Once Audrey heard the Lizzie and Josie were okay, she didn't stick around the Lockwood house long, and went with Damon to track down Vicki. Mystic Falls hadn't been her home in a long time, but she refused to let Katherine Pierce have the satisfaction of getting what she wanted. She refused to let her take the town away from those who still cared about it, and put the people that she cared about in danger. Her plans with Kelly Donovan could have killed Lizzie and Josie, and that was more than enough motivation to help stop what was coming. 

   As they got up to the clock tower, Vicki was ringing the bell once again, Damon quickly rushing inside and pinning her against the wall. "Sorry." He gave her a look. "Can't let you do that."

   "I'm sorry." Vicki replied as she glared at them. "But there's nothing you can do to stop me." Damon said nothing and threw her out of the boarded up window, the pair hearing as he body hit the ground below.

   "That works." Audrey muttered as Matt walked in.

   "Where is she?" He asked, looking around for his sister. 

   "She went splat." Damon answered bluntly as he paced. 

   Matt saw the state of the window and moved toward it, looking outside to the ground below before turning back to the eldest Salvatore. "You threw her out the window?"

   Damon just gave him a look. "You are aware she's already dead?"

   "Damon!" Matt shouted in disbelief.

   "Don't "Damon" me!" Damon snapped at her him firmly. "In fact, don't say anything at all. Katherine Pierce just declared war, and I need a clear head." 

   At that moment, Vicki walked back inside the bell tower, her glare narrowed on the raven haired man. "Was that really necessary?" 

   "Is you helping Katherine burn the town down really necessary?" Audrey shot back, crossing her arms.

   "Vicki." Matt let out, staring at with a mixture of emotions.

   The Donovan girl ignored Audrey's question, and just shook her head as she walked toward them. "You're a dick." She sneered at Damon. "You can't stop me. This is my ticket out of hell, and I'm taking it. Katherine is gonna save--" She didn't get chance to finish, as Damon snapped her neck and let her body drop to the ground.

   "Damon!" Matt yelled.

   Audrey noticed Damon's eyes watching Vicki, and she raised a brow. "What?"

   "Just testing a theory." He answered, holding up a finger to the pair. "Wait for it." Vicki groaned as she woke up, and he dropped his finger, nodding. "Yep, she's deader than a doornail."

   "And I'll just keep coming back, again and again." Vicki said seriously, as she pushed herself back to her feet.

   "Is that so?" Audrey challenged, taking a step closer to her. "Because I'd love to see how long it takes you to revive after I take your head off your shoulders."

   "Ah!" Damon grabbed her arms and pulled her away, giving her a look to calm down as he guided her toward the door. He then looked over toward Matt seriously. "You need to convince her to stop ringing this bell. You understand me? Fate of Mystic Falls lies with you and your family, so get on it." 

   "And where are you two going?" The Donovan boy questioned.

   "Anticipating your failure, so it's kind of dumb to stick around." The raven haired Salvatore replied. "I have things to do."

   With that said, the two left Matt alone to deal with Vicki, and made their way downstairs and outside. When they got outside, Stefan and Caroline were stood waiting for them, and the two told them what was going on.

   "There has to be something." Stefan tried to think.

   Damon shook his head, looking at them honestly. "The only chance we've got is if Donovan can somehow convince his train wreck of a sister hell ain't so bad."

   "So, to summarize, we're screwed." Audrey didn't beat around the bush. "Because there is no way Vicki is willing to going to stop. She and her mother see Katherine as their damn savior."

   "There he is." Caroline looked over their shoulders, to see Matt walking out of the building, putting his phone to his ear as she called out. "Matt!"

   Matt looked toward them with only one clear expression on his face, as he talked into his phone. "Yeah, it's Sheriff Donovan. Activate the evacuation protocol. Gas leak" He ordered with a grimace. "Yeah, again."

