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From 1.01 "This is the Part Where You Run", there was a shot of the school.

Luke: (voice over) "Previously on Worlds Colliding (Legacies)."

From 1.02 "Some People Just Want to Watch the World Burn", outside the school, Lindsey and Ryan stood at the gate.

Lindsey turned to look out through the bars of the gate, and as she was speaking, there was a flash of Rae losing control to Rosalita in 1.01 & 1.03, the dragon in 1.02, the gargoyle in 1.03, the Arachne in 1.04, and the Dryad in 1.05. "How are we supposed to protect them from a monster inside Rae's head and from stuff that's not supposed to exist?"

From 1.05 "Malivore", in Mikayla's cabin, Mikayla looked at the Dryad. "The monsters come one at a time."

Later, the others were with them.

"I found myself not far from here, with an urge to possess that knife," the Dryad explained.

"And who told you this?" Tory asked.

"A voice in my mind," the Dryad answered.

From 1.01 "This is the Part Where You Run", on the bleachers, Lizzie and Rafael sat together.

Ariara: (voice over from 1.01 This is the Part Where You Run) "You think he'll go for her?"

Josie: (voice over from 1.01 This is the Part Where You Run) "Probably."

From 1.05 "Malivore", in the gym, Rafael and Lizzie were hooking up.

Josie: (voice over from 1.01 This is the Part Where You Run) "They usually do."

From 1.05 "Malivore", in Lizzie, Josie and Madison's dorm room, Lizzie decided to go for it, though it was obvious by the shaky tone of voice that she was nervous to do so. "Oh, if--if you would, um..." Josie was trying her best to look as if she was not paying attention to them, crouching in front of a small bookshelf in front of their fireplace, looking out into the hallway as Emma was walking by to her dorm room, waving. Emma waved in return. "Be happy to be my date to my birthday party on Friday?"

Emma stopped in surprise, raising her eyebrows, dropping her book in the process, which caused Lizzie and Rafael to look toward the hallway in confusion, but before they could see her, Emma hid behind the wall, rolling her eyes at herself, frustrated.

Rafael was frowning, giving Lizzie a suspicious look. "Are you blackmailing me?"

Lizzie's eyes widened when she realized he thought she had ulterior motives, laughing anxiously to try to reassure him. "No, silly. I'm black tie-ing you. It's totally different."

Rafael was still apprehensive, nodding in agreement, not wanting to let his lack of feelings for Lizzie get in the way of keeping Owen and Landon at the school, smiling fakely. "Sure. Whatever."

From 1.03 "We're Being Punked, Lyla", in the woods, Rafael smirked, shaking his head. "There's nothing going on between me and Emma."

Landon looked at Owen. "Did you believe that?"

Owen shook his head. "I didn't believe that."

From 1.03 "We're Being Punked, Lyla", in Town Square, Hope, Emma, Madison and Josie were walking.

Emma looked pensive. "I wonder where Rafael, Owen and Landon are right now."

Madison smirked knowingly. "Mm, why is that, Emma? Is it because you might have a little hate/interest thing with Rafael."

"What the hell are you talking about, Madison?" Emma asked.

"You looked jealous when Josie mentioned Lizzie having dibs on Rafael, and we've seen the way that you bickered with him," Madison told her. "You can't deny it this time."

Emma scoffed. "I can deny it every time. I don't like Rafael."

"Just because you deny it doesn't mean that we buy it," Madison teased.

From 1.01 "This is the Part Where You Run", in the school kitchen, Penelope started to kiss Ariara. Ariara, drunk, was stunned enough not to react at first, but broke the kiss off after a moment.

Josie had walked in and saw this, looking betrayed. "Ariara?"

Penelope and Ariara both looked toward her. Josie looked devastated, running off. Ariara looked stunned and guilty, reeling from not just being drunk, but the drama before her. Penelope wiped her lip with her thumb, smirking, making it clear that messing with the bond between Josie and Ariara was her goal all along.

Ariara: (voice over from 1.01 This is the Part Where You Run) "I remember that I was telling Penelope off before she kissed me and then you walked in. Why would she..."

Josie: (voice over from 1.01 This is the Part Where You Run) "Because she wants me to know that she still has power over me and the bonds that I have with people, including you."

From 1.02 "Some People Just Want to Watch the World Burn", on the field, Ariara and Penelope were talking.

"I think it's obvious that you're crushing on Josie as much as MG is crushing on Lizzie, to everyone but Lizzie and Josie," Penelope told her. "You're just not as desperate to get with Josie as MG is to get with Lizzie."

Ariara pushed Penelope's hand out of the way so she could get her water, taking a drink. "What the hell do you want?"

"Well, like you said, to screw things up between you and Josie," Penelope answered. 

From 1.04 "I Felt Like Launching the Revolution", in the old mill, Ariara and Josie got stuck in the spider webs, looking at each other with panicked expressions. Josie quickly leaned forward to kiss Ariara, who clearly was taken by surprise, though she kissed back for a few moments, and their lips glowed bright red as Josie siphoned some magic from Ariara. After a moment, Josie, overwhelmed, stumbled backward into the webs. Josie leaned forward to kiss Ariara for a few short moments, siphoning more magic from her in the process.

Penelope: (voice over from 1.02 Some People Just Want to Watch the World Burn) "I know you like her, Ariara, and she's clearly got deep hidden feelings for you, but at least now, she'll never choose you, and I think that deep down, you know that, and that's why you like crushing on her, because that way, at least you know you won't have to be with anybody."

From 1.05 "Malivore", in the ballroom of the school, Lindsey looked at the honor council. "We're here to discuss if Landon should be allowed to stay at the school, since he's shown no supernatural ability, unlike Owen."

Rae sighed. "Landon has to go."

Rafael, furious, standing to his feet, violently throwing his chair behind him.

From 1.05 "Malivore", in Owen and Landon's dorm room, they were talking.

"So to find out what I am, and if you are anything at all, and to make sure that everybody can trust us eventually, we're gonna have to go looking for answers, aren't we?" Owen asked. "I'm not going to stay in a place where no one trusts me because they don't know what I am." He went over to pick up the two pictures that they had of their mother holding both of them, holding the pictures up. "And I'm betting that she has some answers."

Landon managed a small smile. "You want to go looking for our mom together?"

"Yeah, I do," Owen answered. "So let's do it."

-~-

Salvatore Boarding School - Foyer

Kacie, Mikayla, Ariara, Kaylin, Rae, Hope, Nicola and Madison were waiting.

Rae was practically bouncing in her seat, much to the amusement of the other girls.

"Can you try and contain your excitement a little, Rae?" Ariara asked in amusement.

Rae stopped bouncing her leg. "Sorry."

Kaylin smiled, shaking her head, sitting next to her. "No, don't be sorry. I'm excited to see them too. It's been a while since they've all been in town."

"And it's good to see you like this again, Rae," Nicola told her.

"Like what?" Rae asked.

"Happy," Mikayla answered. "Excited. Full of light."

Hope smiled. "Dad always called Kaylin his 'ray of light in the darkness' because even if Kaylin was bad and in the dark, she was still filled with light."

"Exactly," Kaylin agreed. "And that's why I named you Rae. Because you were literally the only light in my life when Cade brought you back, at a point where my life was filled with nothing but darkness."

Kacie sighed. "And it's kinda poetic that the literal Rae of light in the darkness spent two years being nothing but dark because of harboring the Devil inside of her."

Madison looked at Rae. "But I'm glad that we're getting the real Rae back." They all nodded in agreement. "And I'm betting that's all because of Danny."

Rae tilted her head. "Oh, my God, Madison, stop." They all laughed. "I'm just excited to see Uncles Stefan, Damon and Cristian, and Aunts Eliza, Alex, Liv and Elena. They're bringing Sarah, Stephanie, Isaac, Isaiah and Anna with them, so at least they get to see Lyla."

The ones that Rae just spoke of walked in through the front door.

"Did somebody just ask for us?" Eliza asked teasingly.

Madison smiled, standing, walking over to her instantly. "Mom."

Eliza smiled, embracing her instantly. "Hey, Madison."

Hope, Ariara and Rae all embraced her. "Aunt Eliza!"

Eliza smiled. "Hope, Rae, I missed you guys as much as I missed Madison. Hey, Ariara. How you doing?"

"Better than before," Ariara answered.

Eliza smirked. "Good."

Rae ran over to embrace Stefan, Damon and Cristian in turn, and then Alex, Elena and Liv, so excited to see all her uncles and aunts, who were all excited to see their niece and embraced her close.

Kaylin smiled to see her brothers. "Stefan. Damon."

Stefan and Damon smiled. "Kaylin. Nikki."

"Hey, Stefan," Nicola told him. "I see Damon's still being a dick."

Damon scoffed, smirking. "Screw you, too."

Stefan, Damon, Kaylin and Nicola smiled, embracing.

Cristian smiled. "Hey, Kaylin."

Kaylin grinned. "There's my bestie. What's up, Cristian?" Cristian and Kaylin embraced tightly. "Missed you, Cris."

Cristian chuckled. "Missed you too, Kay."

Nicola embraced him. "I missed you, Cristian."

Cristian smiled. "Same for you, Nicola."

Hope, Madison and Ariara got to embrace with Stefan, Damon, Cristian, Alex, Elena and Liv as well, as everyone was talking over each other excitedly over the reunion.

Liv held out her arms. "Hey, do us former Gilbert Girls, but now Salvatore/Hunter girls get hello from the original Salvatore-Mikaelson girls? And a part of the Fell-Forbes is with us, as well the Nata princess and her mothers Lockwood-Labonair girls, so, you're up next, and then the Davis-Thompsons."

Kaylin and Nicola smiled, before embracing with Alex, Elena and Liv, all of them laughing happily.

Sarah, Stephanie, Isaac, Isaiah and Anna all went nuts over seeing their family by blood, adoption or extended alike, going to embrace Kaylin, Nicola, Rae, Hope, Madison, Ariara, Kacie and Mikayla, shouting excitedly while they all smiled and tried to get them to calm down.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey," Mikayla told them. "Enough to go all around. And you guys still have yet to see Tory, Luke, Lyla, Lindsey, Ryan, Emma and Danny, and Lizzie and Josie. The Davis-Thompsons and Saltzman twins are around here somewhere."

"Where are they?" Sarah asked.

"Are they here?" Stephanie asked.

"I wanna see them," Isaac told them.

"Me too," Isaiah agreed.

Anna smiled. "Same here."

This caused all the adults and teens to laugh.

Tory, Luke, Lyla, Lindsey, Ryan, Emma and Danny walked in.

"Did somebody say our names?" Luke asked teasingly.

Liv smiled excitedly to see her two best friends, Tory and Lindsey, placing her hands over their eyes from behind. "Guess who."

