𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍
though she be little, she is fierce

THEY STOOD IN the boy's locker room as Noah Stilinski talked to them. "I got to meet with the medical examiner and try to figure out what happened with Jackson."

Not only was Jackson dead, Stiles was missing, Gerard had control over the Kanima, and Allison had gone rouge.

"Well fuck!" Kol exclaimed, and then quietly sipped his drink.

"I've got an APB out on Stiles. His jeep is still in the parking lot, so that means — oh, hell, I don't know what that means. Look, if he answers his phone, if he answers his emails, if any of you see him—"

"We'll call you," Isaac assured the worried father, his voice soft.

"Look, he's probably just freaked out from all the attention or something. We'll find him," Scott said softly, none of them wanting to come to the worst possible conclusion.

"Yeah," Stilinski agreed, his voice quivering. "I'll see you, okay?" He walked away, his brows furrowed deeply in worry.

The three teens stood huddled together in front of Stiles' locker, waiting for the rest of the team to finish and exit the locker room. They needed to break into Stiles' locker. Hope needed something of his to do the locator spell, and Scott wanted to try and sniff him out if it didn't work. But, they couldn't do that if everyone was still around.

"McCall," Finstock's voice called out, the lacrosse coach approaching the three of them. "We need you on the team, okay? You know I can't put you on the field next season if you don't get your grades up."

Scott nodded, "Yeah, I know, Coach."

Hope looked around at all the other boys, biting her lip, really trying to not snap and yell at them to leave.

"She just wants to make sure that Stiles is okay, it's so sweet," Rebekah said with a soft smile.

Finstock's continued, "I mean, I — I know I yell a lot, but it's not like I hate you guys. Well, I kind of hate Greenberg, but, you know, that's different. It's Greenberg. I'm just saying we — I need you on the team. Get your grades back up." 

Scott nodded, and firmly answered, "I will." 

"I know," Finstock replied, backing away from the three of them. 

"Okay, at first, I though Coach was a weird guy, bit of an asshole. And now... well, I still think he's weird, but I like him," Caroline commented and others nodded in agreement.

"I think if Coach and Lizzie ever met, it would be too much chaos," MG stated with a chuckle, Kaleb laughing in agreement.

Lizzie pouted, but secretly agreed.

During the time Finstock had been speaking to Scott, the remaining players managed to exit the locker room fairly quickly, making it easier for the trio to get into Stiles' locker. 

"Is that everyone?"

Isaac took a step forward, watching as Finstock exited the locker room. "I think so." 

The sound of metal being ripped echoed throughout the locker room, and Hope watched with wide eyes as Scott tore the door of Stiles' locker off its hinges.

Isaac turned around, looking at Scott in disbelief and confusion when Scott pulled out one of Stiles' shirts. "You're gonna find him by scent?"

Hope nodded and reached inside the locker for something, and threw a shoe at him. "If my locator spell doesn't do the trick for some reason, we'll need to just sniff him out."

Isaac glanced down at the shoe in his hands in complete disgust, "How come he gets a shirt and I get a shoe?" 

"He's just so adorable," Elena sighed, and then just stared at the screen. "Why are all of them so good looking and have good personalities?"

"Right?!" Caroline exclaimed, practically jumping in her seat.

"That's what I want to know, too," Bonnie said, so far having a bisexual crisis over pretty much everyone in the other universe. "I just want to have them all to myself."

"I feel that," Lizzie commented, raising her hand. "My bisexuality has been jolted awake watching all of this."

"Same," pretty much everyone but Stefan, Klaus, and Hayley nodded in agreement.

The only reason Klaus and Hayley didn't agree was that they're just too engrossed in watching their daughters life to worry about anyone else. Plus, if they're not looking at their daughter, they're looking to one another.

His complaints went without a response because Derek Hale stepped out of the shadows, a grim expression on his face. "We need to talk," he stated, "All of us."

Rebekah whistled, "hellooo, hottie."

Klaus narrowed his eyes, "he hurt my daughter."

The blonde shrugged. "Yeah, but he's hot, and Hope kicked his ass, so...."

A figure appeared from the shadows: tall, dirty blonde hair, sapphire eyes, and a smirk on his face.

Hope was confused on who the man was, but by the look on Scott's face, she figured he wasn't a good guy.

"What the hell is this?" Scott demanded, clenching his jaw.

