•|•

Isabel hid behind a tree and quietly waited for Kol to find her. And for a moment she forgot about the anniversary today as she saw Rose run past her giggling, trying to find her own hiding spot. But somehow it still found it's way to her mind. The last day she ever saw him.

Flashback

"What are you doing here?" She fumed angrily after she had dragged Tyler out of Mystic Grill. Two years into the search and she decided to visit her friends for a day or two before going back on the road. Caroline, Matt, Alaric, the twins -Alaric and his late wife's that Caroline ended up carrying when his wife died- and her kids all sat inside while Isabel had dragged Tyler outside. "You just left Rose and I hanging! We really could have used you you know. She needed her father and you weren't there. You are so lucky she is present right now."

"I didn't have a choice, Isabel!" Tyler argued back. "Klaus compelled me away. He feared that I'd take you away from him. He caught me after I tried to sneak out one night. I'm lucky he let me live."

Isabel crossed her arms just as Rose walked out the door. Caroline saw Isabel getting worked up and thought it was best that Rose tried to calm her mother down. "Mama?"

Isabel turned to her daughter and sighed. "Rose. Come here baby." She beckoned her daughter over and bent down to her height when she was close. "What are you doing out here?"

"Auntie Caroline said mommy was upset. And I thought I could make you feel better!" Rose smiled and kissed her mothers cheek. "Did it work?"

Isabel smiled at her daughter. "It did sweetheart."

Tyler cleared his throat and Isabel stood up before turning to him. "Care to introduce us?" Tyler looked down at his daughter who now clutched to Isabels leg, looking curiously at the man. "Hi," he said but Rose just kept staring at him.

Isabel sighed before turning back around and bending down. "Sweetheart, this is your father."

"What about Kol?" She asked quietly, which broke Tyler's heart. "Can't he be my daddy?"

"He's Jacobs father. And your mommy's boyfriend." She explained. "Now why don't you say hi?"

Isabel stood up and Rose hesitantly met her fathers gaze. "Hi."

"Hey Rosie." He gave her a smile as he kneeled down.

"Give him a hug, baby," Isabel told her softly.

Rose walked forward and gave him a small hug which he returned. "You're so big now," he said as he stood up with her still in his arms.

"Mommy said I'm a big girl!" Rose told him excitedly, any non talkative part of her going away at the thought of her mom. "And that I'll be as tall as her one day."

"I'm sure you will." He smiled at her. "I hope you are just like her too." He turned to look at Isabel with a serious look on his face. "How long are you staying for?"

"Just for today. We have to get back on the road tomorrow."

"Good. It's not safe here with that siren popping up everywhere."

"Will we be seeing you again?" Isabel asked, crossing her arms and giving him a pointed look.

"Of course. Just contact me and I'll be there. It just can't be in New Orleans."

Isabel nodded her head. "We should get back inside. Will you be joining us?"

"No. I just came in to see you two." Tyler explained before letting Rose back onto her feet. "Be good to your mom okay Rosie?" She nodded her head. "I'll see you sometime soon. I love you little bug. I always have."

She gave him a sheepish smile and wrung her hands together. "Okay."

End

Tears slipped down her face silently as she remembered some parts of those three weeks.

Flashback

Stefan threw his glass of bourbon into the fire as Isabel walked into the room. "Stefan?" His deep forest colored eyes met hers the minute he turned around and he dropped his eyelids for a moment in pain for the loss of a friend and for his brother. "Throwing stuff isn't going to help, you know."

"Tyler deserved more than to be collateral damage in whatever game Sybil's playing with Damon." He told her.

"I know." She pursed her lips for a moment and wiped the tear away. "He was suppose to meet us. He was actually going to help Kol and I with our search... things were actually getting better." She started to tear up again and Stefan walked towards her before bringing her into a hug.

He held her tightly and felt her shake as she tried to hold back the tears that she kept from Rose when they went to say goodbye to his body. "I am at a loss with Damon. I don't know what to do with him anymore."

She let out a small breath and leaned her forehead against his shoulder. "I think right now you should let him be and mourn Tyler with the rest of us. Just for a little bit. We should at least give him that. Do you think you can do that?"

He nodded despite knowing she wasn't looking at him. "Yeah."

End

She stood still, leaning against the tree, clutching her hands into fists and digging her nails into her hand to combat the emotional pain that was starting to build up again.

Flash back

Isabel walked on Caroline's left while Rose stood to Isabels left -Hope and Jacob having been left with Lizzie, Josie, and Seline -who Caroline trusted. Caroline was holding her friends hand tightly as they walked behind the coffin which was being carried by Matt and Kol on one side and Stefan and Alaric on the other.

They all wore black for the small funeral.

