Now - 2016

I was outside of the Armory, carrying large gas barrels to a central location, on the phone with Stefan, who was with Caroline on the road, Damon and Enzo, who were at a mental health center to talk to a Virginia St. John about what was in the vault.

"You haven't heard from him?" Stefan asked.

"Nope," Damon answered. "Which means, to absolutely no one's surprise, Donovan failed and now Bonnie's huntressing in the wild."

"All right, well, where is she now?" Stefan asked.

"Coming after one of us," Enzo answered. "Where else? Weren't you meant to be on a plane?"

"Flights got cancelled because of the storm," Stefan told us. "Where are you?"

"I'm in Solution Land, baby. There's a preserved body at the Armory called 'the final Everlasting.' All we have to do is destroy that, Bonster is a monster no more."

"You're in seeming to be back to your old self, Kay," Damon told me. "Tell me, what brought this change of attitude?"

"Well, once again, someone I love needs my help, and unlike Klaus and co., I can actually do something for Bonnie right now."

"But if you kill the Everlasting, Bonnie dies," Caroline told us. "And so do we, for that matter."

"I've been told differently."

"By who?" Caroline asked. "Someone that wants us dead?"

"A descendant of the people who created Rayna Cruz."

"Yeah, the people who hate us," Caroline told us.

I assembled three large gas tanks at the two large double doors in the front of the Armory, turning the gas valves, releasing the gas they contained. "Well, whether we believe them or not, it's Bonnie's only chance." I picked up a gasoline can, leaving behind a trail to burn. "Look, best case scenario, we destroy it, everything goes back to normal. Worst case scenario... you all die and Stefan and I live to tell the tale of your demise to Elena."

"Are you forgetting about the other problem that's in there?" Caroline asked.

"Oh, you mean the ambiguously terrifying monster from the vault?" Enzo asked. "I'm on it. Perhaps once it's less ambiguous, it will be less terrifying."

"Guys, it doesn't matter," Stefan told us. "Bonnie sealed the whole Armory. You can't get in."

"Don't tell me what I can't do." I sat on the stairs, striking a match, tossing it onto the gasoline, setting the trail of gasoline on fire that led up to the three large tanks of gas at the Armory's doors, setting off a large explosion. I looked back to see that the Armory was well protected with Bonnie's sealing spell. The doors had no visible marks of destruction. I was disappointed. "I can't get in. Plan B. Stefan, call your ex. Obviously, not the one next to you. Valerie. She can siphon the seal."

"That's great, but I have absolutely no idea where to find her," Stefan told us.

"There is a third option," Damon told us. "And let me just tell you, it is just adorable. The cutest little Plan Cs you've ever seen."

Caroline was furious that Damon would even suggest involving her kids. "No! Absolutely not."

"All they have to do is walk up to the door and put their tiny little siphon hands on it," Damon told us.

"No, my kids are staying out of this, Damon," Caroline told him.

"It's for Bonnie," Damon told her.

"No, it's for us," Caroline told him. "So that we don't have to run anymore. And that is not a good enough excuse to involve my children in this mess."

"You know these scars that we have link her to us, huh?" Damon asked. "She can probably hear what we're saying right now."

"We'll find Valerie," Stefan told us.

"Whatever, bro," Damon told him.

I hung up.

 *******

I knew that Damon was gonna try to get the kids on his own, so I stopped the pilot from flying away with Damon and Enzo by compelling him.

Damon called me.

I answered. "Salvatore Airlines, may I help you?"

"You think you're clever?"

"Wow. Considering the fact that I tracked down you, your pilot and your plan, all in a little bit of sisterly intuition, yes, Damon, as a matter of fact, I do."

"Have you forgotten that I'm running from a Hunter, Kaylin? I'm trying to get out of her way."

"Oh, come on. We both know that's not why you're getting on the plane."

"You have no idea what I'm up to."

"Really? Because I think you're headed to Dallas to kidnap two innocent children."

"Or I'm headed to Dallas to speak to their father and talk some sense into him."

"Hmm. And if he says no?"

"Well, then, I will kidnap those two innocent children, because that's the right thing to do."

"No. The right thing to do is to let Alaric and Caroline, their parents, decide what's best for them."

"They're wrong, Kaylin."

"Well, it's their choice, and I'm gonna let them make it. See ya."

I hung up.

 *******

Stefan, Damon and I were standing outside the Armory.

I was drinking from a bottle.

Stefan looked at Damon. "Well, you're awfully quiet. Don't tell me you're still mad about the pilot. Caroline's bringing her kids, and we're gonna get inside, and that's all that matters."

"What happened to you, hmm?" Damon asked. "You and I had a breakthrough yesterday. You pulled a Damon. You made the right choice, to hell with the consequences. We actually agreed, Stefan. I sent out a press release. And then you spend one night with blonde ambition. You're right back to your old, boring, choice-matters self. What the hell, man?"