"Damn," Bonnie whistled. "Puppy boy is angry now."

"You know, I thought the same thing when I saw you talking to Gerard at the sheriff's station," Derek answered, his dark eyebrows furrowing.

Hope's face fell into a frown, turning to look at Scott. "What is he talking about?"

Klaus growled, "he better not betray my daughter or else." 

"Okay, hold on," Scott said to Derek, eyes wide. "He threatened to kill my mom. And I had to get close to him. What was I supposed to do?"

"I'm gonna go with Scott on this one. Have you seen his mom? She's gorgeous," Peter — the mystery guy — added with a smirk.

"Stay away from Mama McCall!" Caroline and Elena shouted at the top of their lungs.

Hope pursed her lips and glared at him as both Scott and Derek spat out, "Shut up."

Peter rolled his eyes and set them on Hope who held his gaze with her head held high. "And who is this mystery girl? A replacement for Miss Argent. Where is she, anyway? Did she betray you like every hunter does?"

Hope clenched her jaw and tilted her head. "I would watch yourself if I were you."

"Oh, she's so gonna kick his ass," Hayley smirked.

"Who is he?" Isaac asked, leaning closer to Scott, brows furrowed.

"He's Peter, Derek's uncle." Scott explained, and then went into more detail, "Little while back, he tried to kill us all, and then we set him on fire, and Derek slashed his throat."

"Holy shit," Kol snorted, amused.

"Damn," Damon whistled.

Peter waved at Isaac. "Hi."

"He's like another Klaus," Caroline retorted, frowning. "Meaning he's going to be annoying and a downright pain in their ass."

"Hey!" Klaus looked offended, eyes narrowing when the blonde simply giggled at him.

Hayley frowned, eyeing them, before facing the screen again.

Hope rose a brow in surprise. "And why is he alive now? Do we need him or can I slash out his throat, too?"

"She's really your daughter, Niklaus," Elijah retorted, raising one brow when his brother turned to him in surprise.

"I thought you would've hated that fact, brother," Klaus said, studying his brother. The last time they saw one another, they killed themselves to protect Hope.

"That's good to know," Isaac replied quietly.

"How is he alive?" Scott demanded, glancing to Hope who was ready to attack if needed.

"Look, the short version is he knows how to stop Jackson. And maybe how to save him," Derek explained.

"You're too late," Hope stated, crossing her arms. "He's already dead."

"What?"

"Yeah, Jackson's dead. It just happened on the field," Scott stated, gesturing out towards the field.

"Okay, why is no one taking this as good news?" Isaac asked, breaking the silence.

Hope frowned at that. It was good in some ways, but Jackson was a misguided teenager who went through some terrible changes in his life. He just wanted to be loved... and that's something she can relate to.

"She is loved," Hayley whispered, "so very much."

"We would all go to war with her," MG stated, staring at the screen with sad eyes. "It's terrible that she was thinking all of this and never let it show. We were all so clueless."

"I would go to war for her," Caroline mumbled which caused her friends to snort and laugh at her. "What? She's like a total goddess. Look at me and tell me you guys wouldn't go to war for her, as well." She stared her friends in the eyes, not blinking.

Elena blushed and looked away, giggling when Damon sent her a mock offended look.

Bonnie held her gaze before blinking repeatedly. "Damn. You're right."

"Never thought I would say this, but I like this Mikaelson," Damon stated, but then shot the Original's a scathing look. "Total offense, by the way."

Klaus rolled his eyes, "well, goes to say, I don't like any Salvatore's."

"Me neither," Rebekah stated, glancing at Stefan who was the furthest away from everyone else. He seems to be singled out. She isn't sure if it all has to do with Elena — who is surprisingly not as bad as she once thought she was — or if it was something else. But for right now, she's kind of glad he's getting this treatment since he has treated her like trash since the moment they reunited. And she doesn't deserve to be treated like that. She's a classy lady that deserves love and attention. And he would only ever be interested in a Katherine look-alike.

Stefan huffed quietly, annoyed with everything and everyone. He just wants to be back home, trying to win his girl back, and living a normal life. He doesn't want to watch the stupid life of a Mikaelson. She hasn't done anything to him... yet, but if she takes after her family, all that she is going to cause is trouble.

"Because if Jackson is dead, it didn't just happen. Gerard wanted it to happen," Peter informed them, his blue eyes glancing over them.

"But why?" Derek asked, confused. 

