go against my friends or the Pack," The young Hybrid confesses, surprising Klaus.
"Very well," The Original Hybrid muses. "I won't bother you, and you can stay around with the other Pack members as long as you promise not to turn against us."
"I promise," Tyler agrees readily, though he's been feeling more strained with his friends since becoming a Hybrid.
"Great. I believe it's movie night," Klaus retorts, smiling. "I think the younger ones are going to bed after the first one. Will you be there?"
"I'll think about it," He replies. "I need to talk to Caroline first about some things."
"I'll let the others know. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you there," The Original says, as he is attending the fundraiser before he and Lorilei join the movie marathon.
Day turns into night, and it's the fundraiser at Founders' Hall. Alaric and Damon arrive for the council meeting, which is hidden from everyone else. "I thought Stefan saved your life?" Alaric asks, talking with Damon about what happened at Homecoming.
"He did," Damon agrees, still annoyed at that.
"And now you're ready to risk it just to see how far you can push Klaus?" He questions, looking at him.
"It seems so," The older Salvatore Brother muses.
"So is your humanity on or off?" The history teacher asks him, looking at his friend.
"I think there is another option playing," Damon retorts, "a dimmer switch, which is a huge problem for me and you."
"Why?" Alaric asks.
"Because I can't predict how far I want to go until someone gets killed," He replies coldly.
"So nothings changed then?" The Vampire Slayer retorts, annoyed with the Vampire.
"Now, now. I have a small list of people I don't want to get killed," The sassy Vampire argues, smiling cheekily at him.
"Talk about a small list," Alaric mutters, annoying Damon.
"Screw you," Damon groans, looking around the room with Alaric.
"Can't a Council Meeting just be a Council Meeting?" He asks, hating dressed up for a simple Council Meeting that's always disguised as something else. They enter the Meeting Hall with a folded signboard out front that reads 'Wickery Bridge Restoration Fundraiser'.
Caroline follows Elena, Bonnie, and Matt into the graveyard and goes into the Fell Crypt to celebrate the blond Vampire's birthday/funeral. "There it is," Elena declares, looking around the tomb.
"This is creepy, even for us," Bonnie remarks.
"No, Caroline was right… technically, she is dead," she argues and turns to Caroline. "Sorry. But you don't need a birthday; you need a funeral. You need to say goodbye to your old life so that you can move on with your new one."
"Okay," Caroline agrees, smiling and looking around the crypt they once played in as little kids, "Here lies Caroline Forbes." She looks at her friends for help, and Elena puts candles on a pink and white icing birthday cake.
"Cheerleader, Miss Mystic Falls, third-grade hopscotch champion," The Doppelganger lists, smiling at her friend as she tries lifting her friend's spirits.
"Friend, Daughter, overachiever…," Bonnie continues, smiling at her friend.
"Mean girl, sometimes, no offence," Matt says, making the girls look at him.
"Ah, none taken," Caroline replies, knowing she could be a bitch sometimes.
"She was 17, and she had a really good life," Elena decides to speak. "So rest in peace, so that she can move forward. That's what you really need," She walks up to Caroline, holding the cake before her. "What we all really need." She looks around the tomb. "Amen, or cheers or whatever," She takes a cup of tequila. "Bonnie?" She looks at the unlit candles on the cake, and Bonnie lights them using her magic. "Nice." She looks at Caroline. "Okay, make a wish." She holds the cake out to Caroline, who closes her eyes and makes a small wish. A wish for happiness and a sweet relationship with no drama. Maybe her dreams will come true. Just not in the way she's thinking.
At the fundraiser, Alaric looks at the model of the Wickery Bridge on the table in the middle of the room. "That's the bridge where Elena and Jeremy's parents died in a car accident," Damon informs his friend, moving up towards him.
"Something is up with her," Alaric comments, looking at Damon. "Elena. Something more than usual. You know what it is?"
"Well, I'm sure it starts with a 'Stef; and ends with a 'n'," He retorts, annoyed. "I'm gonna get a drink, write a check and then we're out?" Alaric nods and Damon leaves him, soon replaced by Dr Fell.
"Alaric Saltzman. Miracle patient," Meredith comments, looking at him.
"Dr Fell," The history teacher greets her stiffly, still unsure about the woman.
