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"Just because it burns doesn't mean you're gonna die. You've got to get up and try."

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THE NEXT  morning I awake to an empty bed and a noisy Theo who won't stop blabbing away, trying extremely hard to turn his sounds into English words. So far the only things he's managed to say is an extremely slurred version of my name, and 'cookies'.

Confused as to why the house feels like a ghost town, I make my way downstairs fully dressed with Theo in my arms, halting abruptly in my chipper step once I realize it's not so empty. The one and only Elena Gilbert stands by the fireplace, glaring at her phone screen as it lights up with messages.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in rehab?" I ask curiously.

"I turned it back on last night after... it does't matter," she trails off. It appears my brothers had been successful with vampire rehab, and apparently it wasn't easy judging by the look on the doppelgänger's face.

"So... are you okay?" I question, knowing it's probably the right thing to ask.

"Fantastic," she sighs sarcastically, clicking off her phone. "Part of me wishes I didn't turn it back on because this whole town is falling apart."

I furrow my brows. "What do you mean?"

"The whole town of Mystic Falls is living in a wind storm, and it's all because Bonnie is doing the spell to unleash the vail from the other side," Elena explains.

"She's actually going through with it?" I say.

Elena nods. "I think she has a plan to defeat Silas, but I'm not entirely sure. I'm going to the school now to meet with everyone."

"Everyone? So that's why the house is empty. Why didn't anyone tell me?" I frown, disappointed I wasn't invited in on this plan.

"You were sleeping for one, and two, James loves you. Why would he put you at risk along with Theodore? You're safer here than where they are, anybody can see that," Elena points out.

I stand there, unsure what to say. She's right, but at the same time I feel useless sitting here at home. "I have to go Blair," Elena says. "I'll let them know to keep you updated."

Before I have the chance to respond, she speeds out of the house leaving it just as empty as it was this morning.

Wanting to clear the air, I make my way out to the front steps, bouncing Theo in my arms as suddenly the wind picks up, nearly blowing me back a couple steps. This must be the wind storm Elena was referring to. It sends chills down my spine, not because it's cold but the reality of what it means; Bonnie is channeling so much energy, playing with an incredible amount of magic that I fear she might not know what to do with it all.

I become nervous and wish I knew what was going on, however I trust James enough to know he'll be okay and look after my brothers. Knowing there isn't much I can do, I head back inside to get Theo something to eat when suddenly the door opens for me, a familiar face on the other side.

It's one of the witches I killed from the sacrifice a couple days ago. "Hello, Blair. Remember us?" she says.

Us

I turn around only to find the eleven other witches have surrounded the house, slowly making their way over to me. My eyes go wide in a panic and I hug Theo closer to my body, contemplating my options.

I vamp speed to the side of the house, using my strength to jump up to one of the balconies. I twist the metal door handle and it screeches, the lock breaking allowing me to run inside. It leads into an empty guest room, all the furniture dusty and untouched.

There isn't much I can do to fight off twelve witches, so I know my best chances of making it out of this with Theo is to just hide and call for help. I'm about to call out in my mind to James when suddenly the door goes flying open, one of the witches walking through.

Her hands is held out as she prepares a spell, but she doesn't get the chance to before I speed to the bathroom, barricading the door shut with a chair. It won't hold against a spell, but it will allow me to come up with another plan. I try to form helpful thoughts and ideas but all I can hear is her chanting some mumbo jumbo from the other side of the door, clouding my thoughts.

Suddenly, there's a loud bang from the other room and the chanting stops. I freeze, scared to move when suddenly the door bursts open with extreme froze, the chair being no obstacle to the person opening it. It all makes sense once I see none other than Klaus Mikaelson walk in.

"Hello love," he greets, holding out a hand for me to take.

My stubborn self refuses to take his hand, but my trembling body says other side as I reach out with a shaky hand and take his, letting him pull Theo and I out of the small bathroom. "How are you here?" I ask.