"Do you really think that Stefan did the right thing by taking Caroline against her will?" I asked incredulously.

"One hundred percent," Damon answered.

"You said that's how you know you love someone," Stefan told him. "And for a second there, I actually--I actually believed you. I thought that my love for Caroline was so strong that I would do anything to protect it. But then I realized, that's not love, Damon. That's fear."

"You should put that on a greeting card," I told him.

Stefan looked at Damon. "That night that you put yourself down, it wasn't because you loved Elena. It was because you were afraid if you didn't, you would do something terrible, and you would lose her forever. And that fear, that fear was so powerful that it overrode any love that you felt for me, Kaylin or Bonnie or anybody else."

"It wasn't about either of you, Stefan," Damon told him.

"Oh, it had absolutely everything to do with us," I told him. "No. I looked you in the eyes, Damon, and I begged you to stay. And you turned your back on us like it was nothing."

"And I thought about that yesterday, when I 'pulled a Damon'," Stefan told him. "And I realized... I never want to be that person. I refuse to be ruled by fear. I refuse to be you."

Alaric and Caroline pulled up in their car with Lizzie and Josie.

"They're here," I told them.

Alaric and Caroline led the twins toward the Armory.

"You guys know why we're here?" Alaric asked. The twins shook their heads. "Because there's something inside this building that's really important that we need. The only problem is these doors are locked, so we're gonna need your help to open them, okay?"

They stopped at the front door of the Armory.

"Want to know something cool?" Caroline asked. "You two are special, because you two are the keys. Let's play a game. Everyone put one hand on the door." They placed their hands on the Armory doors. "Remember Amy's birthday party? I took away your goodie bag, and what happened?"

"I hurt you," Lizzie answered.

"Yes, because I took something from you," Caroline told her. She looked between the girls. "Now... how would you feel if someone tried to take me away from you?"

"Mad," Lizzie answered.

"Sad," Josie answered.

Caroline was slightly emotionally effected by her loving daughters. "Yeah, me, too. And if we don't get inside of here, that might happen. I might never be able to see you or hug you or... tuck you in at night."

Lizzie and Josie's hands were glowing as they were siphoning Bonnie's seal.

Alaric was slightly surprised and happy. "It's working."

"Keep going, girls," Caroline told them.

The twins were overwhelmed with magic as they finished siphoning the seal. Alaric and Caroline both embraced their daughters.

"Good job," Alaric told them.

"Good job, you two," Caroline told them. "You did so good."

"You both did such a good job," Alaric told them.

Caroline smiled. "It's all over."

 *******

Enzo was distracting Bonnie by giving her a fight.

Damon, Stefan and I walked toward Caroline and the Armory.

"Where are the little squirts?" Damon asked.

"Away from whatever's gonna come out of there," Caroline answered.

"Well, for something to get out, we have to be able to get in," I told them, opening the large front door, seeing the twins had successfully undid Bonnie's spell. "Nice." I looked at my brothers. "Shall we?"

Damon and I walked in.

Caroline was clearly conflicted. "Stefan..."

Stefan sighed. "Whatever you're about to say, just... say it when this is over."

Stefan walked in, closing the door behind him.

 *******

Stefan, Damon and I looked around at the mess of the Armory, trashed with dead bloodied bodies scattered throughout.

"Wow, this looks... promising," Stefan told us sarcastically.

"I've seen worse," I told them.

"So, this thing the was in the vault that no one was supposed to open, do we know what it is?" Stefan asked.

Damon nodded. "Yup. Bad."

I nodded. "Ah. The final Everlasting is in a coffin somewhere."

"So, let's just find this thing and get the hell out of here," Stefan told us.

We nodded, walking along.

 *******

We walked through a downstairs hallway toward the vault.

"This is appropriately creepy," Damon told us. "Enzo said don't go in the vault."

"Ah, we've searched everywhere else," I told him. "You know, if you're scared, Damon, you can go, uh, wait outside with the three-year-olds. Damon. You ready to do this or what?"

"Yeah," Damon answered. "Yes, I am. But I'm gonna do it alone."

"Like hell you are," Stefan told him.

"Whatever's down there is no bueno," I told him. "Which is why you need us."

"Let me do this," Damon told us. "Stefan, there is a girl waiting outside for you, and if you go in there with me, and get all screwed up, you're gonna have problems with her, and you're gonna blame me." He looked at me. "And you have an Original hybrid waiting for you and Hayley to wake him and his family up. If you go in there and get all screwed up, you're not gonna be able to do that."

"I don't care," Stefan told him. 

"We can help you," I told him.

"I know you can," Damon told us. "And you have. Over and over again, you've helped me. And over and over again, it's screwed you, and so, this time, I need a different kind of help, okay? I need you... to let me go. Let me succeed or let me fail... but let me do it by myself. I'm sorry I walked out on you that night. You're right, I was scared. And I knew you'd be mad, but I also knew that you'd be okay. I know my choices suck sometimes, and you like to be there to head them off at the pass, but this time... I need you to believe in me. Okay?"