"I'm glad to see you still alive," she remarks, smiling and friendly at him. "A part of me thought you would have dropped dead in your sleep."
"Well, I guess I have nine lives," Alaric retorts.
"Not bad to have in a town with a Vampire problem," Dr Fell says, making him look at her in shock.
"Sorry? Are you on the Founders Council?" He asks her, keeping his voice low.
"I'm a Fell. I come from a long line of Founders; may they rest in peace," Meredith replies and looks at the Wickery Bridge restoration project model. "I hate that bridge," she looks at it in distaste. "My senior prom date dumped me on this bridge."
"Oh yeah? Did you throw him over?" The Vampire Slayer jokes and makes conversation with her.
"No, but I should have. I've been holding a grudge ever since," The Fell woman retorts, laughing. "Where did your friend go? I'm supposed to hit him up for some money for the fundraiser."
"Well, you should, he is loaded," Alaric tells her.
"He's in good company. Some British guy with our resident horror story just pledged to match every dollar we raise!" Meredith tells him, not liking Lorilei from their time in high school.
"What do you mean a British guy and resident horror story?" he asks, looking at her. She turns and points towards Klaus and Lorilei, who are both talking with Carol.
"You know Carol when I think of a Mayor, I think of an old fuddy-duddy, but you really have changed my perception!" Klaus compliments her, making her blush.
"Oh, thank you!" Carol exclaims, beaming happily at him. Damon spots Klaus, Lorilei and Carol talking and walks over to them.
"I mean you are just delightful! What colour are your eyes?" Klaus asks, looking at Carol, who is soaking up all the attention from the handsome man.
"They are blue," Carol giggles, making Lorilei roll her eyes.
"Oh yes, they are," He muses, squeezing Lorilei's waist as his arm is wrapped around her waist.
"Look at what the cat dragged in. Nice vest," Damon comments, strolling towards them and standing behind the couple. "Nice outfit, Lorilei."
"Thank you, Demon," Lorilei replies, smirking.
"Thank you very much," Klaus grumbles, glaring at the man who has taken his family. "Good to see you, Damon. Carol and I were discussing about whether you would be the other big benefactor?"
"What do you say Damon?" Carol asks. "Klaus has made a very generous pledge. You know how we depend on the beat to start the renovation."
"Carol, don't take this the wrong way, but do you realise that you've been kissing the ass of an immortal Hybrid who ruined your son's life?" Damon retorts angrily, surprising Carol.
"Oh, come now, Damon," Lorilei scoffs. "We all know that Klaus saved Tyler from all that nast full moon business. And we've made it our top priority to help and look after him and our Pack members."
"Klaus and Lorilei have promised to protect Tyler, Damon. And our town," Carol adds, looking at them thankfully as she doesn't know what to do to help her son.
"From who? His Hybrids are the one the town needs protection from," Damon argues, glaring at the Original Hybrid.
"Well, I'd have no use for them in protection, if you would kindly return my family," Klaus retorts, glaring back at him.
"Not gonna happen," He declines quickly.
"That's what I thought, which is why I've come to an agreement with the Mayor," The Original Hybrid informs him. "You and the Council stay out of our hair, we stay out of yours. Your town gets protected, our Pack gets left alone and everybody will be happy. All you have to do is to stop decapitating our Pack members."
"Please, Damon, just get yourself under control, or the Council will be forced to take action against you," Carol warns him, and Damon looks at her in shock.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Damon exclaims, looking at his friend.
"Oh, come on, Demon. Give peace a chance," Lorilei smirks, angering Damon further, who comes up with an impulsive plan.
Meanwhile, at the Fell Crypt with the teen, the small group eats their birthday cake and drinks tequila, enjoying themselves as they pass the bottle around. Matt takes Bonnie's tequila bottle, but Elena snatches it from his hand and drinks. "Ah-ah. I need it more than you do, trust me," Elena boasts, getting their attention, and then she spots Caroline in the corner on her phone. "Caroline, what are you doing?" Caroline looks up from her phone, stopping her texting.
"What? Nothing," Caroline denies, holding her hands down in front of her, trying to hide her phone from her friends.
"Okay, you're a bad sober liar," She comments. "You're an even worse drunk liar."
