13. Bringing Out The Dead

"Good morning, I bought you coffee" Aria said, entering Alaric's apartment with the spare key Alaric had given her.

"Where's the aspirin?" Alaric asked.

"It's where the vitamins are" Aria said, handing Alaric his coffee, then opening the cupboard and taking out the aspirin.

"Oh thank god" Alaric said, taking the aspirin from Aria.

"May I know the reason as to why your so hungover?" Aria asked.

"Meredith was here" Alaric replied, making Aria smile, "Don't start".

"I didn't say anything" Aria defended.

"You don't have to, the way your smiling says everything" Alaric said.

"I'm just happy for you" Aria said.

"You wouldn't be when you learn that I whiskey dialed her at 2 in the a.m" Alaric said, sipping his coffee.

"Ric, please tell me your joking" Aria said.

"I wish I was" Alaric said.

"How did she react to it?" Aria asked.

"As soon as these aspirin kick in and I remember the conversation, I'll let you know" Alaric replied, "Anyways, you tell me, why do you look so happy?".

"Elijah's awake" Aria revealed.

"Really?" Alaric asked shocked.

Aria nodded, "Yeap, Nik let me remove the dagger from him and now Elijah's finally awake, and him Nik and Rebekah are planning how to get the sealed coffin from Stefan".

"Stefan is so screwed" Alaric commented.

Before Aria could reply, a knock on the door caught their attention.

Aria opened the door and was confused seeing Liz, "Liz, hey, what are you doing here?".

"Caroline told me you were here" Liz replied.

"Is everything okay?" Aria asked, frowning seeing Liz's worried face.

"This is an unconventional conversation we're about to have so I hope you'll protect me on it" Liz said.

"Of course" Alaric said, equally as confused as Aria.

"I assume you've heard our medical examiner was murdered the night of the Wickery Bridge fundraiser" Liz said.

"Yeah, Brian Walters, why?" Alaric asked.

"We've been investigating, someone drove this stake through his heart" Liz said, showing the father daughter duo the murder weapon.

Alaric took the evidence bag from Liz's hand and examined it, "That's one of ours, this is one of the set from the Gilbert's lake house".

"That's why I'm here" Liz said, "I haven't told anyone, but forensics ran it for prints and found only one clean set".

"Whose?" Aria asked.

"Yours" Liz replied, shocking Aria.

***

"So you're the prime suspect?" Damon asked his girlfriend.

"Obviously she knows I didn't do it, so now she's trying to find out why and who is trying to frame me" Aria said into the phone.

"Well, why don't you just ask Ric if his dirty little doctor had access to the weapons" Damon said.

"You're on the speakerphone dick" Alaric snapped.

"I'm just saying, first suspect is usually the right one, don't get so defensive" Damon said.

"Brian Walters was killed days ago alright" Alaric said, "I didn't show Meredith this stuff until last night".

"Guys, it's not Meredith" Aria said, "It can't be her".

"Brian Walter was her ex-boyfriend" Damon reminded, "And Ric saw them fighting that night".

"No Damon, it's not her, just trust me on this, please" Aria pleaded, "Plus Ric's luck in women isn't this tragic".

"Who else knows about your secret little slayer stash?" Damon asked Alaric.

"Who doesn't? I got weapons everywhere, here, the school, your car" Alaric listed.

"Could it be Stefan?" Aria asked suddenly, "These past few days his been acting really crazy, specially that night he tried to drive me off Wickery Bridge, what if this is another one of his ways to hurt me so he could get to Klaus?".

"Ah, makes me nostalgic for the time when Stefan was a bunny snacking pacifist" Damon said, "Anyway, gotta go, more later".

"Hey, where are you?" Alaric asked curiously.

"Tea with an old friend" Damon replied, hanging up on Aria and Alaric, "Elijah, my favorite Original, back from the dead, you clean up nice, now, why did you call?".

"Tell me Damon, how would you like to finally reunite Ariana with her Original family?" Elijah asked.

***

"I thought after everything you wouldn't want anything to do with me" Stefan said, walking up to Aria at the Mystic Grill.

"Oh trust me, I don't" Aria said.

"Then why did you call me?" Stefan asked confused.