"Well, that's exactly what we're going to figure out. And something tells me the window of opportunity is closing. Quickly."

Hope scrunched up her face, looking pained. She could choose to go with them, to make sure whatever was happening with Jackson didn't happen or she could do a locator spell and find Stiles.

"Pick Stiles!" Most of everyone said loudly at the screen.

Scott looked to her and noticed her eyes held conflict. He gave her a small nod and she was quick to grab Stiles' jersey and go somewhere quiet to do the spell.

"Yes!" Caroline, Elena, Bonnie, Rebekah, and the Super Squad — minus Landon — all cheered happily.

IT ONLY TOOK about five minutes before the spell pointed to the Stilinski household which confuses her. But, she didn't doubt her magic, so she quickly gathered her things, and left.

Once she made it to the Stilinski's — she had taken Stiles' Jeep from the school parking lot — she sprinted into the house, knowing it was unlocked.

Elijah smiled, happy that his driving lessons stuck with his niece.

She came to a stop though when Noah turned to her quickly, surprised to see her burst into his house. He then sighed and pointed upstairs. "He's up there."

"Thanks," she murmured before making her way up the stairs, taking two at a time. Flashbacks of her not getting somewhere in time and someone dying hit her, and she could hardly breath.

She stood in front of his door and knocked.

"Dad I said I'm fine," Stiles called from the other end in irritation. She smiled a little and knocked again, wanting to be polite. She could hear him muttering to himself as he approached the door and when he yanked it open to see her, his eyes widened in surprise.

"Um, hi," Hope greeted awkwardly, her eyes widening at the sight of him. His lip was busted, and his right cheek was red and bruised.

Caroline's vampire face appeared and she scowled, "who did that?!"

Lizzie frowned deeply, anger settling in her bones.

"Did Gerard do this?!" She demanded as she stepped into the room, turning around to face him with wide eyes as he closed the door.

"Hope, I'm fine. It's nothing," he tried to assure her.

Her jaw dropped before she gestured to his faces. "How is that fine, Stiles? What that old man has done is terrible. Why did he even take you to begin with?" She took in a deep breath and looked down at the floor. "This is my fault. I should've attacked him the moment I saw him in the crowd. I should've protected you. I shou—

"Oh, baby girl, not everything lays on your shoulders," Freya stated with a small frown, hating that her niece thinks that every inconvenience is her fault. Sometimes things happen, no matter how prepared you are.

"This isn't your fault, okay? Gerard is sick and twisted and has some major issues that he needs to deal with, this-" he gestured to his face, "is not your fault."

Hope shook her head, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "It is. I should've known something was going to happen." She clenched her hands at her side. "I could've stopped all of this from happening if I just wasn't worried for everyone else. I could've jumped in and—"

Stiles shook his head from side to side. "You see, that's the problem here, Hope. You don't care about getting hurt. But you know how I'll feel? I'll be devastated!" Hope took a shocking step back, her eyes wide as she looked up at him. "You see, death doesn't happen to you, Hope. It happens to everyone around you, okay? To all of the people left standing at your funeral, trying to figure out how they're going to live the rest of their lives now without you in it! Uh-huh. Look at my face! Come on, you actually think this was meant to hurt me?!" He shouted as he took a threatening step towards her.

Klaus growled threateningly, not caring that the boy in the screen couldn't see or hear him.

"He's coming off as a asshat, but what he is saying is very heartwarming," Kaleb stated, turning to stare at the Mikaelson family. "In short, white bot hates that she worries about everyone else instead of herself, and hates that she thinks everything relies on her all the time."

Hope couldn't help but flinch back, tears shining in her sapphire eyes. She never expected anyone from this world cared enough about her to be worried about her jumping into danger.

"Did she think we didn't care about her?" Josie asked, frowning deeply at the on-screen Hope.

When he realized what he had said and how he said it, he took a step back in shock. "Um... I'm so sorry. I — Hope, I didn't mean to... I'm sorry," he stammered out, taking a couple steps away from her.

Hope swallowed thickly and met his hazel eyes. "I know what it's like to be the last one standing, and seeing the people I—" her voice cracked, but she just gulped and continued, "I don't want anything to happen to you... or anyone else because I didn't do what I was suppose to."

"Was she about to say 'the people I love?' to him?!" Caroline squealed.

Elena smiled, "I think so."