"I might have texted Tyler," The blond Vampire confesses, making the others look at her.
"Caroline…" The Doppelganger sighs, shaking her head in disappointment.
"What? I'm delicate," Caroline argues, pouting.
"Give her a break! You can't control what everyone does all the time," Bonnie snaps, drunkenly swaying as there's an awkward silence.
"Wow," Elena gasps, looking at the Bennett Witch.
"Ouch, Bon," Matt mutters, looking at her in surprise.
"Sorry, I know it's Caroline's birthday, funeral, or whatever, but, I just feel horrible about the fact that Jeremy has finally confirmed we're broken up and he doesn't even waste any time and starts dating Alexis McKnight!" Bonnie explodes, making her friends look at her in surprise and sadness.
"It's okay, Bonnie. You're better than him, if he wants to waste his time with Alexis McKnight, then let him. You'll find someone that's much better for you," Elena assures her, wrapping an arm around her.
"He should want to be with me. I thought once we got over the Anna thing, he would want to get back together, but he just went to stick his tongue down Alexis McKnight's throat." She grumbles hatefully.
"Bonnie, everything will be okay, I promise." The Doppelganger tries to calm her down, but the Bennett Witch is too drunk and angry.
"How? How is everything gonna be okay?!" The Bennett Witch snaps, glaring at Elena.
"You know, you guys are ruining a perfect funeral," Matt slurs, too drunk to understand what's going on.
"I'm sorry," Bonnie calms down a little. "I'm just gonna go sleep it off or something. Happy birthday," she looks at Caroline before leaving. Caroline and Elena look at each other in worry for their friend, who seems to be taking Jeremy starting to date someone else badly, but they're all too drunk to do anything about it now.
Back at the Founders' Hall, Damon finds Liz and walks through the party together after he chats with Carol and the abomination couple. "The Mayor is looking out for Tyler," Liz argues. "For now, we have to assume Klaus has her in his pocket."
"Oh, please, don't tell me you're gonna drink the Klaus Kool-Aid," Damon scoffs, hoping at least one of them would stick with him.
"I'm not gonna let him hold this town hostage," She assures him. "But, I'm also not gonna let innocent people get caught in the cross-fire in a pissing contest between a Hybrid and a Vampire."
"Liz, I'm impressed, you're all strong and sherriff-y," He jokes, teasing her a little.
"I'm not kidding, Damon. Stand down from this one before someone gets hurt," The Sheriff warns him and walks away. Damon looks around and spots Dr Fell talking with a man nearby.
"What are you doing? You're gonna ruin your career," The man warns the Doctor.
"Says the guy who got his job from his dad," Meredith spits back at him.
"Do you have any idea what you're messing with?" He questions, glaring at her.
"I know what I'm doing," She assures him.
"Damn it, Meredith!" The man snaps.
"Back off, Brian," The Doctor warns him, and Alaric shows up to defend the woman.
"Whoa!" Alaric exclaims, jumping between them. "Everything all right here?"
"Everything is fine," Brian argues.
"It didn't look fine," He retorts, looking at the other man.
"You might want to get to know her before you become her white knight. She's kind of a psycho case," The man warns him.
"You're that guy, aren't you?" The history teacher chuckles. "The one begging to have his teeth kicked in."
"Take it from me man, life's too short," Brian warns him.
"Just go away, Brian," Meredith snaps, and the man walks away. "Behold, my senior prom date."
"Well, you definitely should have thrown him over the bridge," Alaric jokes.
"Unfortunately, I have to work with him. He is on the Council, he's the medical examiner. The guy who signs his name under Cause of Death: 'animal attack'," She informs him.
"I get it," He replies.
"Yes," The Doctor retorts, and her pager goes off. She checks it, seeing it's urgent. "Duty calls. Thanks for the hero moment."
"Anytime," The Vampire Slayer smiles, watching Meredith leave. Meanwhile, Damon discreetly grabs a long knife off the table at the Council fundraiser. The Hybrid, Daniel, goes upstairs and into a room, closing the doors behind him. Damon surprises him and stabs Daniel in the stomach. Damon pulls Daniel's head backwards and puts the knife to his throat, but Alaric stops him, slamming Damon against the wall. Damon turns and easily frees himself.