Tory and Lindsey laughed, turning to embrace Liv. "Liv!"

Liv embraced them back happily. "Tory, Lindsey, I missed you."

"We missed you too," Lindsey told her.

"So much," Tory agreed.

Liv embraced the Thompson brothers. "And Luke and Ryan. I keep remembering how we were all so close growing up."

Ryan chuckled as the two brothers returned her embrace. "Us too, Liv."

"Looks like you're no longer Little Liv, but Mama Liv," Luke told her tauntingly. "Little Lyla took your title of Little."

Liv smiled, picking up Lyla. "Speaking of Little Lyla."

Lyla squealed, embracing her tightly. "Liv!"

Liv laughed. "And are Emma and Danny still doing the too cool to care thing?"

"Bet you ten bucks that Liv pulled the 'too cool to care thing' better than you two did when she was your age," Elena told them.

They all laughed. Emma and Danny embraced Liv. The Thompsons went through the motions of embracing Stefan, Damon, Cristian, Alex, Elena, Eliza, and their kids as well, as everyone was chattering excitedly.

Tory embraced Stefan and Damon. "And more with the extended family members."

Stefan smiled. "Good to see you too, Tory."

"Tor-Tor still a little firehead, huh, Luke?" Damon asked. "Bet Lyla's taking after Tory."

"Oh, yeah," Luke answered.

Stefan ruffled Lyla's hair. "Hey, Lyla."

Lyla smiled. "Hi." Lyla ran over to the other kids as they were all hugging and shouting and laughing. "Missed you guys."

Damon shook his head. "This family became way too damn big and complicated. Salvatores, Mikaelsons, Donovans, Lockwoods, Davis, Thompson, Forbes, Hunters, Gilberts, Labonairs, Grey, Fell, Nata, and the other four extended family in New Orleans, Gerard, Dumaines and Rayvnne."

"Marcel, Noah, Caitlin and Auria," Hope told them.

"And shut up, Damon," Cristian told him.

"Make me, Cristian," Damon replied.

"Get a room, you two," Liv told them.

"Hey, at least it's a pretty big room," Kaylin told them teasingly.

There was more laughter, cheering, smiling, embraces and so on.

Elena, Eliza, Alex and Kacie walked toward each other to embrace immediately, four of the six best friends reunited, talking over each other excitedly.

"If only Caroline and Bonnie were here," Eliza told them.

"No kidding," Elena agreed. "Alex, I'm glad that we get to see Eliza and Kacie, but wish we could get to see Caroline and Bonnie, too."

Alex smiled. "Me too, Elena. Speaking of Kacie and Eliza... hear you two are busy living your happily ever afters. Kol and Mikayla, and two adoptive daughters Madison and Ariara. And Caroline gets hers with Ric, Lizzie and Josie, even if she's not here, and Bonnie gets to live her life."

"Hell yeah," Kacie agreed. "Definitely not something that I would've expected way back for all of us, but we're all the happiest we've ever been. Eliza with Kol and Madison, me with Mikayla and Ariara, Caroline with Ric, Lizzie and Josie, Bonnie doing her own thing. Alex, you're still happy with Stefan and Sarah, and Elena gets hers with Damon and Stephanie."

Eliza sighed. "Speaking of Lizzie and Josie, I'm gonna have to give them the news that Caroline can't be here. But while I am technically family now with Kacie given the complicated family trees, I'm glad that I get to see two of my best friends. Alex, Elena, we missed you so much."

Elena chuckled. "We missed you too, Eliza. And Kacie."

"All right, where's Ric, Lizzie and Josie?" Liv asked.

Alex smiled. "Yeah, it's a big day. Lizzie and Josie turning sweet 16. And it's been a while since we've gotten to talk to Ric."

-

Hallway

A familiar looking woman in a wedding dress and veil slowly walked through the school, her identity concealed by the hazy sunlight shining through the window. The camera focused on a pearl bracelet and engagement ring on her left wrist and ring finger.

-

Alaric's Professor Office

Eliza, Elena, Alex, Liv and Cristian walked in to talk to Alaric.

Alaric smiled to see them, chuckling, standing. "Elena. Alex. Liv."

Elena, Alex and Liv smiled, embracing their father figure. "Hey, Ric."

Alaric returned the embrace. "I'm glad you could make it. Hey, Cristian."

"Been a while, Ric," Cristian told him.

"That it has," Alaric agreed. "Eliza, I thought that Caroline was coming in with you."

Eliza winced. "Yeah, uh, change of plans. Sorry, but, um... Caroline can't make it. She's still looking for answers to stop the merge, and she has to miss Lizzie and Josie's birthday."

Alaric scoffed, sighing. "I know what you two have been doing is important, Eliza, but how do I tell Lizzie and Josie that their stepmother isn't gonna be there for their sixteenth birthday? I can't exactly tell them what she's really involved in. And you, you've been helping Caroline look for answers to help Lizzie and Josie, and on top of that, you've been looking for answers with Klaus, Elijah and Kol to help Kassandra, Nicola and Rae with madness, the Huntress, or Rosalita, but you still found the time to come home for..."

"Ric," Alex interceded. "It's okay. We're gonna help you with today."

"And Caroline may not be here for the birthday, but I am," Liv told him. "Lizzie and Josie practically had three moms. Jo, me and Caroline. And Jo and Caroline might not be here, but I am, so..."

-

Hallway

The woman in the wedding dress continued to walk through the school, the hem of her lace and tulle dress dragging on the floor. She finally made it to Alaric's office, reaching out with her left hand to slowly twist the doorknob to enter the room.

-

Alaric's Office

Alaric was venting to Eliza, Elena, Liv, Alex and Cristian. "Kaylin, Nicola, Tory, Lindsey, Luke, Ryan and I are nowhere near cracking this case, and Kacie and Mikayla are still here to help. We have a symbol, we have a knife, we have a place, sort of... but we don't know what any of it means, and we don't know what's connecting it, and we don't know what monster is coming next."

The woman in the wedding dress wanted in, revealing that it was Jo Laughlin. "Ric?" Eliza, Elena, Liv, Alex and Cristian turned to face her, causing Jo to recognize them in shock. "Eliza? Elena? Alex? Liv and Cristian?"

Alaric was stunned speechless by the sight of his deceased, almost wife, standing before him. Eliza, Elena, Liv, Alex and Cristian were just as in shock. With the camera finally zooming in on Jo, the blood stains on her dress from when her twin brother Kai stabbed and killed her at her and Alaric's wedding were glaring.

-

Foyer

Kaylin, Nicola, Lindsey, Tory, Luke, Ryan, Kacie, Mikayla, Rae, Hope, Emma, Danny, Madison, Lyla and Ariara were still chatting happily with Stefan, Damon, Stephanie, Sarah, Isaac, Isaiah and Anna, all laughing.

 They heard Alaric call out for help. "Luke! Ryan! Lindsey! Tory!"

Lindsey, Tory, Luke and Ryan exchanged a look, walking off.

-

Alaric's Office

Alaric had just grabbed and loaded a crossbow he kept under his desk for just such occasions, aiming it at Jo as Eliza pushed her against the wall.

Lindsey, Tory, Luke and Ryan ran into the room, looking at them in confusion, not yet seeing Jo.

"Are you okay?" Lindsey asked.

"Whoa, whoa, Eliza." Jo told her. "If you could just let me go... Ric, put down the crossbow. My freak out level is about eleven right now. Tell Lindsey, Tory, Luke and Ryan that this is nothing to be worried about."

Lindsey, Tory, Luke and Ryan looked at her in shock. "Jo?"

"I know who she's supposed to be, but that's not who she is," Alaric told them. "The love of my life."

-

Worlds Colliding (Legacies)

-

Eliza still had Jo against the wall, while Alaric still aimed his crossbow at her. Liv, Alex, Elena, Cristian, Tory, Luke, Lindsey and Ryan were absolutely in shock.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait," Jo told them.

Alex got Eliza to let go of Jo, pulling her away. "Hold up, hold up, Eliza... Ric..."

Jo held up her hands in a harmless gesture. "Listen to Alex."

"You are not his dead wife," Cristian told her. "I mean, fiance. I mean, uh..."

"You don't think she's actually--" Ryan started.

"No, I don't," Alaric answered.

"Did you see how she got here?" Ryan asked.

"I was sort of, um, yanked awake, and then I was just here," Jo answered.

Luke chuckled sarcastically, overwhelmed. "Nothing suspicious about that."

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Lindsey asked.

"Kill her now before she attacks?" Luke asked.

"Wait, what?" Jo asked in alarm.

Lindsey tried to defuse the situation. "I--I was more, 'let's interrogate her'. Because if she's the next monster, then maybe she would know more than the Dryad did."

Jo, clearly liking this answer more than Luke's, looked at the others as if to say, 'please, let's do that'.

Alaric shakily dropped his crossbow, sure enough for now that Jo wasn't going to hurt them. "Okay. But no one sees her. Especially today. Liv, Eliza, I know that you're gonna go see Lizzie and Josie, but do not tell them about her until we know that she's not the monster."

Liv and Eliza didn't like the idea of lying to Lizzie and Josie, sighing, nodding in agreement. "Okay."

"Good idea," Ryan told them.

Tory sighed. "We need time."

-

Foyer

Liv, Alex, Elena and Cristian walked over to their family.

Cristian sighed. "We need to talk. Not around the kids though."

"Well, take a load off," Damon told them. "We're about to talk with the kids in the old living room, now lounge area."

-

Lounge Area

Liv, Alex, Elena, Cristian, Stefan, Damon, Kaylin, Nicola, Hope and Rae were sitting together, while the adults were drinking alcohol, and Hope and Rae were drinking water.

Hope was babbling happily. "Obviously, nothing's gonna come out of it. I mean, I may never see Landon again, and Madison may never see Owen again." She picked up her glass of water to take a sip, rolling her eyes at her next point. "And nobody wants a phone thing. Though, I do like the sound of Landon's voice. It's low, and smart sounding, and kind of soothing. And his eyes!" She smiled, tilting her head. "His eyes are like, this green-gray color that's not really a color, you know? Like, they're green when he wears green."

"And then there's Danny," Rae told them. "I mean, he and Emma got screwed over bad by Rosalita because of the hallucinations and trying to get Emma addicted to dark magic, but Danny's been so strong and sweet but very manly about it all too, and he's always been there for me. And he's probably the main reason why I've been able to hold Rosalita back for so long, besides Mom, Aunt Nikki, Hope, Madison, Tory, Lindsey and Lyla always helping me, besides Danny, Emma, Luke and Ryan, and, I mean, of course the Davis-Thompsons helped us, but..." The adults were incredibly amused to see Hope and Rae like this, causing Hope and Rae to realize what they sounded like. "Oh, my God. Who are we right now?"