Damon tilted his head, thinking about how similar this argument is to the arguments he and Elena have about her putting herself in danger for everyone.

Stiles slowly nodded, licking his lips. "You have spent your whole life trying to do things for others because you have a huge heart..." He trailed off and swallowed thickly. "I just don't want you risking your life for me, alright?"

Hope shook her head. "No promises."

He frowned before sighing. "Fair enough."

Rebekah snorted, "he has finally realized he can't stop her from doing anything she wants."

She then gave him a small smile. "You were amazing during the game, by the way."

He smiled to himself. "I did do pretty good, didn't I?"

Hope smirked, her eyes light. "You were amazing, Stiles." They locked eyes and everything seemed to slow down, but then she looked away. "Well, I gotta go help the others." Before he could say anything, she ran out of his room.

"Awww," Elena cooed, "she got scared of their chemistry and ran."

Landon clicked his tongue, clenching and unclenching his hands. He thought what he and Hope had was special, extraordinary like their supernatural beings. He thought that being an immortal tribrid and a phoenix that cant die, they were destined together. Now, here she is, within just a few short days, moving on without him.

HOPE GOT TO the place Scott had texted her right when they got out of Chris Argent's car. She jumped into the air and did a front flip over a fence, landing beside them.

"Poser," Lizzie remarked with a fond eyeroll.

"She's just like Klaus; always trying to show off," Hayley remarked, laughing when Klaus just stared at her like she revealed a huge secret.

"You made it." Scott smiled over at her, relieved to be in her presence because he knew that if something went wrong, she was the strongest and smartest out of them all.

"Hell yeah, she is!" The Originals and Super Squad shouted in unison, raising their fists in the air.

"Where's Derek?" Chris asked with a raised brow.

Then out of nowhere, they saw Derek beginning to race toward them on all fours. He leapt into the air, doing a front flip before landing in front of him — eyes glowing a bright crimson.

Hope rose a brow and crossed her arms over her chest. "Someone certainly enjoys making an entrance."

"As if she didn't do a flip over the fence," Kol said with a snort.

"Right?!" Lizzie exclaimed, "and she was so casual about it!"

"I'm here for Jackson," Chris clarified when Derek glared at him. "Not you."

"Somehow, I don't find that very comforting," Derek retorted and then nodded toward the building and said. "Get him inside."

Once they got inside, they pulled Jackson's body out of Chris' car, setting him on the ground before they all huddled around it.

"Where are they?" Scott demanded, wondering why they weren't yet.

"Who?"

"Peter and Lydia," Scott answered with a frown.

Derek chose to ignore Scott; he bent down next to the bag, beginning to pull the zipper down.

"Whoa, what are you doing?" Hope asked with widened eyes. "I thought Scott said you had a plan to save him."

"Oh god," Bonnie gasped. "He's going to kill him!"

"We're past that," Derek replied, revealing Jackson's hybrid form.

"What about—?"

"Think about it, Scott," Derek groveled out. "Gerard controls him now. He's turned Jackson into his own personal guard dog. And he set all of this in motion so that Jackson could get even bigger and more powerful."

"No," Chris said sternly, refusing to believe it. "No, he wouldn't do that. If Jackson's a dog, he's turning rabid, and my father wouldn't let a rabid dog live."

"Of course not," Gerard's voice sounded, all five of their heads snapping up at the sound as he emerged from the darkness. "Anything that dangerous, that out of control, is better off dead."

"Oh, fuck off!" Damon groaned, annoyed with the old man.

Derek's face hardened, his claws extending before he sent them flying toward Jackson's throat, but in that moment, Jackson's eyes snap open and he stabbed his claws into Derek's chest.

"No!" Elena gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

Jackson rose up to his feet, lifting a stunned Derek into the air before tossing him across the room with ease.

"Well done to the last, Scott," Gerard said, all of them glancing towards him with glared. "Like the concerned friend you are, you brought Jackson to Derek to save him. You just didn't realize that you were also bringing Derek to me."

"No... not Scotty working with the enemy," Caroline whispered, eyes wide, mouth agape in surprise.

The sound of an arrow whizzing through the air echoed around them, Scott quickly ducked. The arrow was headed straight toward Hope, but the tribrid caught it in the air with narrowed eyes. It was inches away from her right eye, but she didn't care as she flung it to the ground.

"She's so hot!" Caroline exclaimed, smiling when she saw pretty much everyone agree with her.