"What are you doing?" Damon snaps, glaring at his friend,
"What are you doing? No dead Hybrids at the Founders' party!" Alaric snaps back at him.
"No, I told Klaus to get his Hybrids out of town, he didn't listen, so I'm gonna say it louder," He argues angrily.
"You don't think there's ten more where that came from?" The history teacher retorts. "And if you kill them, Klaus won't make 20 more? Have you forgotten Elena's part in all of this? Or do you not care if she is a human blood bag for the rest of her life?"
"Protecting Elena is your problem now," The older Salvatore Brother replies. "See, I need to stop Klaus more than protect Elena."
"Don't give me that dimmer humanity crap, you don't give me that! Your switch is fried, Damon, just like your brain! You wanna take Klaus? You wanna beat the villain? You've gotta be smarter," Alaric argues, growing tired of his nonsense.
"To beat the villain, Ric, you have to be the better villain," Damon says, clapping Alaric on the shoulder and leaving the Vampire Slayer alone, who doesn't look happy about his idea.
Tyler arrives at the Fell Crypt after receiving a drunk text from Caroline, and he wants to talk to her about something important. "Sorry, I didn't mean to crash the party," He apologises.
"So don't," Matt replies coldly.
"No, it's-it's okay," Caroline assures him. "Hi," She says to him, smiling sheepishly.
"Can I talk to you for a sec? It's kind of important," Tyler asks her. She nods, leaving the crypt with him, and they walk into the woods.
"Are you okay?" Elena asks Matt, and he takes the tequila from Elena, taking a swig.
"Yeah, I want her to be happy, you know? It's what I want for all of you guys, in the middle of this crazy life you got stuck living," Matt slurs.
"Is that how you see it? That we're stuck?" She wonders.
"I'd say it's attached itself to you all pretty tight, yeah," He replies.
"Bonnie is right, you know. I just don't know what to do. I can't lose anyone else that I love," The Doppelganger mutters, the tequila taking effect.
Outside in the woods, Caroline and Tyler walk through the trees, talking as they go. "I talked to Klaus about some stuff, and he says, like you, that I have to make a choice," Tyler tells her. "I don't want to be caught in the middle of everything between you and the Pack."
"What, the Pack? Tyler, it's okay. Maybe we just weren't meant to be together. Maybe we just have to accept that and move on," Caroline argues, and Tyler isn't sure how he feels.
"I think that's best, actually," He agrees, surprising the drunk blond Vampire.
"What?" She asks, looking at him in shock.
"I think it's for the best. If we can't agree on something, or the fact that I can't handle being put in the middle of this little fighting between you guys and Klaus." The Hybrid argues, and Caroline begins crying.
"I see," The blond Vampire sobs, wiping at her tears.
"I promise, if things were different, I think we'd outlast anything," Tyler retorts, making her crack a smile.
"You think?" Caroline asks, hugging him as she cries.
"I do. I care about you a lot, Care, I do. And I think you deserve to have someone who will put you first and isn't as messed up as me," he tells her, returning the hug and letting her cry for a little while before heading back to the Pack Den.
Tyler returns to the Pack Den in time to see the younger Pack members being led to bed by their parents. He waves at them, seeing their sleepy faces, and heads down to the basement of the Den and to the cinema room to find the older members sitting around. Tyler looks around for an empty seat and finds one next to Phoebe, the second youngest Hybrid after him. "What are we watching?" Tyler mutters, seeing the screen light up as the movie begins.
"Scream 3," Phoebe tells him, looking at him and seeing the redness of his eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he replies, slouching on the sofa cushions. Phoebe looks hesitant and places her hand on his, squeezing it to give him a sense of comfort. Tyler sniffs, wiping the unshed tears as the lights dim, and the others get comfortable as the movie starts.
Meanwhile, Matt and Elena look for Caroline in the woods. The blond human is shining a flashlight around the trees. "Caroline!" Matt shouts as she doesn't return after talking with Tyler.
"Great, we've been abandoned. Okay, we're going on a search party. I don't trust that she won't get back together with him," Elena grumbles sourly.
"Caroline!" He shouts again, louder.