"Did you kill Brian Walters, the medical examiner?" Aria asked, getting straight to the point.

"Why would you think I did that?" Stefan asked, slightly shocked.

"Because you're currently off the rails Stefan, you're capable of anything, even trying to kill me" Aria replied.

"Believe what you want, Aria" Stefan said, "You've already made your mind up about me, no matter what I say, you're going to think I'm the bad guy, so there's no point in me defending myself".

"Don't try to guilt trap me Stefan" Aria snapped, "It's your own fault that I think that you're the villain, not mine".

"Did you ask Damon if he killed anybody lately?" Stefan asked.

"No" Aria replied truthfully, "It's because I know him, I don't have to ask him to know if it was him or not, something I can't do with you, not anymore".

***

After dealing with Stefan, Rebekah and Aria met up with Caroline at the hospital, her father had been admitted to the hospital after Tyler attacked him in his wolf form, both Rebekah and Aria wanted to be there for Caroline when her father was discharged.

As soon as Aria entered the hospital, something felt wrong, the banshee part of her started feeling restless, she sensed death around her, but she ignored it, after all she was in the hospital, death was everywhere.

"Meredith" Aria called out, running over to the doctor, with Caroline and Rebekah right behind her.

"Aria, hey" Meredith said, "What are you doing here?".

"I'm here for my friend's dad" Aria informed, "This is Caroline, Bill Forbes's daughter".

"Aria told me you helped out my dad" Caroline said, grateful to the doctor.

"I did, do you think you can get him to be a little more grateful?" Meredith asked, "He spent half the night threatening to get my medical license revoked for saving his life".

"Yeah, my dad's a little set in his ways" Caroline said, "Um, he's spent his whole life hating vampires so--".

"So he's not psyched about it being vampire blood that healed him" Meredith finished, "Yeah, he made that clear", the three girls looked at Meredith in slight shock, not expecting that kind of tone from her, "I'm sorry, my bedside manner sucks on no sleep".

Meredith started to walk away, but Caroline stopped her, "Um, so can I take him home?".

"I signed his discharge papers last night just to shut him up" Meredith replied.

"Oh I--he didn't call or anything" Caroline said, feeling disheartened.

"That's gotta be hard" Meredith said, "When your dad hates the one thing you can't change about yourself".

"How do you know about Caroline?" Rebekah asked, looking at the doctor infront of her in suspicion.

"I make it my business to know who the vampires are in this town" Meredith informed, "Medical curiosity, I don't blab".

"Yeah, we've had our ups and downs" Caroline said.

"Tell your dad I said, you're welcome" Meredith said, walking away from the trio.

"You okay?" Rebekah asked Caroline, while Aria started absentmindedly walking.

"Yeah, I'm fine, and where the hell is she going?" Caroline asked, both the girls following after Aria.

"Aria, why are you here?" Rebekah asked, confused seeing Aria stop infront of the medical supply room.

"Someone's dead" Aria whispered, slowly opening the storeroom door and entering the room, Rebekah and Caroline following shortly behind.

"Oh my god" Aria whispered, the three girls shocked seeing the bloody corpse infront of them.

"Daddy!" Caroline yelled, running over to her dead father, whose throat was cut and a knife was stuck in his stomach.

"How did I know he was going to be here?" Aria whispered.

"Banshee's get attracted to death" Rebekah reminded.

"No, don't be dead, don't be dead" Caroline cried, "Don't be dead, oh my god", Caroline removed the knife from her father's stomach, "Daddy".

"Caroline, he has vampire blood in his system" Rebekah reminded, "His not dead".

"What?" Caroline asked.

Before Aria or Rebekah could reply, Bill Forbes woke up with a gasp.

***

"Get dressed, we're going out" Damon said, entering Stefan's room.

"Yeah, sorry, not interested" Stefan said.

"I didn't ask, Elijah and I have scheduled a very old fashioned sit down with you and Klaus, I say you go with the black" Damon said, holding two shirts, "Makes you look all villainy".

"Klaus won't make a deal, Damon" Stefan snapped.

"Sure he will" Damon said.

"So that's your, uh, plan?" Stefan asked, "Make me negotiate with Klaus?".