I scoffed, shaking my head. "Damon, I..."

"You don't want a life ruled by fear?" Damon asked. "Huh? Then, this time... you walk out on me, and don't be afraid of what'll happen. Trust I'll be okay. One way or another... I'll be okay... Yeah."

Stefan and I still weren't convinced, though conceding to our brother's wishes.

"Okay," Stefan told him. "Listen, if--if you need us, we'll be..."

"Right outside," Damon finished. "Yeah."

Damon walked into the vault.

Stefan and I watched him go, conflicted.

 *******

Stefan and I walked outside.

Caroline walked toward us. "Oh, my God. Thank God." Caroline and Stefan embraced for a long moment, pulling away. Caroline looked at me. "Where's Damon?"

I sighed. "It's not over yet."

 *******

Caroline and Alaric were talking.

Caroline was rubbing her shoulder where her scar had once been located.

"No more scar," Alaric told her.

"Yeah, I guess he did it," Caroline told him.

"I'm gonna take the kids home," Alaric told her.

"Good," Caroline told him. "I'll get my stuff and..."

"No," Alaric told her. "No, you should, uh, you should stay. You changed my life... you know that, right? I mean, you completely turned it around. And for that, I, uh..." He sighed. "I will always love you. Even though I know you don't love me the same way."

"Ric..." Caroline trailed off.

"It's okay," Alaric told her. "I mean, to be honest, I always knew. It's just that, you know, we... we had these moments where we were... just..." He sighed. "Perfectly in sync. You know, laughing at the kids or... in tears because we were so exhausted, I... I guess, uh... I don't know, I guess a part of me thought that maybe, one day, those moments might become something more. But that wouldn't be fair to you. Certainly wouldn't be fair to me, either."

"I'm so sorry," Caroline told him.

Alaric shook his head. "No."

"A part of me just... loved the idea of a perfect, happy family," Caroline told him. "And I didn't want to let that go."

Alaric was content with the current situation. "You should be happy. I mean, you deserve everything you want. And no matter what happens, Caroline, you, me, the kids... we're a family... and we will always, always be a family."

They hugged goodbye.

 *******

I was pacing out in front of the Armory's doors, looking toward where Stefan and Caroline were talking a little bit aways.

"He's Damon," Caroline told him "He's like a cockroach. He always survives."

"You're still here," Stefan told her in surprise.

Caroline smiled. "I still had some things I wanted to say to you when this was over."

My phone buzzed. I took it out to see the text from Damon.

On my way out. Have bourbon ready.

I sighed in relief. "He's okay."

Caroline looked at Stefan. "He always is."

"So, um, I guess whatever you wanted to say to me, you can... say it now," Stefan told her.

Caroline smiled. "I lied earlier. There was a thaw."

They kissed passionately.

 *******

Damon still hadn't come out.

Stefan, Caroline and I were inside.

Bonnie walked in. "Where is he?"

"The vault," Stefan answered. "But he closed the security door."

"So open it," Bonnie told us.

"No, we can't," Caroline told her. "Only someone from the Armory can."

"Why didn't you bring Enzo?" I asked.

Bonnie looked at us in confusion. "I did."

Bonnie looked behind her, looking for Enzo, who was nowhere to be seen.

 *******

Enzo had gone inside the vault, and now we couldn't get the doors open.

We were so close. Stefan and Caroline had finally worked through our problems. Bonnie and Enzo were on the verge of being happy, and Damon... Damon actually did the right thing. The selfless thing. We waited in that room for days. Stefan and I didn't sleep. Throwing everything, including ourselves, at that door, trying to get it open. After a week, Alaric managed to crack the security code. We were prepared for almost anything... except what we saw. It was empty. Completely cleaned out. I don't know how they got out, but they did.

Bonnie lost the two people closest to her, and she couldn't even do a locator spell to find them. Her magic never came back. She felt hopeless.

We all did.

When I went into that vault to see that Damon and Enzo were gone, it was like reliving the night that I had to leave Klaus to suffer at the hands of Marcel. My brother, my best friend/ex-boyfriend, and the guy that I had tried for years to deny that I was still in love with... gone. I felt more than hopeless. I felt faithless.

Matt reached out to all his contacts, knowing they'd show up sooner or later. Then he left. Because as sad as it was, this wasn't his fight. And if he was ever going to be happy, he had to recognize which ones were.

It was three months before we heard the first rumor... a string of missing persons on the West Coast. It was encouraging. But then the numbers kept growing. 20, 50, 60 people missing.

It was them. We all knew it. We didn't know what was wrong with them, or what they were doing, or why... but we had to get them back. And we had to know that whatever happened between now and then... it wasn't their fault.

I had to find a way to help Klaus, his family, Damon and Enzo.

I didn't know how I was going to help all of them, but I sure as hell was gonna try.