"Come on, Caroline, we don't have any more drinks! Matt's being haunted by the Fell ghosts!" she jokes, playfully nudging Matt with her shoulder, who nudges her back and smiles. Suddenly, they hear sobbing coming from further down, and they move toward the sound to find Caroline curled against a tree, sobbing with tears falling rapidly.
At the Founders' Hall, Lorilei moves away from Klaus, heading to the bathroom, when Damon appears behind her. Damon smacks Lorilei's head into the side of the wall, knocking the Siphon unconscious. Damon catches the older McKnight and speeds away from the Council Meeting, starting his plan to get the Hybrids out of Mystic Falls.
Damon drives his car with Lorilei in the passenger seat through Mystic Falls and heads toward Wickery Bridge. Lorilei groans, regaining consciousness, and she looks around, finding herself inside Damon's car. "What do you think you're doing, Damon?" Lorilei demands, glaring at him. Damon's phone rings, and he takes it out, answering, knowing who it will be already.
"Hello, Ric, I'm a little busy right now," Damon says, smirking at Lorilei.
"Why the hell have you abandoned me at the Council Meeting?" Alaric demands, glaring through the phone.
"I'm making my next move," He replies. "Let me ask you something… What will Klaus do if his girl dies?"
"What?!" Lorilei yells, slapping the older Salvatore's arm angrily.
"Damon, leave her out of this. It's dangerous!" Alaric warns him, but Damon rolls down the window and throws his phone onto the road, smashing it to pieces.
"That was dumb!" She yells. "That was your phone." Damon cringes at the volume and the stupidity of smashing his own phone. "What are you doing? Damon, let me out of this car, now. Do you hear me? Let me out of the car!" Damon just ignores her, continuing to drive.
Alaric leads Klaus into an empty room after his phone call with Damon. "What now?" Klaus asks, wanting to get out of there and head to the hotel with Lorilei, who he can't seem to find now. "You just pulled me away from a fascinating conversation about landscaping the Town Square."
"Damon just grabbed Lorilei," Alaric informs him, and Klaus's eyes ignite with pure rage.
"Well, he's getting desperate," He growls, thinking of how Lorilei is right now.
"He's gonna try and use her against you," The history teacher warns him. "Do what he says; get rid of your Hybrids if you care about her at all."
"Or what? Damon would never dream of killing her," The Original Hybrid argues. "Because I will kill him."
"You sure about that? He just tried to behead someone in the middle of a Council party. He's operating on crazy right now," Alaric retorts, knowing Damon is acting out badly.
"Well, crazy or not, what I do to him if he hurts Lorilei will make him wish I killed him. He's bluffing," Klaus snaps.
"Maybe he is, maybe he isn't but if you don't want to believe him, believe me," He tells him. "I know Damon better than you, and right now, I don't have a clue how far he is willing to take this. So if he says blink, I suggest you blink."
Matt carries a sobbing Caroline in his arms, and Elena runs to the front door and opens it for him. They walk inside, trying to be quiet, but it doesn't work as Sheriff Forbes exits the living room after leaving the party. "Sheriff Forbes!" Matt exclaims, drunkenly surprised at her sudden appearance.
"What happened?" Liz asks them, looking at the drunk Matt and panicked Elena, then at her sobbing daughter. Liz leads Matt through the house toward Caroline's birthday, helping settle her daughter.
"I think it was Tyler," Elena tells her.
"Oh, sweetheart," she mutters sadly. "Be careful," she turns to Matt, who gently puts her on the bed. "Oh, honey. Caroline, honey, can you hear me?"
"Mum, I don't understand," Caroline sobs.
"She's been like that since we found her," Matt tells her, and Elena moves onto the bed, rubbing Caroline's arm as Liz sits on the other side, brushing her fingers through Caroline's hair.
"It's okay, sweetheart, everything will be okay," Liz says, wrapping her arms around her daughter's shoulders, lying on the bed, and Caroline sobs lightly as Elena and Matt watch the blond Vampire fall asleep.
"So, what's the grand plan, Damon?" Lorilei asks. "What's the big move you're making?" She looks around for a way out.
"I took Klaus' family to make him suffer. I'm not gonna let him make himself a new one," Damon retorts angrily.