Another arrow whizzed through the air, but this time, it hit Isaac in his shoulder. He groaned loudly and fell backwards, hitting his head on the ground.

"No, not the pretty boy!" Lizzie exclaimed, and then frowned and shrugged when Josie shot her a look.

"I agree with Lizzie, not the pretty boy," Rebekah stated, smiling at the blonde who beamed at her.

"Isaac!" Hope exclaimed and bent down to rip the arrow out of his chest.

All of them watched as Allison revealed herself from around the corner.

"I guess that Peter guy was correct in assuming she betrayed Scott," Davina said with a frown.

"I would rip out her heart just to prove to everyone that I shouldn't be messed with," Klaus stated, head held high.

Damon eyed the blonde haired hybrid before making a disgusted sound. "For once, I'm with him on this."

"Damon!" Elena exclaimed, eyes wide.

"He never changes," Stefan remarked, giving Elena a pointed look.

Damon glared at his brother. "If your so called girlfriend shot at you, your sister figure, and then one of your friends, you wouldn't be mad?" He asked rhetorically, "you wouldn't want to get revenge?" He scoffed when Stefan just stared at him.

"You went on a whole revenge plot and ended up almost crashing off the very same bridge that Elena's parents died off of, and the same bridge she later sacrificed herself at just so Matt could live," Caroline ranted, staring at the youngest Salvatore with her lips pursed. "And you're telling me you wouldn't hurt someone you thought you could trust after they betrayed you? As if!"

Elena stared in shock at her blonde best friend, honestly surprised that she would be snapping at Stefan like this. She used to like Stefan and care so much about what he thought and did, so it's a shock to see her side with Damon on something like this.

And honestly, Elena isn't even mad that Damon said that he would kill someone after they betrayed him. They all have done something terrible to avenge someone, or even to protect someone, so threatening to kill someone who betrays you isn't the worst thing she's heard or seen.

Scott rushed over to Isaac and Hope, and helped the auburn haired girl to pull Isaac out of the crossfire.

Jackson began to rise from the ground, beginning to transform into the Kanima. Doing the thing he was trained to do, Chris raised his gun and aimed it at Jackson's chest before firing. Jackson hissed, rushing off before transforming completely.

Hope let go of Isaac and gave Scott a look before running into the chaos. She jumped over a pile of crates and towards the Kanima.

"Here she goes again," Lizzie commented, waving her hand aimlessly at the screen. "Miss heroic coming to the rescue."

On the way down, she extended her claws, and dug them into his back, making long marks from his shoulders all the way down to his hips. Pulling back, blood flung off her nails before she kicked at him, making him go flying forward.

"Holy shit!" Kol spat out his drink, leaning forward into his seat. "She's like me!" He has always had the tendency to go the extra mile when he wanted to hurt/kill someone. And seeing the amount of blood she had drawn from lizard boy, she is a lot like him.

She then ran at Allison who was slashing Isaac with her daggers. She growled angrily and grabbed the brunette by her hair, and flung her at the crates. "What the hell is wrong with you, Allison?!"

"What is wrong with me?!" Allison exclaimed as she got up to her feet. "What is wrong with you? You're siding with the guy who tried to kill Lydia! You're siding with the guy who did kill my mother! But, you're asking what's wrong with me?"

"He had his reasoning," Hope spat out, her eyes glowing their golden color. She felt sorry for Allison, but she was picking a fight that she couldn't and wouldn't win. "And you have no right to speak badly about him when you're willing to hurt and kill one of us." She sighed and softly said, "you're my friend and I don't want to hurt you, but I will put you down if you try to hurt any of them again."

"Okay, maybe she's nicer than me," Kol muttered, leaning back. "I would've cut that brunettes head off with his one swipe of my hand."

"Kol..." Freya slapped her forehead and shook her head.

Davina also shook her head at her husband, but kissed him on the forehead.

"You're not my friend if you're siding with him!" Allison began to expertly twirled her daggers before lunging at Hope who easily did a cartwheel, kicking one of the daggers out of her hands.

"Stop," Hope growled out, really restraining herself, but Allison didn't listen, and lunged again. "So be it." She bent down and swiped her feet quickly, knocking Allison on her back.

Hope glanced over her shoulder to see what was happening just in time to see the Kanima swiping it's claws across Derek's stomach. He quickly collapse, his body smacking against the concrete.