Damon smirked. Stefan and Cristian chuckled. Kaylin, Nicola, Alex, Elena and Liv laughed lightly.

"Normal teenagers?" Nicola suggested sarcastically.

Kaylin took Hope and Rae by the hands. "Hope, Rae, I love hearing you two talk about something as simple as having crushes on boys."

"And you're excited because you get to see more of your family," Nicola added. "Our family."

"And we're excited to see you two, too," Stefan told them. "I know that Madison and Eliza went up to go talk to Lizzie and Josie already."

Liv looked up. "Speaking of, Cris and I should head up there soon."

"And we will," Cristian agreed. "Don't worry."

Damon smirked, shaking his head in amusement. "Never thought Salvatore, Fell or Mikaelson girls could sound like normal teenage girls, but you two proved me wrong. Teeny bopper drama."

"Shut up, Damon," Cristian told him.

They chuckled.

"So how have things been since Cris and I've been gone?" Liv asked.

"Well, we learned that there are monsters out there that nobody believed to be anything but myths out there," Nicola answered.

Kaylin rolled her eyes. "Apparently something called Malivore exists out there, and it erases creatures from everyone's memories. Like Rosalita if she had a thing for making everybody forget something or someone instead of having a thing for creating mischief, mayhem, chaos, death and war."

Cristian nodded in amusement. "Sounds about right."

"Liv, Cristian, are you gonna be working at the school again?" Hope asked.

"Yeah, definitely," Liv answered. "Cristian is going back to being the high school teacher, since he's 500 years old and only missed out 145 years of his life but still knows more than us about history since he was the only one of us around for it to actually play out."

Cristian gave Liv a sarcastic look. "Ooh." The others chuckled. "And Liv's going back to being a guidance counselor."

"Which is ironic, considering that former Little Liv did everything she could to avoid human feelings and guidance and now she is one that does advising the opposite," Damon told them mockingly.

"Bite me, Damon," Liv replied. "No one cares what you think. I'd rather be a guidance counselor than someone who passes out drunk every night in his own bar."

They laughed lightly.

"My apothecary is taking off," Elena told them.

"And Alex's career as an advice columnist and journalist is really taking off," Stefan added.

"Stefan's always wanted to be a doctor, which is exactly what he got to be," Alex told them.

Rae smiled. "I'm glad that you guys are happy."

"Yeah, we are," Elena agreed. "I wish you guys are too."

"Yeah, mostly," Hope answered. "Um, me and Madison, we met Owen and Landon. I know we didn't tell you before, but Owen is the kid that Aunt Nikki saved in Mystic Falls when he was about to be killed by a vampire, after his parents had been killed. It was during the deal you guys had with Cade, and she saved him. Owen basically grew up idolizing Aunt Nikki. So when he finally got to meet her two years ago and explained that, after Mom and before Riley..." There was a solemn silence. "It saved her from a dark place in her life again."

"So this kid Owen is the reason why Nikki's not always hating on herself and dragging herself down with self-loathing and depression?" Damon asked. "We've told you time and time again that those things that happened weren't your fault and yet you never listened."

"You guys never really saw me as anything other than your descendant slash niece slash daughter that you guys had to take care of and save," Nicola replied. "It was different with Owen. I don't know how to explain it, but... when he said he saw me as a hero, even though in that just changed a lot of things for me."

"Well, I'm glad, Nikki," Stefan told her. "Thank God for this Owen." They all chuckled. "Kaylin, Rae, what about you?"

"I've been doing good," Kaylin answered.

"Let me guess, Kaylin," Damon told her. "You're just mostly worried about Rae."

"Yep," Kaylin answered.

"Rosalita making things hell for Rae, literally?" Liv asked.

"Yeah," Rae answered sadly.

"Rae, don't worry," Alex told her. "You will be able to beat Rosalita completely one day."

"I know that none of us had the power to do so, but you, and Tory?" Cristian asked. "I think you can. Don't give up, Rae."

"I know that I wasn't awake when Cade brought you back," Elena told her. "But you've still grown up in this family, after I woke. And with your other family. I know that it's hell with Rosalita inside you, Rae, but you can keep fighting her."

"Just don't pull a Nicola and push everyone away," Liv told her. "I know that you, Hope, Madison, Emma, Danny and Ariara aren't social butterflies like Kaylin, but you need all the help you can get. We all want to help you."

Rae chuckled. "I know."

"What about the kids?" Hope asked.

"Yeah, how are Sarah, Stephanie, Isaac, Isaiah and Anna doing?" Nicola asked.

Liv, Cristian, Alex, Stefan, Elena and Damon smiled.

"They're doing great," Alex answered.

"Sarah just turned 13," Stefan explained.

"Stephanie is turning 13 soon, too," Damon agreed.

"Isaac, Isaiah and Anna are all 9, almost ten, like Lyla," Cristian added.

"Things are going really well for them," Elena told them.

"And they're doing a lot better lately than what we thought," Alex agreed.

Stefan chuckled. "Yeah."

"Well, I'm glad," Kaylin told them.

"Me too," Nicola agreed. "Okay, Alex, Liv and Elena, and Cristian, what did you four mean about we needed to talk when you got back with us, but not around the kids?"

"Uh, we can talk about that later," Elena told them. "I don't want to ruin the day for the kids."

"Yeah, me neither," Alex agreed. "It's not that it needs to involve them right now."

Hope gave them a look. "Fine. Whatever. We should go help set up for the party anyway."

"Yeah, Madison's been getting us to get along with Lizzie and Josie more lately," Rae explained.

"That's right, so you guys go," Kaylin told them.

Hope and Rae stood, walking away.

Nicola turned to the others. "All right, now you have to tell us."

"Alex?" Stefan asked. "What's going on?"

"Elena?" Damon asked.

"Liv and I got to go talk to Eliza, Madison, Lizzie and Josie," Cristian told them.

"Yep," Liv agreed.

Stefan sighed. "Liv. Cristian."

Cristian and Liv stood, leaving the room.

"Just like them to bow out like that," Damon told them. "Liv and Cristian of course got to go talk to them, but still."

"Alex?" Nicola asked. "Elena? What aren't you two, Liv and Cristian telling us?"

Elena sighed heavily. "It's about Jo and Ric."

-

Grand Hall

Rafael had gathered the werewolf pack, using his new alpha clout to get their help in preparing for Josie and Lizzie's birthday party that evening, standing halfway up the staircase, giving out instructions. "All right, let's get the rest of these chairs and tables and get them out of here." When the wolves looked at each other warily, Rafael walked down the stairs, clapping his hands to spur them into action. "All right? Let's go, let's go."

The wolves got to work. Emma and Danny were in the room, setting up for the party.

"Perks of being an alpha," Danny told him. "A bunch of people you get to boss around."

Rafael rolled his eyes, clearly still not comfortable in his new role as leader. "More like a bunch of shadows waiting to be told what to do."

Rafael started to pick up a chair to move it aside.

"Who put you on party duty?" Danny asked.

"I volunteered," Rafael answered. "What do you want? I'm busy."

"Listen, Rafael," Danny told him. "I know you're mad at Rae, and at us because you think it was a group decision, for sending Landon away, the reason why Owen left with him." Rafael put his chair down, turning to face them. "But I promise you, it was for their own good."

Rafael scoffed. "You guys have known them for two minutes, and you know what's good for them?"

"More like two years," Danny answered.

"Listen, Raf, we're just trying to apologize," Emma told him. "And I thought maybe if... I don't know. If you needed someone to talk to..." She rolled her eyes, giving up. "Whatever."

Emma and Danny started to walk away.

Danny looked at Emma. "Who are you and what have you done with my sister?"

"Shut up," Emma replied.

Rafael realized he could use help with an issue. "Actually, um, I do kind of need help with something." They turned back. "There's no fancy parties in grand ballrooms where I come from. I need to know what to expect for tonight. I don't want to let Lizzie down."

Danny scoffed in disbelief. "Who cares what Lizzie Saltzman thinks?"

Emma smirked bitterly. "Rafael does. He's her date."

Danny was surprised.

Rafael looked at Emma curiously in surprise, not knowing that she knew that.

-

Josie, Lizzie, Madison's Dorm Room

While Eliza, Liv and Cristian were waiting out in the hallway, Madison walked into her dorm room to talk with Josie and Lizzie. "Hey. I didn't see you two at breakfast."

"I'm too excited to eat," Lizzie explained.

"And I was trying to get our things ready for tonight," Josie added.

Madison smiled, shrugging. "Well, you two missed a big surprise." She gave Lizzie and Josie a big hug. "Happy birthday!"

Lizzie and Josie smiled, embracing Madison. "Thank you."

"What was the surprise?" Josie asked.

Eliza, Liv and Cristian walked in.

"What else would it be?" Eliza asked.

Josie and Lizzie squealed with excitement to see them, as they got to embrace Eliza, Liv and Cristian tightly, as they talked over each other happily.

"Happy birthday," Liv told them.

"I'm so glad you guys are here," Josie told them. "Are Stefan, Damon, Alex and Elena and the kids here too?"

"You bet," Cristian answered. "The kids are out playing with Lyla, but they're excited to see you at the party."

Josie and Lizzie smiled.

"Good," Lizzie told them. "We missed you."

"We missed you too," Liv told them. "You guys are cheerful."

"Why wouldn't we be?" Lizzie asked, spinning around, babbling, as the others smiled in response to her great mood. "Aunt Eliza, you and Uncle Cristian are here, Aunt Liv, Aunt Alex, Stefan, Damon and Elena too, and the kids, and Mom's coming home, I had sex with Raf, my pores are practically invisible."

Eliza, Liv and Cristian reacted awkwardly to the Rafael part of the news.

Josie and Madison frowned, exchanging a knowing look, looking at Lizzie.

"Wait, what?" Madison asked. "You had sex with Rafael?"

"Last night," Lizzie answered. "Josie, you know how Mom, Aunt Eliza, Aunt Liv and Uncle Cristian are always saying that things work out in the end the way they're supposed to? They're right. I wouldn't have time to represent the witches now with a boyfriend. So you getting the consolation prize is perfect." She picked up two gold hairpieces from on top of her bed and held them up toward the sides of her head as she turned back toward them. "Okay, I need your help. I'm going for Meghan Markle-tasteful."

Madison chuckled nervously. "Retro. Princess Di. I dig it."

Lizzie smiled.

Josie noticed that Eliza, Liv and Cristian looked concerned. "Aunt Eliza? What's wrong?" Liv and Cristian exchanged a look. "Aunt Liv? Uncle Cris?"

"Um, Caroline's not going to be able to make it today," Eliza answered sadly.

"And there's a lot going on today," Liv told them. "I just wish that us being here can help make today a little better."