"My plan is to reunite Aria with people who actually care about her, people who won't threaten to drive her off a bridge" Damon taunted.

"You do realise that waking all of the Mikaelson's, also means Aria with be reuniting with Kol, right?" Stefan asked, "Or have you forgotten about Aria's thousand year old lover?".

"I haven't forgotten about him" Damon snapped, "But unlike you, I'm not going to let Aria suffer, so get ready and get happy, we're going to negotiate how you're going to return the sealed coffin back to the Originals, and I don't want your attitude screwing it up".

***

"I compelled the nurse to stay out of this room" Caroline informed her father, who was checking his healed wounds in the mirror, "You'll be safe here".

"My wound is completely healed" Bill said, "I need something to eat".

"Daddy, why don't you just come lay down and just relax" Caroline suggested.

"I can't, I'm too wired, my pulse is racing" Bill said, pacing back and forth, "It's the effect of my body wanting to transition".

"Well, maybe Dr. Fell can give you something" Caroline said.

"She's done enough" Bill snapped.

"Look Mr. Forbes, I know you don't agree with Meredith's methods, but if she hadn't done what she did, then you would have died" Aria defended, not appreciating Bill's cold behaviour towards someone who saved his life.

Before Bill could go off at Aria, Rebekah entered the room, "I called Liz".

"Thanks" Caroline said.

"Did you see who attacked you?" Rebekah asked Bill.

"I didn't see anything" Bill replied, "I tried to sneak out the back exist, someone came from behind".

"Look we'll figure this out, but in the meantime, we need to get you some blood" Caroline said.

"I'm not gonna drink any blood" Bill said.

"You don't really have a choice, if you don't drink blood then you die, and this time you won't come back" Aria said.

"I understand how it works" Bill said, "And that's what I'm prepared to do, now get me out of this hospital, I smell blood everywhere".

***

While Rebekah took Bill and Caroline back to the Forbes residence, Aria went back to Alaric's apartment.

Entering the apartment, she saw Alaric surrounded by all his weapons.

"What's with all the weapons?" Aria asked confused.

"Taking inventory" Alaric replied, "Did you bring it?".

"Do you mean did I steal evidence from a crime scene despite knowing that my adopted mother is the sheriff?" Aria asked, "Then you're absolutely correct".

Aria handed Alaric the bloody knife that was wrapped in a towel.

"You're right" Alaric said, making Aria sigh, "It's a match, this is from a crawl space in the foyer, which means Meredith knew where it was".

"Ric, there is no proof that she took it" Aria said.

Alaric sighed, "This is from here", Alaric held the stake, "These are from a duffle in Damon's car".

"Like the one that killed Brian" Aria whispered, things weren't looking good for Aria's ex-babysitter.

"Damon's car was at the Wickery Bridge fundraiser" Alaric said, "So was Meredith, and that was the night her ex-boyfriend, the medical examiner, was killed, the one who called her psycho".

"But she saved Caroline's dad" Aria said, "Why would she then try to kill him?".

"I don't know what to think either, you know, but, we'd be idiots to ignore all these facts" Alaric replied.

"So, what's the plan now?" Aria asked.

"Well" Alaric said, grabbing the knife, "Get this to the police, you should probably be with Caroline".

"Ric, you know there is a possibility Meredith didn't do this, right?" Aria asked, "Just promise me, whatever you do, you'll be careful?".

"I promise" Alaric said.

***

Elijah opened the door and was met with the faces of the two Salvatore brothers.

"Niklaus, our guests have arrived" Elijah called out, letting the brothers in.

"Stefan, Damon and Elijah tell me you seek an audience, very bold" Klaus said, "Where's Ari, I assumed she was going to be here?".

"Her and Rebekah are with Caroline" Damon informed, making Klaus frown.

"Is everything okay?" Klaus asked.

"Something with her father" Damon replied, being as vague as possible infront of Stefan, "Let's just get on with this".

"Fine, let's discuss the terms of our agreement like civilized men, shall we?" Klaus asked.

"It's better to indulge him" Elijah said.

"I didn't come here to eat, Klaus" Stefan said, "In fact, I didn't want to come here at all, but I was told I had to, because you would hear me out".