   In that moment, it set in for all of them what was happening. After all this time, Katherine was finally going to win, and they had no way of stopping her.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   Time was running out, and the only option left was to run. So, that was exactly what they were going to do. Caroline went to go meet up with Alaric, Bonnie, and the girls, while Audrey went with Stefan and Damon. She'd dropped her bag off at the boarding house before going to the wedding, all she needed to do was grab it and go. 

   However, Stefan wasn't ready to just give up, still trying to think of something as they made their way inside. "There's got to be something we're missing."

   "Nope. Katherine won." Damon answered, heading straight toward the parlor, where they were currently keeping Elena's coffin. Audrey said nothing as she followed behind them, walking toward the couch where she'd left her things. "She played the long game and finally beat us." He then paused in his tracks, Stefan stopping shortly behind him. "What?" He breathed out in confusion. 

   Audrey glanced up and looked where they were, to see the coffin was fully open and empty, Elena's body nowhere to be seen. "Where is she?" She blinked in disbelief.

   "Earlier, Bonnie's heart stopped." Stefan began, making them both look at him as realization hit. "She said she saw Elena."

   "Damon?" A familiar voice asked shakily. "Audrey?"

   In front of the coffin, with a mixture of emotions written across her face, stood Elena Gilbert. Looking exactly the same as the day she went to sleep, looking between the three of them helplessly. "Elena." The eldest Salvatore let out in utter awe.

   "What's going on?" She asked warily, her face starting to fall. "Is Bonnie..."

   "Bonnie's okay." Damon answered, as Stefan and Audrey watched them. "You're both okay."

   She let out a laugh of relief as her eyes brightened. "I'm awake?"

   "You're awake." Damon confirmed and went to go hug her, but Audrey moved and stopped him, placing a hand on his chest. "What are you--"

   She held a finger up to him, and looked back at "Elena" carefully, before shaking her head. Despite everything, Audrey knew her sister. The second she laid eyes on her, there was something that wasn't right, a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach. "I'll give it to you, you still can pull her off better than she could ever pull you off." She mused, narrowing her eyes as the infamous smirk appeared. "But neither of you could ever get past me."

   "Oh, Rey." She chuckled as she looked at her. "I always knew I liked you best."

   "No..." Damon shook his head in distaste. "No, no, no, no, no."

   She pouted at him. "Rude."

   "You've got to be kidding me." Stefan scoffed as he looked at her. "Katherine."

   Katherine's smirk grew as she sent them a mocking wave. "Hello, brothers." She then walked over toward the table full of alcohol, pouring herself a drink before she turned to look at them all again. "Am I drinking alone?"

   "Where's Elena?" Damon demanded, getting straight to the point.

   "Dead." She answered before making a face, rolling her eyes slightly. "A spiritual coma, if we're getting technical."

   "Her physical body." Stefan gave her a look, refusing to play games with her. "Where is it?"

   "That's for me to know, and for you to dot, dot, dot." She wagged her finger smugly. " I hope you enjoyed the little show I put on for you.It's been a hoot watching you take on the devil." She chuckled. "Especially considering I've had him wrapped around my finger since the minute I stepped into hell. Why did you think he wanted you? Because I wanted you. Duh."

   Rushing in front of her furiously, Damon snatched the drink from her hand and threw it against the wall, the glass shattering into pieces. "Damn it, Katherine." He growled. "Where is she?"

   Katherine was unfazed by his anger, and just smirked proudly. "It really is the perfect revenge." She told them all. "At 10:00 p.m., Mystic Falls will burn, precious Elena will burn and I'm guessing one of you two Salvatore's are going down with her. Should I place my bets now?"

   Audrey watched as Stefan pulled the bone dagger Matt's father had made from his pocket discreetly, stepping closer to Katherine. Tilting her head, she moved and grabbed it front his hand, stabbing the dagger into Katherine's shoulder. She choked before she fell to the ground, seemingly dead, but the three knew it wasn't going to be that easy. 

   "I owed her that." Audrey muttered, bending down and yanking the blade from her shoulder, handing it back to Stefan. "Sorry to ruin your thunder."

   Damon looked slightly impressed. "Well, that shut her up."