"I'm really sorry, girls," Cristian told them.

Josie and Lizzie looked in shock and disappointed, though they were clearly not as sad as they would have been given the fact that everyone else had made it for their birthday.

-

Alaric's Office

Jo had just changed into another set of clothes, putting away her bloodied wedding gown. Alaric, Tory, Lindsey, Luke and Ryan were with her.

"Lindsey and I put a basic boundary spell up to keep her in," Tory explained.

"Should keep others from getting in too, unless they're siphons who can absorb the magic," Lindsey added.

Ryan looked at them in concern. "Are you sure she can't do magic?"

"She couldn't before she died, so if she can now, I guess we'll learn the hard way," Luke pointed out.

Jo looked taken aback by the fact that they were talking as if she wasn't standing next to them. "Um, she's right here, and she's got a lot of questions."

"Sorry, Jo, but we have to be careful," Lindsey told her.

"A lot of things have been going on lately," Tory agreed.

"We can't take chances," Luke told her.

"Be careful with this one, Ric," Ryan told him.

"You want a moment alone?" Lindsey asked.

"Please," Alaric told them.

Luke nodded. "All right."

"You got it," Tory told him. "Be careful, Ric."

"Don't let her get to you if she's not Jo," Ryan told him.

Tory looked at the doors. "The spell should hold."

"As long as siphons don't come," Ryan agreed.

Luke waved at Jo. "Later, Mombie-Dearest."

Lindsey, Tory and Ryan gave him a look. "Luke."

Lindsey, Tory, Luke and Ryan left the room.

Alaric closed the doors, locking them, turning to Jo. "Okay, let's talk. Who are you? What do you want?"

Jo took a deep breath, trying not to be offended by his line of questioning. "I'm Josette Laughlin, almost Saltzman."

"No, Jo Laughlin is dead," Alaric told her.

Jo gave him a hard look. "I'm well aware. It's not every day you get murdered at your shotgun wedding. That was planned by Eliza, by the way, and Stefan, Damon and Cristian were your groomsmen, and Alex, Elena and Liv were my bridesmaids, who are all here by the way. Not to mention Kaylin, Nicola, Tory, Luke, Lindsey, Ryan and Kacie being here too."

"Okay, what's the last thing you remember?" Alaric asked.

"Morning sickness," Jo answered. "My dress. Our vows. My psychopath twin brother with a very large knife. And then... nothing." It was clear by the fact that Alaric looked down at the floor that he was not satisfied with these answers. Jo studied his face for a moment. "How long ago was that? Kaylin, Nicola, Eliza, Kacie, Tory and Luke look the same, but you, Stefan, Damon, Cristian, Liv, Alex, Elena, Lindsey and Ryan look a little seasoned."

"About sixteen years ago," Alaric answered.

Jo's eyes went wide, and her jaw nearly dropped from shock. "Sixteen years?"

"Yeah," Alaric answered. "Elena had the Cure in her veins, and Tory and Lindsey, with the help of Bonnie, were able to replicate the Cure to give to Stefan and Alex, and then Damon, Liv and Cristian later on. They all got to have kids of their own. After Kai killed you, that night at the wedding, he killed Eliza, who had Caroline's blood in her system, and turned her into a vampire, which is why she looks the same."

Jo was even more in shock. "I don't know what to say. How are you? How have you been?"

Alaric didn't want to believe that this was truly the love of his life out of fear that she really was a monster who wanted to harm them. "Oh, just cut the--drop the act, okay?"

Jo gave him another hard look. "It's not an act, Ric. This is Mystic Falls. I'm not exactly the first person to be brought back from the dead."

"Yeah, well, things have gotten a little complicated around here lately," Alaric replied.

They were both startled by the sound of the doorknobs to the office rattling. Josie and Lizzie were the ones outside, knocking on the doors.

"Uh, Dad?" Lizzie asked. "Why is your door locked?"

Jo, shocked by what she called Alaric, looked at him with wide eyes, whispering. "Dad?"

"And when were you going to tell us that Mom wasn't coming back?" Josie asked.

Alaric had Jo held against his body with his left arm while he covered Jo's mouth with his right hand, struggling to make up a convincing lie that would get the twins out of the area without further issues. "I was about to. There--there's a strike at the airport in Mozambique."

Josie and Lizzie exchanged a scathing look that made certain they didn't believe the lie.

"She couldn't compel a pilot and hop on a private jet?" Lizzie asked.

Jo looked absolutely confused by their conversation.

Alaric was equally flustered, continuing to muzzle Jo with his hand. "Liv, Cristian and Eliza were supposed to explain everything, okay?"

"Yeah, they did, but we could tell that you were making them keep something from us, so we came here," Josie told him.

"We will talk later, okay?" Alaric asked. "But right now, I just need you to go, because I'm wrapping your presents--"

"No, you're not," Josie called. "You're lying through your teeth."

Alaric groaned, rolling his eyes.

Josie and Lizzie shared a determined look, each placing their right and left hands, respectively, against the door, siphoning the boundary spell that Lindsey and Tory had placed there earlier. "Salva."

The doors magically burst open.

Alaric quickly let go of Jo, unable to come up with a good cover for what they had been doing.

Lizzie immediately assumed that Alaric was having an affair, giving Jo a scathing look. "Who's this trollop?"

Jo realized who the two sisters were, stepping backward without taking her eyes off of them. Lizzie was looking at Alaric for answers.

Josie seemed to recognize the woman standing in front of her. "Oh, my God."

"I need you to leave right now," Alaric told them.

Jo couldn't help herself but ask in a shaky tone of voice. "I'm sorry, how old are you?"

Josie and Lizzie answered in unison. "Sixteen."

Josie continued to stare at Jo.

Lizzie shrugged her off. "Today. It's our birthday."

Jo was flabbergasted. "You're twins?"

"What are we interrupting here?" Lizzie asked.

"I'm serious," Alaric insisted. "Do as I say and now just go."

Josie realized who Jo was, trying to tell her sister. "Lizzie..."

Lizzie rolled her eyes, turning to Josie. "What?"

"It's her," Josie told her.

Lizzie scoffed. "Her who?"

Alaric clenched his jaw when he realized that the jig was up.

Josie turned to the right, walking over to a nearby bookshelf, where she took a framed photo off of the middle shelf, showing Lizzie the photo, which was of Alaric and Jo at their wedding, just before Kai had killed Jo. "Her."

Jo was dumbstruck by the fact that her daughters were standing in front of her.

Lizzie gasped. "Holy crap. You're Bio-Mom."

-~-

Alaric, Jo, Lizzie and Josie were standing in shock, looking at each other.

"This is impossible," Jo told them. "I wasn't even showing at our wedding. How--"

Alaric was pacing. "Your family's crazy coven magically implanted them in Liv when you died. She's their birth mother."

"Liv?" Jo repeated. "So who is the mother that they were asking for?"

"Caroline," Alaric answered. "She... she's my wife. Lizzie and Josie's stepmother."

"Yeah, we have like three moms," Josie told her.

Lizzie crossed her arms over her chest. "She's overseas right now, doing very important recruiting work. I'm Lizzie. After Aunt Eliza and her and Mom's mom. My middle names Iva, after Aunt Alex, since Aunt Alex's middle name is Iva."

"And I'm Josie," Josie introduced herself. "Josette Michelle. Aunt Liv's middle name is Michelle. And Josette, like..."

Jo realized that she was also Josie's namesake, beaming a smile. "Me."

Josie smiled warmly. Lizzie was overwhelmed completely.

-

Gym

Emma had brought Rafael to the top of the staircase leading into the gymnasium where she was literally walking him through the process of being Lizzie's party date entailed, gesturing down to the gym proper to point out where the DJ would be located. "So the emcee will then announce Lizzie and her escort."

Rafael's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Her what?"

"Kind of like at a--a debutante ball," Emma explained.

Rafael looked at her in confusion. "I grew up in foster care."

Emma was trying not to be frustrated, responding in a sarcastic voice. "Okay, well, they had stairs, didn't they?" She turned them so that they were at the top step, pointing down at the first landing. "So you're gonna meet her halfway down."

Emma continued to point until Rafael caught the hint.

Rafael reluctantly walked down the next few stairs, sighing. "How do you know all this stuff?"

Emma shrugged. "Well, growing up with the Mikaelsons as extended family, even before my dad and mom helped Freya and her wife have their son Nick as the father, making me and Danny have a half brother little baby Mikaelson... the family might have fell hard, but not past redemption. Basically, Rebekah, one of the siblings, this kind of thing is her jam and she and another sister Kassandra had to teach me, Hope, Rae, Madison and Danny when she could. Ariara already knew all of this because of her kingdom."

Emma, pretending to be Lizzie, delicately walked down the staircase to meet Rafael. Rafael seemed to be unsure of whether or not Emma was messing with him. Emma lightly tossed her hair over her shoulder as she turned to face him.

"So, what, I just stand here?" Rafael asked.

Emma nodded, raising her right arm so that it was bent at the elbow, hovering parallel to the floor next to his own. "Then you take her arm." She gently grabbed his left arm to do it for him. "Sort of like you're putting yours on top." Emma linked their arms together, grabbing his bicep in a formal manner. "Yeah, like that." She steered them both toward the rest of the stairs. "And then you descend together." The two walked down the staircase slowly. Rafael was grimacing at the dramatics. Emma smirked. "Hey, you volunteered for this." Rafael sighed, knowing she was right. They reached the bottom of the stairs. Emma turned to face Rafael, doing a curtsy. "And now you bow."

Rafael was obviously thinking this was all ridiculous, laughing, rolling his eyes in a joking manner. "Yeah, you're messing with me."

Emma smiled mockingly, making it clear that she was being very truthful. "You think this is bad? You know it's only gonna get worse, right? Lizzie Saltzman has been planning her sweet sixteen since she was five. You probably should've thought twice before saying yes to being her date."

"I said yes so that I could try and keep Landon and Owen here," Rafael replied. "But now? All I know is that... I can't let her down."

Emma frowned. "Why?"

Rafael hesitated a long moment, not really wanting to answer but knowing that he had to. "Because I slept with her, Emma."

Emma's eyes widened in surprise at this answer.

-

Grand Hall

Students were milling around the grand hall, where they were organizing tables full of birthday cupcakes and boxes of other desserts.

Ariara and Danny were helping set up.

MG walked closer. "Hey, Ariara. Danny."

"MG," Danny replied. "What's up, man?"

"Lizzie is taking Rafael as her date instead of you," Ariara told him. "So why are you doing all this to try and make her party perfect?"

MG smirked, shrugging sheepishly. "'Cause a man's got to shoot his shot."

Ariara groaned, rolling her eyes. "Oh, my God. No. I can't take it anymore."