"Too late for that then," She snaps. "So, what are you gonna do, huh? Are you gonna lock me in some cave and keep me hostage?"
"Maybe. Maybe, I'll just turn you into a Vampire then lock you away," He replies, and she looks at him in shock and fear.
"Stop the car, Damon!" the Siphon demands, not wanting to lose the ability to have children just yet until she's certain that her curse will never be broken. "Stop the car, Damon!" she shouts, and Damon grabs her blazer, takes her phone from the inside pocket, and calls Klaus.
"Lorilei!" Klaus exclaims, but there isn't a reply. "Damon, is that you?"
"Tell your Hybrids to get out of town, Klaus," Damon demands.
"Well, that's not gonna happen until I get my coffins and Lorilei back," he snaps.
"Okay, well then, I'm gonna drive your girl off Wickery Bridge," The older Salvatore Brother retorts.
"I don't believe you, Damon. You won't kill her," The Original Hybrid argues, not wanting to lose Lorilei ever. Damon bites into his wrist forces it into Lorilei's mouth and forces her to drink his blood.
"No! No! No! What are you doing?" Lorilei sputters. "Nik!"
"What's going on?" Klaus asks in concern.
"I just fed her my blood. No more magic aid if she's a Vampire," Damon warns him, but he doesn't know what will really happen.
"You won't do it," He sneers.
"Really? Try me, because your coffins are next to go. Say goodbye to your family, Klaus," The cocky Vampire retorts and speeds up.
"Damon, slow down! Damon! Damon, stop it!" Lorilei screams, trying to free herself from the speeding car.
"Fine, I'll send them away. You win!" Klaus agrees, hating to hear Lorilei's screams.
"Damon! Damon, stop!" She screams. "Nik!"
"Stop the car, Damon!" He screams, growing panicked for Lorilei. Damon slams his foot down on the brakes, skidding the car to a stop. Klaus hears the noise over the phone and stays on the line, furious at the younger Vampire's actions. Lorilei pushes the car door open and takes her phone from Damon as she runs from the car.
"Stay the hell away from me, Damon Salvatore," The older McKnight warns him and puts the phone to her ear. "Klaus, come and get me."
"I'm on my way," The Original Hybrid assures her, and Damon watches Lorilei as she wraps her arms around herself for comfort.
"Please hurry, Nik," Lorilei mutters, close to tears and moves further along the bridge away from Damon, who gets into his car and heads to the Witches' House, needing to go back into hiding.
"I'm heading out now; I won't be long," Klaus promises. He speeds towards the bridge, appearing before her, and she bursts into tears. Klaus wraps his arms around her and holds her close. "It's okay, I know, Love."
"I hate him, I want him dead, Nik," She demands, her voice muffled by his chest as she presses her face into it.
"As you wish," He replies, smiling. "I will do anything you wish."
"I like the sound of that," The McKnight Witch smirks, leaning back and looking at him.
"I'm sure. Shall we go back to the hotel?" The Mikaelson Hybrid questions, and she nods, holding his hand.
"Can we take the longer way?" Lorilei asks him, not wanting to get back to the hotel just yet.
"Very well," Klaus agrees, swinging her arm around and spinning her around as if they're dancing and wrapping his arms around her.
"Are we dancing now?" She muses as they slowly dance in the middle of the road.
"Why not?" He replies, smiling down at her. "We have all night."
"I like the sound of that," The Siphon hums, thinking of something. "What are we going to do about Damon?"
"I will hunt him down and kill him, I promise," The Original Hybrid vows and kisses her, cupping her face as he deepens the kiss.
The Forbes house doorbell rings, and Matt goes to the door, answering it to see one of the new kids in town. Matt recognises him as Bobby Benson, with whom he shares a few classes. "Hello, Matt," Bobby greets him. "I'm here on Tyler's behalf. He seemed pretty distressed about Caroline and wanted to make sure she got home okay."
"How do you know how Tyler's feeling?" Matt asks, then he grows angry. "You must be one of Klaus' Hybrids. Stay the hell away from us."
"I'm not a Hybrid yet, Matt. And Tyler is at our house, crying about breaking up with Caroline earlier," He informs the blond quarterback, who looks at him in shock. Liz comes up, having heard the doorbell.