Klaus chuckled, "Well, we can sit and eat or I can reach down your throat and pull out your insides, the choice is yours".

"Thank you, love" Damon said, as one of the girls poured him some wine.

"Careful Damon" Klaus playfully warned, "Wouldn't want Aria to find out your calling other girls love".

"Shut up" Damon said, making both Klaus and Elijah laugh while Stefan sat there frowning.

"You lost your appetite?" Klaus asked Stefan.

"Eat, I thought we agreed that we would leave the grumpy Stefan at home" Damon said.

"That's the spirit" Klaus said, as Stefan finally started eating, "Isn't this nice? The four of us dining together, such a treat".

"Speaking of the four of us, tell me Klaus, have you told Elijah the truth about your mother's death?" Stefan asked.

"If you're referring to the fact that me and Kol killed our mother, I've already come clean to Elijah" Klaus replied, "And let's face it, none of my siblings cared how our mother died, we only cared that she was dead".

"Hey Stef, remember when you killed Dad?" Damon asked, "Might want to dial down the judgment till dessert".

"We're here to make a deal, Damon" Stefan said, "Doesn't mean we need to kiss his ass for seven courses".

"I'm just saying, we have a long evening ahead of us, pace yourself" Damon said.

***

Caroline, Rebekah and Aria, sat on Caroline's front porch.

"So does Alaric really think that Dr. Fell did it?" Caroline asked Aria.

"Honestly, I think he doesn't know what to think" Aria replied.

"What do you think?" Rebekah asked Aria.

Aria sighed, "I just find it very hard to believe Meredith could be a serial killer, I know her since I was a child, she used to read princess stories to me".

"Stories that you used to then tell me at school" Caroline reminisced.

"Yeah" Aria whispered, giving Caroline a small smile.

Caroline glanced at her parents through the window, "My mom's in there sitting with my dad, I don't think they've been in the same room this long since I was 10 years old", Caroline paused, "I can't just let my father die, I'm gonna force him to feed".

"We all know you can't do that Caroline" Rebekah said, "If you force him his going to resent you for the rest of his life, and for a vampire that's literally forever".

"I hated him so much for what he did to me, so much" Caroline cried, "Now all I wanna do is save his life".

"That's because his your dad, Care" Aria said, "No daughter in this world can see their dad die".

"What was the hardest part for you both?" Caroline asked, "When you both lost your dads?".

Rebekah sighed, "I thought I would be happy, I thought that knowing that I don't have to run from him would be a relief, and it was, but then it hit me that my father's dead, the man I used to look up to as a child, was gone, the hardest part, was knowing that the last thing I said to him, wasn't I love you, it was basically that I hate him".

"For me, it was when I realised that he wouldn't be here for the biggest achievements of my life" Aria said, "Yeah I had Grayson dad, but at times he was so busy with Elena, that I wondered what it would have been like if my real dad was here, there's some things in life that you need your father for, and knowing that my dad isn't going to be there for those things, hurt the most".

By now, the three girls had tears streaming down there faces.

Rebekah and Aria scooted closer and hugged Caroline, all three girls crying, Rebekah and Aria didn't know if they were crying for Caroline's lose, or because they missed their fathers.

The three girls broke the hug when Matt walked up to them.

"Hey" Matt said.

"Hey" Caroline cried, standing up and pulling Matt into a hug.

***

"Stefan, where is the lovely Elena tonight?" Elijah asked.

"He wouldn't know, his too busy trying to steal my girl" Damon taunted, making Klaus chuckle while Elijah looked confused.

"I'm sorry, you missed so much, Stefan's been trying to make a move on Ari" Klaus explained, amusement shown clearly on his face.

"One more word about Elena or Aria and this dinner is over" Stefan said.

"Yeah your right Stefan, if I talk about Aria then I remember what you did, then I have this sudden urge to punch you" Damon said, "It's probably best just to keep Aria in the do not discuss pile".

"You're probably right" Klaus said.

"Yeah" Damon said.

"It's just the allure of the Connor witches is still so strong" Klaus said, "In our village nearly every man wanted to be with Ariana, but as you know, Ariana only had eyes for one, that's the thing about Connor witches, they are extremely loyal, can't say that about the Petrova doppelgangers though".