   "Yeah, but for how long is the questions." Audrey mumbled as she stood up.

   "We're running out of time." Stefan said as he glanced at the clock. "We have to find Elena. Let's go."

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   Audrey couldn't remember the last time she stepped foot in Mystic Falls High School. It had been so long, it sent a lot of memories running through her head as she walked through the halls, searching the empty classrooms for Elena. She remembered days walking with Caroline in their cheer uniforms, whispering to one another about something they'd heard during the day, one of them eventually cracking and starting to laugh. She could remember mornings stood at the lockers with Elena and Bonnie during Freshman year, Audrey and Bonnie both making mocking faces as Matt came up behind Elena, pulling her into a kiss. 

   As she passed by the office, she remembered the first day of junior year. The day Stefan first arrived, she, her sister, and Bonnie all watching him in the office curiously. She remembered trying to stop Elena stalking Jeremy into the men's room, doubting a lecture on his behavior was going to get them anywhere. It wasn't like it had been working before. Wherever she looked, there was a memory of that part of her life, that felt like a different life entirely. Everything changed that first morning of junior year, nothing was ever going to be the same again. 

   "Audrey." Stefan's voice pulled her from her thoughts, looking to see him stood in front of the boiler room. "Over here." He said as he went inside.

   Audrey walked over to the doorway, to see Elena laid unconscious on the ground in the boiler room, as Stefan gently bent down to pick her up. "Come on, let's get you out of here." He muttered, carrying her toward the door.

   Suddenly, he got stuck at the threshold, unable to walk out of the door. "What's happening?" Audrey looked at him in confusion.

   "No, no, no." Stefan muttered in denial, still trying to push through whatever was stopping them, but it was pointless. Gently, he set Elena down on the floor, trying to step out of the door again to test something. Instantly, his thoughts were confirmed, as he managed to get out without any issues. "No..."

   "She's spelled in." Audrey's face fell in realization. "Katherine had a witch put up a boundary."

   Stefan quickly put his arm in front of Audrey, shaking his head as she went to move toward her sister. "Don't." He shook his head. "If that boundary spell is tied to the Gilbert bloodline..."

   "I'll get stuck too." She let out, knowing what he was thinking. "You need to call Damon."

   He nodded as he pulled out his phone, telling Damon what was going on the second that he picked up. "The boiler room?" The eldest brother repeated. "There is a horror movie reference in there somewhere, but it escapes me."

   "I'm fine, but she's trapped." Stefan sighed. "Audrey can't go in there without risking getting stuck too. We're running out of time. You have to get Katherine to break that spell."

   "We've got thirty minutes." Audrey reminded them both. "Whatever needs to be done, it needs to be done quick."

   "I'm all over it." Damon assured them before he hung up.

   However, it appeared that things weren't going to be as easy as they hoped. It wasn't long until they heard from Damon again, Caroline getting to the school to hear what was going on. Katherine had gotten Kai Parker to set up the boundary for her, and Bonnie had now sealed him away permanently inside of a prison world. They had no way of getting him out to remove it, they didn't have the time, and it was far too much of a risk. Especially to Lizzie and Josie.

   "Kai spelled her in."  Caroline explained to Bonnie, as they tried to come up with another solution. "She can't get out."

   "We're too far away." Bonnie told them. "I can't get back in time to help."

   Caroline looked frustrated, running a hand through her hair. "What are we supposed to do? We can't leave Elena here."

   "It's not just Elena." Stefan spoke up, making the two girls look at him in confusion. "You know Damon won't leave her here to die alone."

   All of them went silent, knowing that Stefan was right. Damon wouldn't leave without her, he'd stay behind and die by her side. It was Alaric's voice that broke the silence, his tone holding no clear emotion as he spoke. "You need to head out now, Caroline. Take the tunnels, it'll be faster for you."

   Caroline let out a sigh as she hung up, shoving her phone back into her pocket. "I can't believe this is happening."

   "I need to talk to Damon." Stefan looked at her.

   "Stefan..." Audrey slowly shook her head. "We both know he won't change his mind."