Hope felt anger grow inside her, and she yelled out so loud, her magic reached out, and shook the whole building. And suddenly, the Kanima wen flying upwards towards the ceiling. A loud 'boom' sound could be heard before it fell to the ground, hissing in pain.

"Oh, my god!" Bonnie exclaimed in pure awe of the range of Hope's magic.

Allison got up twirled her daggers again, taking a step towards Hope who was panting.

"No, Allison!" Scott shouted, gaining her attention, his eyes wide. Hope turned around and went to punch Allison, but the Kanima rushed behind the brunette, curling its scale covered hand around her neck.

"Now strangle her!" Kol exclaimed loudly, pointing at the screen. "Strangle her until her eyeball pop out!"

Rebekah stared at him, "sometimes I worry about you, brother..."

He just smirked in response.

"Not yet, sweetheart," Gerard called out, everyone glancing toward him.

"What are you doing?"

"He's doing what he came here to do," Scott answered, seeming to know exactly what Gerard had planned.

"Then you know?" Gerard asked Scott, his eyebrows raised.

Allison glanced between the two in confusion, "What is he talking about?"

"It was the night outside the hospital, wasn't it, when I threatened your mother," Gerard pointed out. "I knew I saw something in your eyes. You could just smell it, couldn't you?"

Realization settled upon Isaac's face as he held his bleeding wounds. "He's dying." He grunted as Hope moved over to help him up.

"Good. Now drop dead," Lizzie deadpanned.

"Lizzie!" Josie exclaimed, appalled.

"Are you not watching the same thing I am?!" Lizzie shouted right back, getting tired of Josie spending most of her time reprimanding what she has been saying in this stupid theatre room.

"I am, but it's wrong to wish death on someone," Josie told her, brows furrowed so hard that there is a crease between them.

"Leave my bestie alone," Kol hissed at the brunette, sending a wink to Lizzie who smiled at him lightly.

"I am," Gerard confirmed. "I have been for a while now. Unfortunately, science doesn't have a cure for cancer yet. But the supernatural does."

A loud gasp escaped Allison's mouth, realizing that the entire time, Gerard had been manipulating her into helping him get exactly what he wanted. The bite from the Alpha; Derek Hale.

Rebekah rolled her eyes, "oh come on, anyone with eyes could tell that he was the bad guy and had been manipulating anyone he came in contact with."

"You monster," Chris seethed through gritted teeth.

"Not yet," Gerard stated with a smug smirk.

"What are you doing?" Allison shouted from her spot, the Kanima still having a tight grip on her throat. Gerard nodded for the Kanima to tighten its grip on her neck.

Hope pursed her lips, wanting to just blast the Kanima with her magic, but Scott seemed to sense that, and gave her a look. He had a plan, and she only hoped it would work.

"You'll kill her, too?" Chris cried out, on the verge of tears as he watched his daughter struggle for breath.

"When it comes to survival, I'd kill my own son!" Gerard exclaimed and everyone watched him in disgust. Even Hope's father — who was a villain to too many people — didn't consider to kill her just to survive. He then glanced towards the McCall boy. "Scott."

"I would never!" Klaus exclaimed, happy that his daughter knows that. Yes, he might've ignored her existence for years just because it hurt him to not be able to be around her, but he has always loved her. Since the moment he felt her kick under his hand while still in Hayley's stomach, she had him wrapped around her little pinky.

Scott took on a few deep breaths, his features going from werewolf to human. He then glanced over to Derek who was on the ground, bleeding from his wounds. He then moved toward Derek, bending down and grabbing ahold of the weak Alpha's neck, pulling him onto to his feet.

"Sc — Scott, don't," Derek grunted, breathing heavily. "He only wants to be an Alpha."

"I feel bad for him," Elena whispered. "This is against his will." Bonnie agreed with her, horrified by this whole situation.

Hope furrowed her brows as she watched the scene. She then remembered Stiles' words that the bite sometimes works. And seeing as vampire blood can't heal cancer, then maybe a werewolf bite can't either.

Caroline tilted her head. "I thought vampire blood could heal pretty much everything."

"I wonder how they found out about that," Bonnie said, curious.

Damon shrugged. "I have never tried it and I have never heard about any vampires trying it."