"What?" Damon asked confused.

"What do you say, brother?" Klaus asked Elijah, "Shall we tell them about Tatia?".

"Now, why should we discuss matters long since resolved?" Elijah asked, clearly not wanting to talk about Tatia.

"Hold up, isn't Tatia the one who killed Aria?" Damon asked.

"Indeed she was" Klaus replied, "And for that, Elijah ripped her heart out, but before we knew what type of girl she was, me and Elijah did the mistake of caring for her".

"We're not going anywhere, please" Damon urged, "Do tell".

"When our family first settled here, there was a girl named Tatia" Elijah explained, "She was an exquisite beauty, every boy of age desired to be her suitor, even though she'd had a child by another name".

"That was before Ariana came though" Klaus interjected, making Elijah nod.

"None loved her more than Niklaus" Elijah continued.

"Oh, I'd say there was one who loved her at least as much" Klaus said.

"Wait a minute, so you both loved the same girl?" Stefan asked.

"It was before Ariana came into our lives, once she came she opened our eyes to what Tatia was doing to me and Niklaus, she refused to make a decision between us which caused very harsh words to be exchanged between us brothers" Elijah explained, "Though Tatia was her best friend Ariana couldn't stand her coming between two brothers, so she sat us down and gave us a long lecture".

"Sounds like Ria" Damon said.

"Ari helped me and Elijah realise the sacred bond of family" Klaus continued, "So we both let go of Tatia".

"One of the main reasons, Tatia grew a resentment towards Ariana" Elijah informed.

"A Petrova Doppelganger growing a resentment towards a Connor Witch because they decided to do the right thing, nothing new there" Damon taunted, taking a sip of his wine.

***

"So why don't we discuss the terms of this proposal?" Elijah asked.

"That's very simple, Stefan returns the coffin back to Klaus" Damon replied.

"Only if he and the original extended family leave Mystic Falls forever" Stefan corrected, "Me, Damon and Aria live happily ever after, no grudges".

"Don't say her name, Stefan" Damon warned.

"We will never leave Ariana behind" Elijah said.

"And let's not forget, Elena's doppelganger blood, ensures that I will always have more hybrids to fight those that oppose me" Klaus said, "And like Elijah said, we will never leave Ari behind", Klaus stood up from his chair, "Say I do leave her here, under your protection, what then? How long before you turn her into a vampire Stefan? Or worse, how long before she dies because you decided to use her as bait, something you did recently, you see Stefan, you truly believe that you're the one that can protect her, and that is simply a delusion, the worst thing for Ari is you and Elena".

Damon smirked hearing Klaus, he could tell Stefan was hurt, but he couldn't bring it in his heart to care, he deserved whatever Klaus said to him.

"All this talk has made me thirsty" Klaus said, as a girl walked over to him, "What do you say, Stefan? Can I interest you in a little after dinner drink?", Klaus bit into the girl's neck and started drinking her blood.

***

"Thanks for walking me back to Ric's apartment" Aria said to Matt.

"You doing okay?" Matt asked, "This has to bring up a lot for you".

Aria sighed, "I'm not the only one whose lost someone Matt".

"It's this town" Matt said, "It's messed up, I mean none of us should have to live this way".

"If you feel that way, why haven't you left?" Aria asked, taking out Ric's apartment key.

"Same reason you haven't" Matt replied, "There's too many people here that I care about".

Aria gave Matt a small smile and opened the door, entering the apartment, Aria tried turning the lights on but they wouldn't turn on.

"Electricity must be out" Matt said.

Aria nodded, her and Matt walked into the kitchen, and Aria pulled out two torches, she handed one to Matt, while using the other.

"I bought Ric some candles, let me just find those" Aria said, walking further, she froze seeing a puddle of blood on the floor, "Oh my god".

"What the hell" Matt said.

"Ric" Aria whispered, worry rising in her heart, "Matt, we need to find Ric, now!".

Matt nodded, each of them grabbed a knife for protection and ran to find Ric.

Aria entered Ric's bedroom and froze seeing the scene infront of her.

"Matt, in here!" Aria yelled.

Matt ran to where Aria was, and he was shocked seeing Alaric laying on the floor with a knife in his stomach.