   "I have to try." Stefan said, but he knew she was right. 

   "I made a promise to Ric... that I wouldn't risk the girls growing up without a mother. So I can help you with Damon, but I can't --" Caroline began, but Stefan cut her off.

   "No. I can do it alone." He gave her a firm look. "You get to safety. Family first."

   Audrey took a step back, knowing her best friend well. She could see the tears beginning to well in Caroline's eyes, as she looked at him emotionally. "We're family now. Okay? You and me and the girls. It's just please, please," She begins crying. "don't make me leave you. Please."

   Gently, he cupped her face in his hands, looking at her softly. "If I want to convince Damon I have to move fast, and I can't do that unless I know you're safe." She continued to cry and plead, and Stefan gazed at her sadly. "He's my brother."

   The Forbes girl let her tears fall silently as she took a deep breath, knowing that she couldn't talk Stefan out of it. "Family first."

   He rested his forehead against hers, as he held her in his arms. "I love you so much."

   "I love you too." She smiles and kisses him emotionally, both of them savoring the moment as much as they could. When she finally pulled away, she turned to look at Audrey, holding her hand out to her. "We need to go."

   Audrey knew she was right, but as she glanced inside the boiler room at Elena, she couldn't bring herself to leave. Instead, she bent down by the door as close as she could get, resting her hand on the edge of the door. "I read your letter." She whispered to her, swallowing the lump that formed in the back of her throat. "I don't know if you can hear me, Elena, but if you can... I would have wanted to try one day too. If I could stay and say goodbye properly, I would. But I have a little girl that I need to make it home to. I know you wouldn't want me to risk leaving her." Taking a deep breath, she pushed to her feet, slowly stepping back. "Goodbye Elena." She bit her lip, before she took Caroline's hand, the two rushing out of the building.

   Only one of them having truly said goodbye, even if they didn't know it yet.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   To save Elena and Mystic Falls, Bonnie had came up with a plan. She was going to use her magic to use the hellfire to destroy hell, but to do so, they needed Katherine in hell when it got destroyed. Which meant someone needed to kill Katherine and get her caught in the fire when Bonnie directed it through the tunnels. It was a sacrifice that Damon was willing to make, it meant he got to save Elena's life, but Stefan had already made his decision. It wasn't until they were on the road out of town, that Alaric broke the news to Caroline what was going on. 

   The second he did, Caroline forced him to pull over the car, calling Stefan desperately in a flood of tears. When his phone went through to voicemail, all she could do was leave him a message, and pray that he got it. As she broke down into sobs, Audrey got out of the car and rushed to her side, the two ending up on their knees as Audrey held her in her arms. She stroked her hair from her face, allowing Caroline to cry into her shoulder, rubbing her back as she tried to soothe her. But she knew nothing would ever make this pain easier.

   She was losing the love of her life on her wedding day.

   For a few days following, Audrey stayed in Mystic Falls. When they got word it was over, a lot had changed. Before he had died, Stefan had given Damon his blood, which meant Damon was now human. Thanks to Bonnie and Stefan, Katherine was gone and hell was destroyed. All that was left to do was say goodbye, and that was exactly what they did. Audrey stayed at Caroline's side for the funeral, wanting to be there to support her in any way that she could. Elena woke up that day, thanks to Bonnie once again. Feeling confident in her magic, she found a way to undo the link Kai had placed on them, managing to wake Elena up without either of them dying. When the two sisters saw one another outside the Salvatore crypt, Audrey just sent Elena a small smile and nod, letting her focus be on Damon. She knew he needed her more than anything in that moment. 

   "Are you sure you can't stay longer?" Caroline asked hopefully, as she and Audrey stood outside the boarding house the next day. "The girls would really love to spend more time with their aunt."

   "I'll come visit again when I can." Audrey promised her, placing her bag in the car. Closing the door, she turned around to look at Caroline, giving her a sad smile. "But I need to get back to Mira, to Hayley and Hope."

   "I know." Caroline gave in a with a sigh. "Doesn't mean I'm not going to miss you."