"That's true," Gerard admitted. "But I think he already knows that, don't you, Scott? He knows the ultimate prize is Allison. Do this small task for me, and they can be together. You are the only piece that doesn't fit, Derek. And in case you haven't learned yet, there is just no competing with young love."

"Don't!" Derek begged and struggled in Scott's grip, but due to his injuries, he couldn't free himself.

"I can't watch this." Elena covered her face, shaking her head.

Scott yanked Derek's head back, forcing Derek's mouth to open as Gerard rolled up his sleeve. He placed his forearm into Derek's mouth, letting out a cry of pain when Derek's fangs sunk into his skin. Scott then released Derek, allowing him to slowly crumble to the ground.

Gerard chuckled breathlessly, staring down at the bite proudly, but he didn't seem to notice his blood turning from red to black. The black ooze dripped out of his wound, and everyone stared with wide eyes at the black blood.

"Yes! Die bitch!" Lizzie exclaimed, ignoring Josie's wide eyed look.

His face falls, noticing everyone's expressions, "What?" Gerard turned his arm, seeing the black liquid flowing out of the bite and trailing down his arm. "What is this? What did you do?"

Scott glanced down at Derek. "Everyone said Gerard always had a plan. I had a plan, too," he announced, looking back at Gerard.

"He's a smart kid," Freya remarked.

"I like him," Marcel commented with a small smile and a nod. Davina nodded, agreeing with him.

Gerard scrambled to pull out his pill container, opening it, and pouring them into his palm. "No, no..." he snarled, looking down at them in horror. He crushed them in his fist, wisps of black powder slid through the cracks between his fingers. "Mountain ash!"

Klaus scrunched up his nose, "so dramatic."

Elijah rose a brow at that. "Says you, brother."

"What is that suppose to mean?!" Said Hybrid exclaimed in shock at his brothers words. "I'm not dramatic!"

His siblings simply snickered at him.

Gerard dropped to his knees, black blood oozing out of his ears, nose, eyes, and mouth. His body began to convulse, his head shooting back as the black liquid began to fountain out of his mouth.

Once it was done, Gerard fell to the ground, and everyone still frozen in their place.

Hope smirked, proud of Scott for coming up with a plan.

"That smirk reminds me too much of someone," Hayley commented, turning to Klaus who simply grinned.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Derek gasped, staring up at Scott.

"Because you might be an Alpha, but you're not mine."

All of their heads snapped back over to Gerard when they heard him spitting and gagging, he struggled to himself propped up on his elbow as he screame at the Kanima, "Kill them! Kill them all!"

"Stay away from my daughter!" Hayley roared, annoyed and angry seeing as someone has been after Hope even before she was born.

As Gerard's body collapsed completely, the Kanima slowly let go of Allison's neck who immediately elbowed it in the face.

The Kanima shoved her to the ground, but a loud bang making them all look to their left. Stiles' jeep came flying into the warehouse, the grill colliding into the Kanima's side.

"Hell yeah!" Caroline shouted, pumping her fists in the air.

"Did I get him?" Stiles asked loudly, slowly opening his hazel eyes. Hope sighed and her lip tugged upwards a little.

Davina smiled softly at them. They're adorable.

The Kanima bounced back up, landing on the hood of the jeep. Lydia screeched and Stiles screamed in horror as the Kanima hissed at them through the windshield. Lydia instantly flung the passenger's side door open, Stiles quickly exiting behind her.

Stiles immediately ran over to stand between Hope and Scott. The tribrid was still holding onto Isaac who was slowly gaining his strength.

All of them watching as Lydia rushed over to Jackson, "Jackson!"

"Lydia!" Hope cried out, watching as the Kanima reared its arm back, fully prepared to strike Lydia.

"Jackson!" Lydia pulled a key out of her pocket and held it out in front of her chest.

Everyone watched in shock as the Kanima slowly vanished, revealing the human underneath. His face was half human skin and half scales, but his eyes were back to their normal pale blue. He slowly reached out and took the key from Lydia, slowly stepping away from her.

"Oh, wait..." Bonnie trailed off.

"Huh," Lizzie tilted her head.

"Didn't expect for him to care enough about her to not hit her," Caroline commented, and pretty much everyone else nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, from the back and the front, Derek and Peter slammed their fists into his chest.

"No!" Josie gasped, horrified.

Kaleb and MG screeched in surprise, flinging back in their seats.

Elena gasped loudly, Bonnie's eyes widened, and Caroline just sat there with her mouth agape.