"As your friend, I demand that you retrieve your little MG's from Lizzie's grip," Danny told him.

MG shook his head. "Not when I can taste victory."

Ariara sighed, looking down for a moment, then looking back up at MG. "Fine. I'll make you a deal." She took MG by the arm, as the three walked along. "We will keep Werewolf Prince Charming away from the party long enough for you to shoot your one, final, inevitably failed shot. And when it's over, and the Queen of Mean has broken your heart all over again, promise me that you will let Lizzie go."

MG nodded grimly in agreement.

"What about you, Ariara?" Danny asked.

"What about me?" Ariara asked.

"You and Josie seemed pretty close after all of us came to save you from the Arachne," Danny pointed out.

"You mean the Arachne that I could kill on my own?" Ariara asked. "Danny, I told both you and MG before. Yes, I do like Josette. And yes, we shared two kisses all because she was trying to siphon enough magic to get us free from the spider webs. But nothing else is going to happen. I think Penelope was right on some level. I liked the idea of liking Josie, even though she would probably choose someone like Penelope or anyone else over me any day, because I knew that it could never happen. Because I knew... that I wouldn't have to be in an actual relationship after everything that happened."

"Come on, Ariara," MG told her. "You deserve a lot more than that."

Ariara shrugged. "How about I just go talk to Hope and Rae and try to get you a shot at what you deserve?"

"What do Hope and Rae have to do with it?" Danny asked.

Ariara smiled, shrugging. "Because I'm going to kill two birds with one stone. I'm going to get Milton his chance with Elizabeth, and I'm going to get Emma to admit that she does have some sort of feelings for someone that she would rather deny than accept, and keeping Rafael away from the party to do so. I'll be back."

Ariara walked away, leaving Danny and MG in confusion.

-

Alaric's Office

Alaric, Jo, Josie and Lizzie were still in Alaric's office, while Tory, Kacie, Mikayla, Luke, Lindsey and Ryan were here to use Tory's psychic skills to see if they could trust Jo.

"All right, let's try this," Kacie told her. "What's your name?"

"Josette Laughlin," Jo answered.

They all looked at Tory, who nodded, indicating that she was telling the truth.

"And what was your profession?" Mikayla asked.

"I'm a doctor," Jo answered. "I was anyway."

"Are you to harm us?" Mikayla asked.

"No," Jo answered.

"She's telling the truth," Tory told them.

Relieved to hear this, Josie went to ask her mother a question. "How did you meet my dad?"

Alaric blanched, looking uncomfortable. "That's not, uh, a question--"

Jo smiled. "I walked up to him at a college party. He was the only guy over twenty."

"Was it love at first sight?" Josie asked.

"Jo!" Lizzie chided. "Don't be so nosy."

Jo smiled, patiently answering. "Not quite. I flirted with him and asked him for a sip of his drink. He told me he was a germaphobe." She smiled at the memory. Alaric couldn't help but look at Jo wistfully as he reminisced about their past. "But I thought he looked like Indiana Jones, so..."

"This walk down weird resurrected wives back from the dead memory lane is fun and all, but we have stuff to do and a party to get ready for," Luke told them.

Mikayla gave him a look. "Luke."

"Don't mind him," Kacie told them.

Jo smiled. "I remember how Luke could be. I remember how all of you could be. And it was nice to meet you, Mikayla."

"You too," Mikayla agreed. "Even given the circumstances."

Josie looked at Jo. "Will you still be here after?"

Jo's eyes became wet with tears when she realized that she had no idea how much time she had with them or what brought her back in the first place, though she forced herself to smile happily.

"We will be there when we can," Lindsey told them.

"But right now, this office is off limits," Ryan told them.

"Come on," Kacie told them. "I'm sure Alex, Madison, Eliza and Liv would love to help you guys get ready."

Josie and Lizzie looked at Jo questioningly, and Jo smiled at them, nodding to assure them that they would see each other again, before the twins left.

-

Gym

Emma and Rafael were practicing a slow, awkward waltz in the gym in anticipation for the twins' party that evening.

Emma made a face. "I can't believe you slept with Lizzie Saltzman."

Rafael sighed. "Look, I was mad, and she was there." Emma rolled her eyes, groaning, causing Rafael to give her a look. "I didn't say I was proud of it." Emma returned her focus to the dance. "You're leading."

Rafael took his right hand off of her hip so Emma could spin for a moment before returning to position.

Emma gave him a pointed look as she did. "You're officially a gigolo."

Rafael couldn't help but laugh as they let go of each other, so he could head toward the back door of the gym. "Thanks for this. I guess I'll see you at the party?"

Emma hung back, shaking her head. "No, you won't."

Rafael turned to face her in confusion. "So, what, you're just gonna stay in your room alone while everybody else is out having fun?"

Emma nodded, crossing her arms, tilting her head. "Yep, works for me."

Rafael didn't buy that. "Bull crap. Everybody needs a crew."

Emma gave him a look. "Kind of ironic coming from the reluctant alpha."

"Okay, well, the pack is one thing, but a crew is a crew," Rafael replied. "I had that in Landon and Owen before they were sent away."

"They went to look for their birth mother so that they can find out what they are," Emma told him. "Owen doesn't trust himself, and Landon doesn't know if he has any supernatural abilities, and once they find out what they are and how they can control it, they are welcome back here. And I do have a crew, thank you very much. Hope, Rae, Danny, Madison and Ariara."

"Yeah, Danny's your brother, and Ariara's your adoptive cousin, even though she's a Nata," Rafael agreed. "And from what you've told me, because of Ryan and Lindsey helping a women couple have a baby, you're extended family to the Mikaelsons, including Hope, Rae and Madison, even though Rae and Madison are originally Salvatores like Kaylin and Nicola, or Fell. But all six of you are antisocials. And at least they are going to the party."

"Because Aunt Tory, Lyla, Lizzie, Josie, Kaylin, Nikki, Hope, Rae and Madison have more family coming over for the big day today, and Ariara is going because even though she knows that there is nothing ever going to happen between her and Josie, she's still her friend," Emma replied. "She's an honorable Nata, what do you expect? And Danny's going as Rae's date. I don't have a reason to go."

"I'm just saying," Rafael told her. "It's one thing to be cool with being alone, and then it's another to want to be the lonely girl on purpose."

That seemed to hit Emma hard.

"As opposed to Mr. Good Guy, who's taking a girl that you don't even like to her own party?" Emma countered.

Rafael smiled faekly, spreading his arms wide. "You know what? You're right. Lesson learned." He turned to walk away, his fake smile fading to a scowl as he got ready to leave, but as he was about to step over the threshold, his body slammed into a magical barrier that glowed a fiery orange-blue color when he made contact with it. He frowned, backing away. "What the hell?"

Emma warily walked closer, slamming her hands against the barrier. "Barrier spell. Fan-freaking-tastic."

Ariara, Hope and Rae popped up on the other side of the barrier.

"Sorry, Emma," Ariara told her. "Nothing personal. But sounds like you need to work some things out with Rafael."

"What the hell, Ariara?" Emma asked. "Hope, Rae, let us out of here."

"Don't worry," Hope told them. "You're gonna be fine."

"You'll be free in an hour," Rae told them. "Plenty of time for you to practice that waltz."

Ariara, Hope and Rae smiled, walking away. Rafael and Emma looked at each other with frustrated and confused expressions.

-

Library

Kaylin, Nicola, Lindsey, Tory, Luke, Ryan, Kacie and Alaric were talking.

"I don't get it," Mikayla admitted. "She hasn't tried to escape, not a word about the knife. She knows things that only your Jo would know, and let's not ignore the fact that you all remember her, so she's not like the other creatures."

"It's weird, yeah," Nicola agreed. "But I still believe that Jo's return is part of a larger plot to steal the knife."

"Blunt force hasn't gotten them what they want, so they've moved on to psychological warfare," Lindsey told them. "We have to tread lightly. If Jo is another monster, she can do more damage to you than any dragon."

Ryan found something in a book. "It was something she said." He turned the book to face them. "Here. There's an eyewitness account of a group of World War I soldiers buried in France, who came back to life and massacred a village." He pointed at the book. "After, they didn't remember hurting anyone, and they all said they'd been 'yanked' back to being. Like Jo."

"Wait," Luke told them. "So someone or something resurrected them and used them to attack a village?"

"Without them even knowing it," Kacie told them sullenly.

Kaylin scoffed. "Great. As if being without your free will isn't bad enough."

"So Jo could be like these people, brought back to life to get something or destroy something... and she doesn't even know," Tory told them.

They all looked at each other in concern.

-

Outside

Lyla and the other kids were playing outside in the garden.

"This place is awesome," Stephanie told them. "I wish that we could go here."

"If you guys started showing some supernatural signs, you could," Lyla told them cutely.

"Mom and Dad said that Stephanie and Sarah could at least, since Uncle Stefan, Uncle Damon, Aunt Kaylin and Aunt Nikki, and Aunt Elena and Aunt Alex, plus you, Tory and Rae, all come from Traveler bloodlines since you descended from Silas and Rosalita," Isaac explained.

"So Stephanie and Sarah could," Isaiah agreed.

"But then so could Isaac, Isaiah and Anna since all our parents, even Aunt Liv and Aunt Cris, took the Cure for vampirism, and then had us, so we don't know what that means for us," Sarah told them.

Lyla smiled. "I would love it if you guys could come here."

"We would love it, too, Lyla," Anna told her.

"Come on, let's do something fun," Lyla told them. "I'm in the mood for some chaos."

"Can you do the illusions this time, Lyla?" Stephanie asked.

"Please, please?" Isaiah begged. "Yours are awesome. And we know you can control it now."

"Plus, the last one you did was sweet," Isaac told her. "We'd like to see it again."

Lyla smiled. "Okay."

All the kids cheered. "Yay!"

Lyla stepped forward, waving her hands, using magic and psychic powers at the same time to create an illusion of a beautiful landscape with their entire family in it.

"That is so awesome," Anna told her.

"Visiting you guys at the school is always great," Sarah told her.

Stephanie smirked. "Yeah, they're the coolest."

Lyla smiled. "Aw. Thanks, guys."

Elena, Stefan, Damon and Cristian walked out to join them.

"Hey, kids," Stefan told them. "Almost time for the party."

"Already?" Lyla asked in surprise.

"Yeah, already," Damon answered. "Let's get a move on."

"Come on," Cristian told them. "Let's get you guys ready."

"Alex, Liv and Eliza are helping Lizzie, Josie and Madison get ready, but you guys can get ready with us," Elena told them. "Kaylin, Nicola, Tory and Luke are gonna be helping, and you get to see them all, Hope, Rae, Emma, Danny and Ariara again soon."

The kids all cheered and ran toward Elena, Stefan, Damon and Cristian, who smiled and led them back toward the school to get them ready for the party.