Everyone halted in front of a gravestone in the cemetery where Tyler was to be buried with his family when they noticed multiple graves dug out.

"I was wondering when you guys were gonna show up." Everyone looked up to see Damon standing a few feet away. Isabel immediately placed her daughter behind her and backed away from him to get closer to Kol and Alaric. "Body's probably starting to smell a little bit. Tried to keep it as intact as I could." He glanced at Isabel with a small quirk of his lips. "But I got to admit, I got a little carried away about the whole ripping-the-throat-out thing." Stefan walked over to a shovel and broke it as his brother continued to talk. "My apologies to Donovan." He looked back at the human who clearly looked angry and distraught. "I'm sure you cleaned him up real nice. What are you gonna do with that?" He asked his brother. "Stake me? Go ahead, try it. But first... take your pick." He pointed to the graves. "'Cause I'm gonna bury everyone of you." Kol stood in front of Isabel and Rose ready to kill Damon if he needed to. Matt tried to secretly pull out a gun but Damon shut him down when he sped to him and grabbed him in a chokehold. They all turned around and Kol was ready to help Matt but Isabel placed a hand on his arm to stop him.

Stefan still wanted to help Damon and as long as Rose was safe she'd let Damon play out his game until it was completely clear Stefan couldn't get to him.

"He'll kill him if you get to close." Her blue eyes filled with worry and he reluctantly backed down. "Let Stefan handle him."

"Matt Donovan, the only living boy in Mystic Falls. You know, it's shocking you managed to stay human this long. Maybe, I should fix that."

"Is that why you came home, Damon?" Stefan asked as he stepped closer. "To make empty threats?"

"Not empty, brother." He quickly bit into his right wrist and shoved it into Matt's mouth. "Don't move or I'll snap his neck. Give Matt here a non-transferrable invitation to our supernatural breakfast club."

"Damon, enough!" Caroline snapped at him.

"Sweet Caroline." Damon mocked as he held Matt a little tighter. "How many innocent people did you kill on your no humanity bender, hmm? Doesn't matter what you say or don't. The devil knows what you did."

"Why are you doing this?" Isabel asked as Rose peaked her head from around her legs but quickly moved back. "What is wrong with you?"

Damon snapped his head to Isabel then down to where Rose hid before going back to meet her blue eyes. "What's so surprising about this Isabella Donovan?" He sneered. "I'm who I've always been. Who you always thought I was." He directed it at her.

"No." Alaric protested. "No, you're not."

"Professor Ric Saltzman, everyone!" Damon announced mockingly. "Certified genius. Knows you better than you know yourself!"

"Damon, just go!" Isabel narrowed her blue eyes at him. "You're scaring my kid and nobody wants you here." Isabel growled.

Damon glanced around everyone with angrily pierced lips before he asked, "you all despise me, right? Just so we're clear, hmm? I killed Tyler, you hate my guts, our ties are severed, huh? Great. If you thought there was any remaining opportunity to rescue me, let this prove you wrong." Before anyone could do or say anything, Damon let go of Matt and vamp sped off. Isabel let out a sigh of relief and she turned to Rose to make sure she was okay before she went to her brother.

End

Isabel was suddenly snapped out of it when Kols warm arms wrapped around her mid section and he kissed her on the cheek. "What's wrong, Bella?" He asked worriedly before getting a clue. "It's about Tyler isn't it?"

She nodded her head before turning in his arms and hugging him, her head on his chest. "I just keep remembering the last time we saw him and the funeral and it- it just hurts you know? After everything I never expected him to die."

"It's okay, my darling wolf. I'm sure he's found peace where he is." He kissed the top of her head before pulling away and wiping her tears away. "Smile and let's find the kids together."

≪≫•≪≫•≪≫

"What are you drawing there Hope?" Isabel asked as she walked up to her daughter. She had gotten so much from her father and art was one of them.

"I'm drawing our family. I even added daddy and his siblings. See?" She turned and showed her the drawing. Hope and Jacob have been allowed to every once in a while see their aunts and uncles in caskets and see Klaus in the pictures they had with them.

Isabel's heart broke for her but gave her a smile. "It looks beautiful sweetie. I bet they'd love to see it when they are able to be woken up."

"When will we get to see them?" She asked.

"Soon. They are almost ready." She leaned down and kissed her on the head before heading out.

"Found somewhere else." Kol told her as he found her outside the door. He held a paper in his hand with a address and turned it to her. She went to grab it and he held it back and she rolled her eyes playfully. "What do I get for it?"

She leaned forward and gave him a kiss to which he relinquished the paper. "We're so close, Kol. And they are almost out of time."

Kol cupped her head and leaned forward to give her a kiss. "We'll get there darling wolf."

This chapter was made about 3 years ago
I really planned this shit out unlike my other books 😭