Jackson began to crumble when Derek and Peter released, but Lydia's arms grabbed ahold of Jackson before he could hit the ground.

Tears shone in Hope's eyes as she watched the scene.

"Do you — do you still—" Jackson voice slowly trailed off, not having the ability to form the words he wanted to say.

"I do," Lydia quickly said, knowing exactly what Jackson was trying to ask. "I do still love you. I do, I do still love you," she repeated it over and over again, tears streaming down her face.

"This is so sad and all," Rebekah started slowly, tears in her eyes, "but he's an asshole."

"Exactly!" Caroline pointed at the Original Barbie, "he emotionally and physically abused her." She then got a nasty look on her face, slowly turning to glare at Damon. "Reminds me of someone."

"Hey!" Damon exclaimed, letting go of Elena's hand to throw his up in the air.

"When you first got in our lives, you hurt a lot of people, asshat," Caroline practically growled out. "We're not just gonna ignore that because you're with our angel of a friend," she gestured to Elena who was wide eyed. "You compelled me to do your dirty bidding, bit and fed from me without healing me which left me feeling sick for days. And you never even apologized about that."

Elena pursed her lips and nodded, staring up at her boyfriend with slightly hardened eyes. "Yeah... we never did hear you apologize for putting her through that."

Damon sputtered, surprised to be getting verbally attacked right now.

"I don't think he has ever apologized for anything in his life," Alaric commented, raising one brow when Damon stared at him in shock.

"I do... apologize..." Damon trailed off, "sometimes." He then sighed loudly and turned to Caroline with softened blue eyes. "I'm sorry, Blondie. If it makes you feel any better, Elena slapped the shit out of me when I talked badly about you."

Elena nodded, sitting straighter. "She's my best friend, of course I would."

Caroline eyed him for a second before sending a small smile to Elena. "I can move past your earlier actions, but I will never forgive you, Salvatore," she told him a little harshly.

He simply nodded, understanding. "That's fine with me."

Elena leaned over Damon and pressed a kiss to Caroline's cheek. "Love you."

Caroline blushed slightly and said, "love you, too."

And for the second time, Jackson fell to the ground, motionless.

The image of Landon dead, a gash on his neck, blood everywhere appeared in Hope's mind and she took in a shaky breath, her chest feeling like it was constricting. Just seeing Lydia crying over he boyfriends dead body reminded of when she was finally happy just to have it ripped away. Again.

Landon's heart broke as the flashback was shown. He hates seeing Hope so scared and sad. But, he is also relieved to know that she still thinks about, worries about him, and possibly still loves him.

Hayley smiled lightly at the curly haired boy, "I'm happy that you made her happy, even if it was for a little bit." She turned to Klaus to see him glaring at the boy, and she huffed and nudged him with her elbow.

Klaus huffed loudly and rolled his eyes. "My daughters happiness means everything to me," is all he said before he faced the screen again.

They watched at the scales vanished from his skin, as if they were never there to begin with.

"Where's Gerard?" Allison's voice breaking the silence, everyone glancing to see his body no longer there, only a large puddle of black ooze.

"He can't be far," Chris answered, swallowing thickly.

They all watched as Lydia slowly stood, backing away from Jackson's body. Tears flowing freely down her face and she turned around, beginning to walk toward the familiar faces in front of her.

The sound of claws scraping against concrete stopped her, all of them watching in confusion as Jackson's claws scratched the ground.

Everyone gaped, watching as Jackson's body slowly rose from the ground, his back arching as he looked up toward the sky and let out a long and booming roar.

"Oh, my god, can't he just stay dead?!" Lizzie shouted, running her hands down her face.

Josie pursed her lips so she wouldn't call her sister out again, knowing that most people would back her up on her exclamation. Yes, it sucks majorly that Jackson is an asshole who has hurt multiple people in his life, but that doesn't mean they should wish death on him.

The roar of a werewolf — his eyes a cold steel blue. The claws on his fingers begin to slowly retract, everything werewolf vanishing beneath the surface.

Lydia immediately shot into his arms, the two of them clinging to each other as though it would have been last time they would see each other.

And in that moment it had seemed like things might actually turn out okay.

But, they all knew it was really just the beginning of something big.

Caroline groaned and leaned forward, running her hands down her face much like Lizzie had just done — which Elena noted with a small grin. "Can't they just stay happy?!"