-

Night - Salvatore Boarding School - Madison, Lizzie and Josie's Dorm Room

Alex, Liv and Eliza were here with Lizzie, Josie and Madison. Alex, Liv and Josie were helping Lizzie get ready, while Eliza was helping Madison get ready for the party. Lizzie was wearing a glittery turquoise dress and matching makeup, with a white furry feather boa.

"You guys are so suspicious," Josie told them.

"Well, duh," Madison agreed. "After everything, I think that they deserve to be a little suspicious."

"I just think she's more fairy godmother than zombie," Josie admitted.

Lizzie hesitated, turning to look at them. "Aunt Liv? You're our birth mother, and then we have a stepmother that we call our mom, but you were important with bringing us into the world. And then our bio mother just came back from the dead. I don't know if we should feel grateful, or bad because we could be cheating on our mom with our bio mom, but we never felt like we were cheating on her when you were around, even though you're our birth mom, and..."

Liv reached out to take their hands. "Lizzie. Josie. It's okay. You're not gonna be cheating on Caroline if you're bonding with me or Jo. Jo is your biological mother. If it wasn't for her and Ric, you two wouldn't exist. Both of you get everything that makes you you genetically from Jo and Ric and their two families. Lizzie, you look so much like your aunt Olivia."

"And Josie, you look like a combination of Jo and Liv, if that's possible," Alex added.

"Not helping, Alex," Liv told her.

They laughed lightly.

"Lizzie, Josie, you both have three mothers that love you each so very much," Eliza told them. "And yeah, you each get something from all three of them. Your magic, for one thing, and your siphoning, obviously come from Jo and her family. Josie gets her looks from Jo and Liv, and her caring from Jo, but has a fierce edge like Liv, and Lizzie gets her looks from her Aunt Olivia, the other one that we knew before she died, and you act so much like you did before Caroline became a vampire, and the sass and bad attitude came from Liv before she turned, too."

Liv chuckled. "Yeah. Eliza's right."

"In fact, I think that the relationship between Lizzie and Josie reminds me a lot of the relationship that you and Caroline had growing up, Eliza," Alex told her. "You and Josie gave up everything you wanted so that Lizzie and Caroline could get what they wanted, but you and Caroline grew up out of the stage, and I think that Lizzie and Josie can too."

"So it's not bad that we can love all three of our moms?" Lizzie asked.

"Of course not, Lizzie," Madison answered. "I love my birth parents. Even after all these years. And I thought by calling Eliza and Kol 'Mom and Dad', that I would be betraying them, before I saw them when I almost died, two years ago, and they said that it was okay because they were the ones that raised me and took care of me like parents. I wasn't cheating on one set of parents if I loved another set. And you aren't cheating on any of your moms by loving all three." She frowned. "But is it weird that your dad Ric killed Logan Fell, and then later dated a Meredith Fell, and Ripper Alex killed a Violet Fell, and now, me, a Fell, is the adoptive daughter to a Forbes, Ric's wife's Caroline's sister, making me the adoptive step cousin to his daughters, and extended family to Salvatores as well as adopted by the Mikaelsons?"

They all chuckled at the irony.

"Madison, I know I've told you I'm sorry so much, but..." Alex trailed off.

"Alex, I know that wasn't you, and that was before I was born," Madison pointed out. "Or right when I was born, I don't know. It's fine. Josie, you spent all that time helping Alex and Liv get Lizzie ready, and you're not even dressed. Come on, let's get you ready."

"Yeah, I don't want to be late to my own party," Lizzie agreed.

"It's okay," Josie told them. "I can get myself ready. Aunt Alex, Aunt Liv, you should go help Aunt Elena, and Uncles Stefan, Damon and Cristian get Sarah, Stephanie, Isaac, Isaiah and Anna ready."

"Yeah, we should," Liv agreed.

"You sure you don't want me and Madison to help you?" Eliza asked.

"I'm sure," Josie answered. "It's okay, Aunt Eliza. I know that you have to go help the others figure out what to do about our bio mom being back anyway."

Eliza sighed, nodding. "Yeah."

"It's okay," Josie told them. "Go."

They all stood.

"But, Aunt Liv?" Lizzie asked. Liv turned back. "Even though we consider our stepmother our real mother, you're still a main reason why Josie and I were even born, so you're a big reason why we're even here, alive. And like you, Aunt Alex, Aunt Eliza and Madison said. We can love our three moms equally. So thank you. And thank you guys for what you said."

They all smiled.

"Of course," Alex told them.

Liv hugged Lizzie and Josie. "And I love you too."

They all chuckled, as Alex, Liv, Eliza and Madison left together.

Josie smiled slightly, setting a hand mirror on her dresser, suddenly seeing the corner of a red envelope peeking out from behind the pillow on her bed. She opened it to find a small velvet draw string bag, which she laid on her bed, and a card which read:

Wish your birthday wishes come true. Hope helped me with the necklace.

-- Ariara

Josie smiled, picking up the small bag, which had a silver chain necklace with a matching oval pendant that was stamped with an illegible crest, though a fleur-de-lis could be seen near the top. She continued to smile at the kind gesture, slipping the necklace on, fastening it behind her neck.

Penelope appeared in the doorway. "Hey, Jo-Jo." For once, she looked almost shy as she sheepishly walked into the room, wearing a flowy, navy blue satin dress with a shimmery white bodice, dark red lipstick, and smoky eye makeup. Josie's smile fell when she saw her ex standing in the doorway. "Need an escort?"

Josie turned to put her card away, responding in a tired voice. "Sure. Do you know anyone whose heart isn't made of stone?"

Penelope looked down for a moment. "Look, I am sorry for causing you hell. I saw a chance to make Lizzie suffer, and, uh..." She chuckled anxiously. "I shot my shot."

"And you always digging at Ariara Nata?" Josie asked. "Not just Lizzie?"

Penelope shrugged. "I had something to prove. And that was that even when you think or say that you hate me, you'll always choose me over Ariara Nata."

Josie was only more frustrated. "Why can't you just ease up on them?"

"Ariara is just someone that you're never going to end up with, and Lizzie sucks the air out of every room you're in," Penelope told her.

Josie scoffed defensively. "My friendship with Ariara is none of your business, and Lizzie is my twin. We can share oxygen."

"Are you sharing love interests now, too?" Penelope asked. "Because she's the only one with a date. Unless you asked Ariara to be your escort after you two shared your kiss."

"How do you know about that?" Josie asked.

"Does it matter?" Penelope asked. "But you see? You have crawled so far down the co-dependence rabbit hole that you think taking care of yourself, or being happy, is selfish." Josie looked down. "But it's not. So when are you gonna take care of you?"

"I take care of myself just fine," Josie told her.

Penelope gave her a pointed look. "Oh, really?" They stared at each other for a long moment. "Party starts in five. It's a shame you spent all that time helping Liv and Alex get Lizzie ready, when they, Madison and Eliza were wanting to help you get ready too."

Penelope gave Josie a sad look, before turning around and walking out of the room.

-

Alaric's Office

Jo, all by herself in Alaric's office, was walking around, looking at all of the objects around the room, from the framed paintings to the historical and magical artifacts to his private book collection. She noticed several photo albums in a case and opened the glass doors to grab one, standing in front of a small mirror sitting next to the books, which revealed her true face. Her skin was pale white, dry and cracked, her cheeks sunken in and her eyes just dark pits in their sockets. However, Jo didn't see her reflection, so she simply smiled as she started flipping through the pages of the twins as they grew up.

Josie was outside the office, siphoning the boundary spell for the second time, silently using telekinesis to open the doors, walking in. She was wearing a ballet pink silk and tulle cocktail dress that was sleeveless with a form fitting bodice, and her hair was down in messy curls.

Jo, surprised to see her, smiled.

Josie sighed anxiously. "Do you know how to braid?"

-~-

Ballroom

(Song:) Animal - Spring King

The birthday party was underway, with a DJ playing dance music on the speakers as dozens of the older classmates were dancing with each other on the dance floor.

Lizzie walked in, smiling when she saw how many people had attended this party, slowly walking down a few stairs until the emcee saw her.

(Song Ends)

The DJ spoke through a mic. "Ah, let's welcome birthday girl number one and her lucky escort!"

The spotlight shone directly on Lizzie, who began to panic when she didn't see Rafael waiting for her. Trying to play it cool, Lizzie descended a few more steps.

MG rushed toward the bottom of the staircase so she could meet him there, rubbing the side of his nose with his thumb as if to say 'just go with it'.

Lizzie stood next to MG, looking tense. "Where's my date?"

MG smiled confidently. "You're looking at him."

Lizzie briefly looked MG up and down appraisingly, not impressed by his choice of shoes. "You're wearing sneakers?"

MG looked down at his pristine black and white high top sneakers. "These are Concord 11s, milady."

MG pulled a rose out of his breast pocket, handing it to Lizzie.

Lizzie was clearly touched but unwilling to admit defeat regarding her mysteriously missing date Rafael just yet. "What if I told you my favorite was sunflowers?"

MG smiled sheepishly. "I'd know you were lying."

Lizzie seemed strangely touched, tilting her head curiously. "How?"

MG reached his left hand toward the crowd, where Lyla and Madison were dancing away with Sarah, Stephanie, Isaac, Isaiah and Anna, as they were all dressed up for the occasion.

Seeing MG gesturing to her, Lyla knew that it was her cue, smiling excitedly, raising her right hand into the air, wiggling her fingers, waving her hand up and down in a beautiful hand gesture, magically causing a shower of sparkles to fall on MG and Lizzie, the latter of whom was mystified despite her best efforts.

MG smiled in satisfaction when he realized that he got Lizzie hooked, holding out his right hand in offering. "The same way I know that your favorite color is lavender, your favorite dessert is key lime pie, you like a blend of hip hop and old school Motown, and powdered bat wings make you sneeze."

MG reached out his left hand, this time toward the DJ, who immediately began playing the next song.

(Song:) Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Strfkr

Lizzie smiled, linking her arm in MG's as he walked her the rest of the way onto the dance floor, looking shocked and touched at how much he knew about her. "My favorite song."

MG smirked happily. "I know."

The party attendees began to cheer and dance to the music. MG started to do the same, dancing in circles around Lizzie, bumping her hip with his own until she laughed and started to dance with him.

Lizzie smiled even wider when she saw the other kids with Lyla and Madison, laughing to see her extended family. "Hey, guys!"

They ran over to embrace her and dance with Lizzie, and hoping to see Josie soon to dance with them for their birthday, as the kids all gave Lizzie a big hug. Madison smiled, walking over to dance with them.

Ariara and Hope were in the crowd, also dressed up for the occasion, smiling and laughing lightly.

Rae walked through the party, dressed up as well, looking around for Danny. Danny appeared behind her.