"No, no, no" Aria cried, kneeling infront of Alaric, "Wake up Ric, please, wake up".

Aria tried to remove the knife, which caused Alaric to yell out in pain.

"No, leave it in, he's lost too much blood" Matt said, "I'm gonna call 911".

"Who did this to you Ric?" Aria asked, tears streaming down her face.

"I don't know" Alaric replied.

"Matt hurry up, his bleeding out fast" Aria cried.

"I know, I know Aria, I know" Matt said, equally as panicked as Aria.

"You have to kill me" Alaric told Aria.

"What?" Aria asked confused.

"Aria, you have to kill me" Alaric repeated.

Aria looked down at Alaric's hand and realised what Alaric was telling her to do.

"Matt, hang up" Aria said, "If Ric dies through a supernatural being, he will come back to life, all healed up".

"How do you know who did this is supernatural?" Matt asked.

"We don't" Aria replied, "But I'm a witch banshee hybrid", Aria held the knife in her hand, "I'm supernatural".

"Aria no, this is messed up" Matt said.

"I know Matt, I know" Aria cried, "But if I don't do this then his going to die, and I refuse to let him die".

Aria held the knife above Alaric, and after much hesitation, she stabbed Alaric, making him yell in pain.

***

"Mm, delicious" Klaus said, dropping the dead girl to the ground, "Aged to perfection".

"Well, I guess the only reason you agreed to this evening Klaus, is to drive a wedge between me and my brother" Stefan said, standing up.

"Oh trust me Stefan, you did that yourself" Damon commented.

"Because of your antics, you're gonna lose your brother and you have only yourself to blame" Klaus said.

"Already lost me" Damon corrected, "Now, can we get back to the topic?".

"Gladly" Klaus said, sitting down, "I offer Ari's future happiness, you see, what she needs right now is to be rid of you Stefan, and to fall more in love with your brother, maybe even my brother, only time will tell, but I assure she won't be falling for you, Aria will marry either Kol or Damon, live a long life, and pop out a perfect family".

"Aria has Petrova blood in her, she can continue the Petrova bloodline" Stefan realised, "Every few hundred years, you'll have a new doppelganger to drain and never run out of hybrids, right?".

Klaus frowned, "I would never use Aria's descendents as bloodbags that's what Elena's descendents would be for, so what do you say, Stefan? Huh? Do we have a deal?".

Stefan walked over to Klaus, and shook his hand, "Nice try Klaus, but no deal".

Klaus glared at Stefan, then suddenly Klaus twisted his arm, kicked him on the back of his knee, and stuck Stefan's arms into the fire, "This is for trying to threaten Ari!".

"Cave!" Stefan yelled, after much torture, "The coffin is in the Lockwood's cave!".

Klaus smirked, he let go of Stefan and turned to Elijah and Damon who were simply watching the show, "Damon, would you please?".

Damon sighed, "Fine, I'll go get it".

"Excellent, go with him Elijah, the more the merrier" Klaus said, "And when you return I will make good on my promise to you and Ari, I will undagger our family".

***

"Go ahead, kill me, I know you'll do it when he brings the coffin" Stefan breathed out.

"You really have given up, haven't you?" Klaus asked, "Where's the fight? Where's the ripper?".

Stefan pushed Klaus away from him.

"Elijah" Klaus said confused, seeing his brother enter the room with Damon, "Why haven't you left?".

"Well, where are your manners, brother? We forgot dessert" Elijah said, he removed the cloth from the plate, revealing two silver daggers.

"What have you done?" Klaus asked shocked.

"What have you done?" Elijah asked, "See, though Ariana trusts you blindly, your past actions have helped me learn not to trust your vulgar promises, Klaus, we're doing this on my terms now".

Suddenly Kol Mikaelson, stepped between Damon and Elijah.

"Kol--".

"Long time, brother" Kol greeted.

Klaus knew Kol was angry at him for not reuniting him with Aria, so he tried to run, but Finn came infront of him.

"Finn, don't--" Klaus pleaded, but it was too late, Finn stabbed him with the dagger, "Aah!".

"You promised to wake me when Ariana returned, but you didn't!".