"James sent me. I did come into town to say a proper goodbye, but apparently things never calm down around here," he says with a smirk.

We walk out of the room, passing one of the witches bodies that Klaus no doubtfully killed. It makes me wonder if she's really dead considering she is just a figure walking in the real world thanks to the temporary absent of the vail.

"Where did all the other witches go?" I ask, remembering the crowd of them outside.

"They seemed to have been scared off for now, so unfortunately for you you're stuck with me until the vail is back up," Klaus says.

"I have to get to James," I say, holding Theo close to me as Klaus stops in his step.

"He's in the caves with Bonnie, love, along with your brothers and Joel. They're in the process of killing the mighty Silas himself," Klaus explains.

"So I heard," I mutter. "They left me out of it."

"For once they've done something smart," Klaus teases.

I roll my eyes. "James really called you? Called you to do what? Babysit me?"

"I was expecting a thank you, you know," Klaus says, folding his hands behind his back as we walk downstairs.

"You'll get a thank you when you help me get to James. I need to help them," I insist. "I'm not staying here all day while everyone else is out risking their asses."

"Indeed you are," another male voice says as we get to the bottom of the stairs.

"Elijah," I breathe out. "Well isn't this a grand old family reunion."

"What? I don't get a hug?" Elijah teases, causing me to scowl.

I push past him and walk towards the living room, plopping myself down on the couch with Theo still in my arms. Part of me is furious that James sent Elijah and Klaus to watch over Theo and I, and part of me is secretly blushing inside from his act of love.

"Blair?" Elijah questions, noticing my change in mood.

"What?" I ask.

"Are you alright?" he asks, sitting down beside me.

"Fine," I say.

"I think I'll go search for any more witches that may be roaming about," Klaus says before taking off down the hall.

"You know James only did this to protect you right? He didn't want you to get hurt. He cares deeply about you and Theo, and he didn't want to take any chances," Elijah says, trying to reason with me. I know he's right and I know what I'm feeling is silly, but I feel the same way. I don't want James to get hurt, nor do I want Joel to get hurt. I care deeply about them too. I can't help the way I feel. If there's anything I've learned about all these intense vampire emotions, it's that you can't force yourself to be a certain way; all you can do is work on controlling them.

"I know," I say, pursing my lips to conceal the fear in my voice, the panic in my face as I think about James and how right now they're dealing with Silas.

"Hey listen," Elijah begins, turning to me so he's directly looking at me. "Klaus and I, after this is all over we have to leave town," Elijah states slowly, stretching out his words. His eyes squint in that way they always do when he's talking about something serious, observing as much as he can.

"What, why?" I question, turning to him. "Is this about those witches plotting against him?"

"Partly yes, but there's something else. You remember Hayley, the wolf who was with Tyler Lockwood?"  Elijah asks.

I nod. "Yeah, what about her?"

"She's baring Klaus's child," Elijah bluntly admits.

I let out a half scoff, half laugh as my eyes widen, my ears questioning exactly what they just heard. "Excuse me?" I ask.

Elijah sighs and shifts in the chair. "I don't know when it happened, but we need to move back to New Orleans where we can deal with this properly," Elijah continues.

I process what he's saying, still shocked that Klaus- a vampire- is having a child after I thought vampires were incapable of procreation. But then again, Klaus is a hybrid, not just a vampire. As Elijah speaks, I can't help shake the thought that Klaus slept with Hayley after I turned him down. I can't help but think that he rebounded with her after my rejection, however I know it's not right to assume that's how that went.

"Are- are you coming back?" I question, realizing that New Orleans is quite a few hours away from Mystic Falls.

"Of course, Blair. I don't know when, but I will. I always do," he smiles, leaning forwards and embracing me in a hug.

"You know, you could come with us," Elijah suggests, releasing me.

I smile, knowing that it would be a great opportunity to get out of this town, but for now James is the only home I need. "We'll see," I say. "I'm going to get a drink," I say, pointing down to refer to the freezer of blood in the basement. "Want anything?"