Rae sensed him, smirking, turning to face him. "You can't sneak up on a powerful psychic, Danny."

"Never thought I could," Danny replied. "Just wanted to give you a night that you deserved tonight."

"Why?" Rae asked. "Tonight's not my night. It's Lizzie and Josie's night."

"It's still a night when you're not locked in your room, trying to avoid everyone because you're afraid of losing control and hurting them," Danny replied. "You're taking Kaylin's advice and not being a loner like Nicola anymore. In fact, we all are. Emma, Hope, Madison, Ariara."

"You," Rae finished.

Danny smirked, nodding. "Yeah, and me. We've all been through more hell than most people can imagine, Rae. I think it's time that we get to live our lives again."

Rae smiled, nodding in agreement. "Me too."

Danny held out his hand in offering. "So, would you like to dance, Rae Salvatore-Mikaelson?"

Rae couldn't help a beaming smile, nodding, taking Danny's hand. "I would love to. Danny Davis-Thompson."

Rae and Danny did a curtsy and a bow to to each other, before beginning to dance together.

The kids ran over to pull Ariara, Hope, Rae and Danny into a big dance with them, Madison, Lizzie and MG as well, all smiling and having fun.

(Song Ends)

-

Grand Hall

In the room one door over from the ballroom, as everyone was having fun, Kacie, Mikayla, Eliza, Tory, Luke, Alex, Stefan, Kaylin, Nicola, Damon, Elena, Liv and Cristian were watching the kids have fun in the party, smiling slightly as they danced.

Lindsey, Ryan and Alaric walked over.

"How are the kids?" Lindsey asked.

"They all seem to be doing good," Mikayla answered. "Lyla, Stephanie, Sarah, Isaac, Isaiah and Anna all got Hope, Rae, Ariara and Danny dancing with them, Lizzie and Madison. Which begs the question, where are Emma and Josie?"

"We haven't seen Emma, and Josie should be here soon," Kacie told them. "But I'm glad that Lyla and the other kids could get Hope, Rae, Ariara and Danny out there with Lizzie and Madison."

They all nodded in agreement.

"I need Lizzie and Josie to have tonight to be a fun night, even if Caroline can't be here, and whatever is going on with Jo," Alaric told them.

"Sorry about that, Ric," Damon told him. "Hey, wanna get a drink like old times?"

"Not tonight," Alaric answered.

Elena looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry, Ric. I wish that we could do something that could make tonight better. I know that Alex and Liv were with you the two times that you lost Jo before."

Liv nodded sadly in agreement. "Yeah, we were. And I never thought that something like that could happen again."

"Me neither," Alex agreed sadly. "But whatever happens, just know that we're gonna be there for you again."

Alaric nodded in understanding. "I know. Liv, Alex... thank you. And Elena."

"Anything we can do to help?" Tory asked. "The kids are gonna be too busy having fun to worry much about us tonight."

"Need any help with Mombie-Dearest?" Luke asked.

"Luke, stop that," Ryan told him.

Kaylin sighed. "I don't know what we need to do tonight, but we need to figure something out."

Nicola nodded in agreement. "And fast."

"Yeah," Kacie agreed. "'Cause God forbid we can have one lousy night off whenever something starts to happen like this."

"We're used to not having a night off like this, Kacie," Mikayla told her.

"At least the kids have a night off so far," Lindsey told them. "Let's keep it that way."

The adults nodded in agreement.

-

Alaric's Office

Jo was in the middle of doing Josie's hair for the party, and the two giggled for a moment.

Jo gave Josie a curious look. "Aren't you gonna be late?"

Josie smiled sheepishly, looking down at her hands, which were resting in her lap. "Oh, no. It's cool. No one will notice."

Jo smiled a little skeptical smile, handing Josie her hairbrush. "At your own party?"

Josie sighed, shrugging. "Maybe if I had a date."

Jo continued to arrange Josie's hair as she leaned forward to look her daughter in the eyes. "Is there someone special?"

Josie chuckled nervously, hesitating as she tried to think of what to say. "That... is a complicated question."

Jo, finished with Josie's hair, walked around and sat down in the red armchair across from her, smiling at her in a way that made it clear she was eager to learn everything she could about her daughters's lives. "Humor me."

Josie, happy to have someone interested in her and her life, giggled anxiously. "Well, last year, there was this girl, but she dumped me."

Jo cooed sympathetically. "Aw."

"And there's this girl that I know that likes me, and that I used to have a huge crush on, but I can't be with because it would cause trouble with Lizzie, so..." Josie trailed off.

Jo frowned in confusion. "Does Lizzie know that you like this girl?"

Josie's eyes widened in alarm as the thought of Lizzie finding out. "No. That would be bad."

Jo continued to smile, pleased that her namesake was so similar to herself in so many ways. "Being sixteen and having a strong twin sister isn't a cakewalk. But anybody who spends five minutes with you would know how special you are."

"You're only saying that because you're..." Josie trailed off, realizing she was about to say 'my mom', conflicted, but not as much as before since she and Lizzie talked with Alex, Liv, Eliza and Madison earlier.

Jo, sensing Josie's complicated feelings at her return to life, gave her a reassuring smile. "It's okay. I know Liv is your birth mother, and Caroline is your stepmother who got to raise you. She did a great job. And Liv always remained in your life, so you had two mothers, while the other was... gone."

"Lizzie and I got to talk to Aunt Alex, Aunt Liv, Aunt Eliza and Madison earlier," Josie explained. "Alex and Eliza agreed that Lizzie and I both take qualities from all of you. Aunt Liv, our stepmother, and you, Aunt Eliza. Aunt Alex said that me and Lizzie are so much like Aunt Eliza and her sister's relationship. And that I even look like a combination of you and Aunt Liv, and that my sister looks like Aunt Olivia, your sister."

Jo smiled sweetly, nodding in agreement. "You do."

"Like I said, Aunt Alex said that the relationship between me and Lizzie is a lot like the relationship that Aunt Eliza had with our stepmother," Josie added. "That Aunt Eliza was like me in that relationship, and that Mom was like Lizzie. But not as bad in the co-dependent department, even if it was a lot closer than you think. And Lizzie has Aunt Liv's bad attitude and humor and sass." Jo smiled in agreement. "And I'm really happy you're here. I honestly think that Dad is really lonely with Mom away."

Jo, having missed Alaric and seemingly treasuring the time she had gotten with her daughter, nodded and chuckled. "He's a pretty terrific guy, your dad." She realized how much time they had spent talking. "But you can catch me up later. You have a party to go to."

Josie thought for a moment. "Actually... do you want to come with me?"

Jo smiled, giggling, surprised by the invitation.

-

Hallway

Madison walked out of the ballroom into the hallway, looking around, looking down at her dress, smiling a bit. She walked toward Eliza, sighing. "Hey, I wanted to spend some time with you before you have to leave tonight, even though you guys are pretty busy with the zombie mom stuff."

"Yeah, but the others have that handled for now," Eliza told her. "Come here."

Eliza and Madison smiled, embracing tightly.

"Oh, I missed you so much," Madison told her. "And I miss Dad."

"Oh, you get to talk to me and Kol all the time over video calls, Madison," Eliza told her teasingly.

Madison smiled. "I know, but it's just not the same."

"I know," Eliza agreed. "But don't worry. Whatever next break you have, you can come see me and Kol, and Rebekah, Freya, Klaus, Elijah and Kassandra. I promise."

"Any luck on looking for things to help Aunt Nikki, Rae and Aunt Kassandra?" Madison asked, not knowing about the merge and what Caroline and Eliza were trying to look for away from the school.

Eliza sighed, shaking her head. "Not yet, but Kassandra is definitely not as bad as before since Rosalita can't be messing with her head when she's locked inside Rae. And we haven't been able to find a way to get Rosalita out of Rae without unleashing her on the world again, but we're trying. And the Huntress, we're trying to find a way to bind her so that Nicola can still keep her strength for when she needs it, but not having to lose control, and not needing to be mind controlled by Tory, Lyla or Rae to keep calm whenever she is losing control."

Madison nodded in understanding. "But I heard that you helped Aunt Kacie and Aunt Mikayla find the cure for Ariara."

"Yeah," Eliza agreed. "And I heard that Ariara's having an easier time to control her shifting because of the cure, but not completely in control."

"Right," Madison agreed. "I mean, the last time she shifted, she killed an Arachne while in her animal form, but me, Hope, Rae, Emma, Lizzie and Josie had to help change her back. But at least she helped save us, and Danny, MG, Rafael, Landon and Owen."

Eliza smiled teasingly. "Oh, speaking of Owen, the guy that Kol and I say you dancing with two years ago..." Madison blushed. "You've gotta tell me everything."

Madison chuckled shyly, embarrassed. "Well, I like him a lot, but Landon, his real brother, didn't show any sign of supernatural abilities, but Owen did. But Landon had to leave, and Owen went with him so they could find their birth mom, so me and Hope sent them to Marcel, Noah, Caitlin and Auria in New Orleans so that they could help Landon and Owen find her."

Eliza smiled. "Well, that's a good plan. I bet Auria, Caitlin, Noah and Marcel already helped Owen and Landon find their mom. Come on. You can tell me everything."

Eliza linked her arm with Madison, as the two walked together, and Madison was babbling happily with her adoptive mother, the two laughing together.

-

Gym

Emma and Rafael were still trapped inside the gym.

Emma was leaning against a saw horse.

Rafael was pacing around anxiously, obviously feeling guilty for what Lizzie must perceive as him standing her up. "So, you can do black magic and help slay monsters, but you can't get us out of here?"

Emma sighed, messing with her bracelets. "It's a boundary spell set up by a tribrid and a psychic immortal. Only Hope and Rae can undo it. Or, Aunt Tory, Lyla, Lizzie and Josie could siphon the magic and psychic energy."

Emma turned to face Rafael.

Rafael walked up to Emma, placing his hands on the sawhorse between them so he could lean against it. "Well, that's unlikely, seeing as Lizzie probably thinks I'm standing her up right now."

Emma was clearly unbothered by Lizzie's potential discomfort, giving Rafael a sarcastic look. "Her ego could use a little bit of deflating."

Rafael sighed, frustrated. "I'm not that guy, okay? I don't forget about people."

Emma frowned, not understanding why he was getting so emotional about this. "Relax. It's only been 12 hours."

Rafael turned away. "It's not that!" Emma was surprised by the reaction. Rafael tried to calm down, sounding more guilty and angry at himself. "Look, it has only been six weeks since..."

Emma realized why Rafael was really upset, stunned and concerned, sympathetic. "Your girlfriend died. Cassie."

Emma walked over to him.

Rafael looked devastated by his recent actions. "It's crazy, but I feel like--like I cheated on her or something. So if I can do right by Lizzie, maybe then I can..."