"Did you say Tyler broke up with Caroline?" Liz asks him, and Bobby looks at the woman.
"I did. He thought it was for the best, considering everyone already seems to hate him for being a Hybrid," The Benson Werewolf replies, and Liz looks at him.
"Thank you for coming to see her," She says, looking at him.
"I did it for Tyler, but also for Caroline. She shouldn't be crying," Bobby tells her. Caroline hears Bobby's voice, moves off the bed, and sees Elena sleeping behind her. Caroline walks into the hallway and spots Bobby, the boy in most of her classes who always makes her smile with his goofy jokes.
"Bobby, what are you doing here?" Caroline asks, her voice a little crocky from crying.
"I wanted to check on you after Tyler told us what happened," He tells her, and she looks at him. "Tyler came to the Den upset, and I wanted to check on you. Especially since it's your birthday."
"Thank you," She smiles a little. "How is he?"
"Sad. But who wouldn't be? How are you holding up?" the Werewolf asks, and Liz leads Matt away to give the two some space as Caroline and Bobby talk. Matt is still deciding about Bobby but goes with Liz inside. "I mean, it's your birthday, gotta be the worst present ever," he jokes, making her laugh, and Bobby notices the bracelet Tyler gave her.
"True," The blond Vampire giggles. "Thank you for checking up on me."
"Of course, Tyler is a mess, watching Scream 3," Bobby tells her, and Caroline looks at him in shock. "I know, he almost jumped into Phoebe's lap. She's our second youngest Hybrid. Tyler being the first, of course."
"Is he going to be okay?" Caroline asks, worrying about her ex-boyfriend.
"I think so. And you need to focus on you for now," He advises her. "You need to put yourself first from now on. Because let's be honest, when's the last time you did that?" He looks at Caroline, who smiles, leaning against the doorframe. "I'd say a long time, and well, considering you're a Vampire, you have a long time where you can focus on just yourself. I mean, since becoming a Vampire, when has anything been about you?" Caroline looks at him and thinks about her time since Katherine killed her and since joining the Save Elena Gang. "From that look alone, I'd say it's been awhile. It's your birthday and there's just drama."
"Thank you, Bobby," she says, surprising him. "I know we have art class tomorrow, but I think I want to have a day to myself."
"That is perfectly fine, I will suffer without our little talks, but as long as you have a real birthday, I will want to have as much detail as possible," The Benson Werewolf jokes, making her laugh. Liz and Matt smile, glad to hear her laughing after sobbing for a few hours.
"Most definitely," The blond Vampire giggles.
"Happy birthday, Care," Bobby smiles, moving away from the door. Caroline watches him walk away and disappears into the night.
Alexis and Jeremy return from the Mystic Grill, both working a long afternoon shift. Alexis locks the car and receives a text from Klaus, which makes her frown as she reads it. "I need to go," she mutters. Edward comes racing out of the house with Jenna behind.
"What's going on?" Jeremy asks, looking at his aunt for help, but she seems just as lost as he does.
"Damon kidnapped our sister, that's what's going on!" Edward snaps, trying to get into the car, but it is still locked.
"Whoa! Whoa!" Jenna snaps, making the teens look at her. "What do you think you're going to do, when no one can find where Damon is hiding. And if you did find him, what exactly do you think you could do to them?"
"Beat him to a bloody pulp," He replies.
"Kill him and hide the body," Alexis answers, surprising Jeremy, but he knows how much Lorilei means to the twins.
"I think Lorilei would like some time with Klaus to calm down. Tomorrow, I'll have them come over for breakfast," Jenna suggests. "Okay, Ed, Lex?"
"Okay," the twins agree. Jeremy wraps his arm around Alexis, leading her inside with Edward slouching behind.
"What should we make, Lorilei and Klaus?" Jeremy asks, trying to steer the conversation.
"Well, Lorilei likes cooking, so it has to be amazing," Edward beams, running into the house and making Jenna laugh.
"I will text her and Klaus to let them know," Jenna states, letting the teens into the house. The McKnight twins race into the living room and jump onto the sofa.
"We need to decide what we're making," Alexis beams, getting her phone out. Jenna joins them with her phone, texting Lorilei. Jeremy watches them and smiles, joining the twins on the other sofa and wrapping his arm around her.