Elijah shakes his head as I pass Theo off to him. As I walk downstairs, I concentrate on James as I call out to him in my mind.

"James?"

I open the freezer, letting the draft of cool air give me a refreshing boost of energy as I wait impatiently for him to respond. "James, are you there?"

I grab a blood bag and close the freezer just as I get a response. "Blair, you're supposed to be at home. It's not safe here," he says.

I pause, standing still in confusion. "What are you talking about? I am at home. You left me out of the plan, remember?" I can't help but be a little salty with him.

"Now is not the time to play detective, Blair. You need to leave," he says, his voice laced with worry.

My breath catches in my throat as I suddenly clue in to what's happening. "James, whatever is happening, you need to realize that I am at home. I'm with Theo," I say slowly, my heart racing.

"No you're not. You're standing right in front of me," he replies.

The only reason he could be seeing me in front of him was if someone was appearing as me. That person being Silas.

"James, that's not me. You have to get out of there,"  I say, rushing to properly send the words to him through my mind. If I think about too many things to say at once, he won't hear a clear sentence.

"Blair, wh-"

His voice is suddenly cut off, as if there's been some disconnection. He stopped talking so abruptly, as if something had forced him out of his concentration, as if something broke our link.

"James?" I call out into my mind.

No response.

"James??" I try again, desperate for an answer but there's no response. He's not responding. Maybe he can't hear me. Maybe they're in the middle of taking down Silas, or maybe something terrible has happened.

My breath quickens as I rush to think of what to do. Elijah won't let me leave and I have Theo here to watch over. However, I refuse to stay here waiting patiently for them to return home when I know deep down something has happened.

I quietly make my way up the basement stairs, cautious of Elijah's prying ears. I glance around the corner at him holding Theo, the two of them exploring some of Theo's toys on the ground. One of his toys starts making some noise, playing a lullaby allowing me a chance to make my escape.

I open the front door, trying my best to do so quietly when suddenly I bump into Klaus.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asks, amusement in his face. I however am too anxious to play along.

"It's James, I fear something bad has happened," I say in a rushed and shaky whisper as I close the front door. Klaus notices my uneasiness and fear in my voice, his expression changing. "You have to let me go, please. I need to make sure he's okay," I plead desperately.

"Why? Because you love him? Because you can't picture your world without him?" Klaus questions. I don't know what he's trying to get at, but all I care at the moment is getting to James. "I used to feel the same way about you," he whispers quietly.

I lift my head up at his comment, my eyes beginning to shine with tears from all the anxiety I'm feeling at the moment. "Klaus, listen to me. I never meant to hurt you, and I know you don't owe me anything. I know that Hayley is carrying your child, and I know that you're planning on moving. I know that seeing me happy with James is hard but I know deep down he's still your friend. Your hatred for each other goes beyond grudges, yet whenever you two have had the chance to kill each other, you always walked out alive. I know you may not feel love for that baby growing within Hayley, but soon you will, and you will understand the kind of infinitive love that will never die. And that Klaus, is the kind of love I feel for James, and if you respect me, and want me happy then you will let me go," I say.

I know I've gotten to him, and to be honest I've surprised myself. All those words I barely thought about and before I knew it they rolled off my tongue.

Klaus stands before me with his own eyes sparkling with tears, yet he doesn't say anything. I nod after saying all I can say before turning around to sprint to the school, no matter how long that will take.

"Blair!" Klaus calls.

I turn around, ready to yell at him this time when suddenly he throws me the keys to his Range Rover. I catch them with ease, staring at them within the palm of my hand, trying to see if they're real. I fold my fingers over the keys and grasp them in my hand before looking up at Klaus, questioning his actions. "I'll watch Theo and handle Elijah. You go get him," he says sternly.

I smile gratefully at him before sprinting to his car and driving off.

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[completed & edited: 09/12/2021]