Klaus tried to run, but Kol came and stabbed him in the stomach, "You should have undaggered me the minute you saw her, Nik!".

"Well, isn't this a family reunion" Rebekah said, entering the dinning room.

"You're free to go" Elijah told Damon and Stefan, "This is family business".

***

"He's still out?" Matt asked, Aria nodded.

"Care just called" Aria whispered, "Her dad died, you should go to her Matt, I've got this".

"Aria, I don't think I should leave you alone in this state" Matt said, worried for the young.

"Please Matt, I just want to be left alone" Aria said.

Matt sighed, "Okay, just call me when he wakes up".

"I will, thanks for helping me" Aria said, really grateful for the older Donovan.

After giving Alaric and Aria one last glance, Matt left the apartment.

As soon as Matt left, Aria sat next to Alaric's dead body, finally letting herself break.

"Please wake up" Aria cried.

***

"You let Klaus burn me" Stefan said, as him and Damon walked in the woods.

"That's what you get for threatening Ria" Damon said.

"Why didn't you leave me there, then?" Stefan asked, "Klaus would've killed me and you would've had Aria all to yourself".

Damon's phone started buzzing, taking it out of his pocket, he realised Aria was calling, without thinking much of it, he hanged up on her and turned back to his brother.

"I couldn't leave you behind, because Ria once said that you don't turn your back on family, but know this Stefan, this is the last time I ever do anything for you, after this I don't want anything to do with you" Damon said, finally acknowledging that his and Stefan's relationship was now too damaged to be fixed.

Stefan nodded, just like Damon even he realised after everything he did, he can't except him and Damon to be brothers, "I love her, Damon".

"So do I" Damon said.

"But she will never love me" Stefan said, "But she will Kol, she loved him in her pervious life, and they never separated, his the real threat to your relationship, not me".

Damon sighed, "I know, but I refuse to let you or a Original come between me and the girl I love".

***

"Come on Damon, answer your phone" Aria said, her hands shaking with both fear and anger, fear of Alaric not waking up, anger of Damon not answering his phone.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, making Aria breath a sigh of relief.

"Damon, why haven't you been answering your phone?" Aria snapped, not even looking to see who was at the door.

"I'm not Damon, but if I was him I would always answer your call".

Aria looked at the person infront of her in shock, "Am I dreaming? Did I faint because of all the stress causing me to go to dreamland where I see you?".

"I assure you darling, you're not dreaming, and you definitely didn't faint".

"Then how am I seeing you right now Kol?" Aria asked confused.

"Well, Elijah thought it was about time me and you met in real life, so he undaggered me" Kol replied, "And I wanted to see you, so Rebekah dropped me here, so here I am".

"I don't know what to do or say" Aria said, "You're here, you're infront of my eyes, I can't believe this".

"The feelings mutual Ri, seeing you infront of me right now, feels like a dream" Kol admitted, "Can I hug you? Just once, please".

Aria didn't say anything, just stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Kol's neck, while Kol wrapped his arms around Aria's waist, both breathing in each other's sent, both not believing that the other was really infront of them.

"I'm so glad your here" Aria whispered, while Kol tightened his hold on her.

While Kol and Aria were enjoying their reunion, both of them were completely unaware that the person who separated them a thousand years ago, had just been awoken by Bonnie and Abby Bennett.

***

Presenting 3x13 of The Vampire Diaries . . .

This chapter is late and has no Daria moments, I'm really sorry, but hey, it had a Kol and Aria moment, also question, what is Kol and Aria's ship name?

Thoughts on Elijah and Damon teaming up together?

Thoughts on the dinner between Damon, Stefan, Elijah and Klaus?

Thoughts on Ariana helping Klaus and Elijah get over Tatia and realise the real value of family?

Thoughts on Klaus telling Stefan off?

Thoughts on Kol and Aria finally reuniting?

p.s below is a edit jozzyruby08 made for Daria, and I didn't even tell them to make it, they did it themself and I wanted to thank them for it, it amazes me how much people love Damon and Aria's relationship, when I started this book I never excepted the love this book got, so thank you so much for loving Daria, and if you have any edits of them you would like to share then please do message me and show it to me, I would love to see the various Daria edits.