"I'm sure it will be amazing," Jeremy retorts, watching Alexis open her phone and try to find some ideas for breakfast.
"What about those," Edward suggests, pointing at the phone screen.
"No! It has to be perfect!" Alexis snaps, moving her phone away.
"It will be," Jeremy promises, cuddling her into his chest. "It will be." He kisses her forehead.
The following day, things go differently than planned. Klaus and Lorilei arrive at the McKnight House to find Edward and Alexis fighting over who will cook for their big sister. Jeremy and Jenna try to calm the twins down, but it doesn't go well. "What is going on here?" Lorilei demands, looking at the twins, who instantly stop shouting and fighting with each other.
"They were trying to cook for you," Jeremy informs Lorilei, who looks at her younger siblings.
"That's nice, but I think it's safe for everyone if I cook our breakfast," She decides, moving her siblings away from the stove.
"Ah, that's much better. I like your cooking," Klaus muses, smiling and sitting at the kitchen island.
"Hey!" The twins snap, glaring at the Original Hybrid.
"How about you help me," Lorilei suggests, looking at the twins, who beam at her. "We'll make muffin breakfast pizzas."
"That sounds good," Jeremy laughs, joining Klaus at the kitchen island, and Jenna does too.
"Of course it does, Lorilei's making it," Jenna laughs.
"You guys can make toast and yoghurt bowls," Lorilei tells them, and they look at her in shock. "That's right. You have to help."
"But I just wanna enjoy your food!" Edward whines, making the others laugh. Jenna gets up and lets Lorilei start prepping the breakfast. She grabs some bowls and plates and puts them in front of the teens and Klaus.
At the Forbes house, Caroline wakes and looks around, feeling lighter after her little chat with Bobby, and spots a little navy blue, rectangular, velvet-covered box with a note inscribed on the top. Caroline picks up the note and smiles. 'To Carebear, your favourite art partner here, I saw this and thought this might make you smile, from Bobby Bear,' Caroline laughs as she finishes reading the note, remembering in art class when he called her Carebear, she went back with Bobby Bear. Inside the box is a roll of paper and a cute light blue butterfly beaded charm bracelet. She unrolls the paper and sees a birthday painting that makes her smile even more.
Matt meets Elena at Wickery Bridge, finding her standing in the middle, looking down at the river below. "You're not gonna jump, are you?" Matt asks, watching her carefully.
"Thanks for coming," Elena replies, ignoring his question. "I was just thinking about what you said, about us being stuck."
"I was buzzed, Elena," He argues. "I can't be held responsible for being judgmental."
"I do feel stuck, Matt," She retorts. "I feel like I've been holding on to the girl that was supposed to die here with her parents. The girl who had a normal life, and didn't fall in love with Vampires."
"You're not that girl anymore," The blond quarterback tells her. "It's okay if you want to let her go."
"Is it?" The Doppelganger questions. "'Cause I feel like I disappointed her a little like, like I disappointed them. My parents."
"My two cents, as a guy who knew that other girl: you're doing a lot better than you think," Matt assures her, picks up some dandelions from the ground, and holds them out before him as he faces the side of the bridge. "Here lies Elena Gilbert. A fun girlfriend and an amazing friend." He tosses the flower over the bridge and into the river below.
Alaric comes to the Mystic Grill and sits at the bar, drinking a beer, when Meredith shows up. "Thank God, another day drinker," she sighs. "I lost a patient; what's your excuse?"
"I realised my relationship is officially over," Alaric replies, making her look at him.
"Who was it?" Meredith asks.
"Jenna Sommers," He laughs and sees the look on her face.
"Then you should probably buy me a beer," She tells him, sitting beside him.
Liz and Damon walk through the woods, heading to a crime scene that a hiker found earlier in the morning. "A hiker called it in. My guys got here first," Liz informs the Vampire.
"Another Hybrid?" Damon asks though he knows he hasn't killed any more Hybrids lately since Klaus listened to his demands last night.
"That's what I thought at first," She replies and points toward the body lying on the ground before them with a stake in his heart. "Brian Walters, the medical examiner."
"What's with the stake? He's not a Vampire," He retorts, looking at the body.
"I know. This was a murder," The Sheriff states.