   "I'll miss you too." Moving closer, she pulled the blonde into a tight hug, taking her hands when they pulled apart. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?"

   "I'll get there." Caroline nodded with a weak smile. "He died knowing I love you him, and I know he loved me. He'd want to get on with my life. For myself, for the girls." She nodded again. "I'll get there."

   "If you ever need anything, just call me, okay?" She told her firmly. "No matter what I'm doing, or where I am, I will answer. I will come see you." 

   "Hey." Caroline gave her a look. "All I want you to focus on is Mira and getting Elijah back." She said firmly herself. "I want you to be happy, Rey. Not drop everything for me." 

   "You're my best friend. If you need me, I'm going to be there." Audrey reminded her. "Just like I know when I do get him back, you will be there, planning our wedding for us and making sure that it finally happens."

   Caroline chuckled at that, and as they two hugged once more, the front door opened behind Caroline. Elena stepped outside with Damon behind her, biting her lip anxiously as she looked at her sister. Knowing they needed a moment, Caroline squeezed Audrey's arm before she went inside, leaving the three alone.

   "You're going?" Damon raised a brow.

   Clearing her throat, Audrey nodded. "Yeah, uh... Hayley got a new lead while I was gone, so we're going to go check that out." She glanced between them, raising a brow. "So, what about you two? You've got your human life together ahead of you."

   "I'm going to spend a little time with everyone." Elena nodded, Damon squeezing her hand with a smile. "And then I'm going to enroll in Med school, finish what I started before the spell."

   "Dad would be proud, you know." Audrey told her, making some of nerves on Elena's face fade, her lips twitching upwards into a small smile. "You're following in his footsteps."

   "I hope he is." Elena said wholeheartedly. "Audrey, I--"

   "Don't." She shook her head. "I know, okay? I read the letter. We just... we give it time and see what happens?" She suggested, which made some hope appear on Elena's face. "We both have entirely different lives now, but it doesn't mean that we can't try and at least talk." She pulled her phone from her pocket, and pulled up a picture. "In case you were wondering... this is your niece." She handed the phone over to her. "Her name is Mira."

   "Mira?" Elena looked at the picture in awe. "Mom's nickname."

   "It was Elijah's idea." Audrey admitted with a fond smile. "Mire Rey Mikaelson, and she's perfect. Maybe next time I bring her to see Lizzie and Josie, you can meet her." She offered, to which Elena nodded eagerly. "I might see if Jeremy wants to come visit too."

   "I think he'd like that." Elena nodded, and without a another word, she stepped closer and wrapped her sister in a hug. Audrey froze for a moment, before she slowly returned the embrace, knowing that Elena was trying. "Stay safe, okay?"

   "Yeah, I will." She promised as she pulled away, and gave Damon a small smile. "You alright?"

   Damon just nodded, wrapping his arms around Elena as she stood beside him again. "Getting there. See you around, little Gilbert."

   "One of these days, you need to stop calling me that." She rolled her eyes, before she got in the car and pulled away. 

   It would be a long time before Audrey had the chance to go back to Mystic Falls, but it was for a good reason. The people there, they were finally getting their chances at the lives they wanted, but Audrey wasn't going to get hers. Not until she and Hayley kept their promises, and brought back their family, the people they loved. No matter how long it took.

Goodbye to The Vampire Diaries. I've never written the series finale before, and writing it now, it feels like the closing of something for Audrey. One portion of her life over, if that makes sense. At some point, I am going to write the prequel I have in my drafts for Anomaly, which is Audrey's life set during season one of TVD and a bit before that, her life before the Mikaelson family. But that probably won't be until Absolution is completed now. 

She and Elena are going to try and work on their relationship, which given everything those two have gone through, is progress. I wasn't going to force everything to be magically okay when Elena woke up, because realistically, that just isn't how that would work for anyone. It is something I'm going to touch upon more, but for right now, I think I've left them in a decent place. 

Next chapter, we get started on season four of The Originals, and I'm excited to get into it.

I hope you all enjoyed!