"Then what?" Emma asked. "It'll exonerate you?"

Rafael took a deep breath, sighing. "I don't know. Maybe."

Emma sighed, sitting down on the sawhorse. "Look, Raf, you went through something awful, and it's right to mourn your girlfriend, but you can't pretend to like Lizzie to make yourself feel better. That's not doing her any good, or yourself."

Rafael frowned, knowing she was right, but didn't want to talk about this anymore. He looked at Emma in realization now that he could relate more to what she was feeling and why she didn't want to get too close to people. "I know that before, you said that you felt guilty for what happened to Riley Grey. Because he died to save you, Hope, Danny and Madison from the Hollow, and he was trying to do the same thing to save Rae from Rosalita." Emma looked down. "You felt guilty because it was Rosalita putting the black magic spell in your head to get the Hollow into you guys. Emma, is that why you push everybody away? To protect them like you were saying? Because you think it'll exonerate you for doing a spell that a psychic put into your head, when you were just trying to save your guys's family? Being alone to make sure that they don't get hurt like Riley? Because you feel responsible because you're the one that found the spell because this Rosalita chick was trying to get you hooked on dark magic. And you think that by staying away from everyone, besides the other Davis-Thompsons, you can stop it from happening again."

Emma looked sheepish and stunned that Rafael could figure that out, looking down, sighing. "Maybe. I don't know. It's just best for everyone to keep away, Rafael. When I told you that, I was just trying to warn you. 'Cause I only make things worse."

Rafael and Emma looked at each other sadly, realizing that they both carried too much guilt and regret for any one person to handle on their own.

-

Ballroom

(Song:) Electric Avenue - VIC 2020

The birthday party was still raging on, with the attendees having a blast. The dance floor had been cleared, with the party attendees gathered around it as they prepared for a dance off. Lizzie was standing in the back, her fluffy boa slung over her shoulder, as she watched MG.

MG danced onto the floor, jumping and spinning through the air so he could perform an aerial spin before landing lightly n his feet, twirling in a circle, causing everyone to cheer. MG walked toward Lizzie with purpose.

Lizzie was impressed. "Oh, you got moves."

MG smirked, pleased. "You ain't seen nothing yet." He bounced on his heels for a moment, getting himself into position at the far end of the dance floor, smoothly and rapidly performing a front handspring that he then transitioned into a backflip, landing on his feet at vampire speed. Lizzie gasped, covering her mouth with her hand, giggling in awe, and the crowd around them went wild. MG swished his hips side to side as he walked toward Lizzie again, crooking his index fingers to beckon her onto the dance floor with him. "Come on."

Lizzie, suddenly shy, shook her head in protest. "No, no, no, no."

MG took her hand, gently pulling her into the center of the crowd. "Yes, yes, uh-huh, uh-huh."

Lizzie needed very little convincing to join MG in the middle of the dance floor, where she began to step side to side to the beat of the music, watching him for a moment before dancing alongside him, watching happily as he began to break dance next to her.

Madison, Ariara, Hope, Danny and Rae were standing at the top of the staircase, on the balcony, smiling despite their reservations about MG's plan to woo Lizzie.

Madison looked around, frowning in concern. "Everyone's been so focused on Lizzie, but has anyone seen Josie?"

Ariara, Hope, Danny and Rae frowned, shaking their heads, in concern. "No."

(Song Ends)

-

Outside

Josie and Jo were walking through the school grounds toward the ballroom.

"So, Lizzie's got this thing with Rafael, but MG's in love with Lizzie, and Ariara likes me, and Emma refuses to acknowledge that she likes Rafael," Josie explained. "Madison and Hope fell for the new guys, Owen and Landon, before they left, and after so long, Rae and Danny finally got together. It's this whole thing."

Jo was amused, scoffing dramatically throwing her hands up into the air. "What?"

Giggling, Josie excitedly led Jo through the yard toward the ballroom, not immediately noticing that Jo had slowed down considerably. "There's this alcove that's up super high, so you'll be able to see everything." Suddenly, Jo stopped walking and went stiff, causing her to fall flat on her back with a loud thump. Hearing her fall, Josie turned around, immediately going over to see if she was okay. "Jo? Hey. Jo?" Josie looked around desperately in hopes of getting the attention of someone who could help. "Somebody help!" She looked down at Jo, standing up. "I'll be right back, okay?"

Josie ran toward the school. Jo's head turned so her face was tilted toward the sky, and when she opened her eyes, her irises and pupils had been clouded over, giving her an eerie, phantomesque appearance. She stood, her white eyes stark against the dark sky. Josie heard her awake, stopping dead in her tracks, slowly turning to face Jo. Jo's body had taken on a zombie like appearance that made her look more like a corpse than a live human. Jo smirked darkly before rushing after the confused and horrified Josie.

-~-

Gym

Emma and Rafael were sitting on the floor right by the entrance to the gym, where they were boredly watching the second hand of the clock on the wall as it ticked loudly.

"One more minute," Emma told him. The two sat in silence for a long moment. "Raf, look. Hope and Rae didn't just send Landon away for his protection. Hope and Madison sent Owen and Landon to family friends, extended family, Marcel Gerard, Noah and Caitlin Dumaine and Auria Rayvnne, who are gonna help them find their birth mom."

"They sent them away by themselves to find the woman that gave them up?" Rafael asked.

Emma frowned in confusion. "What if she's amazing and they finally get a family?"

"They had a family," Rafael told her. "He had me."

Emma sighed. "Look, I get it. Before my parents helped Freya and Keelin have their son, Danny's and my half brother Nick... the Salvatores-Mikaelsons-Forbes-Fell, and the four family friends I just mentioned, Gerard, Dumaine and Rayvnne, they were already like family to me and my family. Not just because of Hope, Rae and Madison, but because of everything that we had been through, even back when Kaylin, Nicola and Rae were just Salvatores, and then did become Salvatore-Mikaelsons, or when Madison was just Madison Fell, and not Madison Fell-Mikaelson. Klaus, Elijah, Kassandra, Freya, Kol, Rebekah... they were all our family, too. All of us, together. Plus Labonairs, Greys, Forbes, Lockwoods, Davis-Thompsons, even Lucien Castle. Hayley, Mikayla, Riley, Aunt Eliza, Aunt Kacie, Aunt Tory, Mom, Dad, Uncle Luke, Lyla, Danny, Marcel, Noah, Caitlin, Auria, now Ariara Nata. They literally said we all redefined their family saying of always and forever."

"So you do get it," Rafael told her. "You're right. Landon and Owen are not my blood, but they are my brothers. Maybe you don't double down on friends because of all the family that you do have, but not all of us are that lucky. And some of us get to have a lot of things outside of family that you don't. Life's just not about family, Emma. It's about everything out there that you're locking yourself away from so that you can protect everyone from yourself because you're scared that something like what happened with Riley can happen again. But you don't realize that Riley wasn't your fault, and it wasn't your responsibility. You were tricked, just like the rest of your family, by Rosalita. That's not your fault, Em. Maybe you should try and forgive yourself for things that weren't your fault and start living a little." Emma was clearly effected by what Rafael said, looking down, her eyes glassed over. They looked at each other for a moment before Rafael turned to check the clock, realizing that their magical imprisonment was finally over. Rafael sighed, standing up. "Time's up, lonely girl."

Rafael walked out of the gym, leaving Emma to think about what they had talked about that day, as she wrapped her arms around her knees and closed her eyes, looking down, putting her head down.

-

Ballroom

(Song:) What's It Like Now - Mikky Ekko

The party was still going on with just as much enthusiasm as before. Lizzie was getting really into dancing with MG, losing herself in the music as they spun and twirled around each other. MG lifted Lizzie in the air for a spin. Lizzie threw her hand up, smiling.

(Song Ends)

(Song:) Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - Sleeping At Last

MG slowly lowered Lizzie to the floor as they looked at each other and smiled shyly. Lizzie put her arms around MG's neck, starting to sway to the music. MG's smile softened.

Rafael, in a light gray suit, appeared behind them. Lizzie saw him first.

Rafael reached out, squeezing MG's shoulder with his hand, thinking MG was just trying to make Lizzie feel better after being stood up, stepping in to take his place. "I got this." When MG saw the look of excitement on Lizzie's face at the sight of Rafael, he sadly stepped aside as Rafael patted him appreciatively on the back. "Thanks." MG walked away. Rafael looked at Lizzie apologetically. "I'm sorry I was late."

Lizzie smiled, forgetting how upset she had been when he wasn't there at first. "I'll forgive you... just this once."

MG watched from afar as Rafael bent forward in a bow, his mouth twisting into a bitter frown before he walked away.

Rafael gently took Lizzie's arm in his own, before the two started to slow dance in the middle of the crowd.

(Song Pauses)

-

Outside

Kaylin, Nicola, Lindsey, Ryan, Tory, Luke and Alaric were walking around outside, looking for Jo, on the phone with Kacie, Mikayla, Eliza, Stefan, Damon, Cristian, Alex, Elena and Liv who were inside looking around as well.

"She could be anywhere, guys," Kacie told them.

"What about everyone else?" Mikayla asked.

"I've got the faculty searching the building as we speak," Ryan answered.

"What about you?" Eliza asked.

"We're on our way back to the party," Luke answered.

"Call us if you find anything," Tory told them.

"Of course," Liv agreed.

Just then, an anxious and concerned Jo ran over to Kaylin, Nicola, Tory, Luke, Lindsey, Ryan and Alaric. "Ric?"

Kaylin spoke into the phone. "Call off the dogs. I think we found her."

"I think we'll keep them on standby," Damon replied.

They hung up.

"Something's wrong," Jo told them.

"How did you get out?" Nicola asked.

"Josie wanted me to come to the party, and so she siphoned the spell again," Jo answered. "I know it was stupid, but I just wanted to see their sweet sixteen."

They were trying their best to remain calm, taking a deep breath to steady themselves.

"Okay, just tell us exactly what happened," Lindsey told her.

"I don't know," Jo admitted. "I--I was with her one minute, and then..." She lifted her shaking hands in the air, revealing that they were covered in dirt, with soil packed under her nails and around the cuticles as if she had been digging into the earth with her hands. They were all trying to make sense of this new information. Jo looked at her love desperately, horrified for their daughter. "Ric, I lost time. I don't know. I must have done something to her, but I just... I don't know."

Jo gasped loudly before suddenly going limp, and Alaric, completely overwhelmed and confused by this recent turn of events, just barely managed to catch her before she collapsed to the ground.

Once again, Jo opened her eyes to reveal that they were completely white, and her voice took on a deeper, almost demonic tone of voice as well as what sounded like an English accent. "There's a knife in your possession that will buy you the answer." Alaric, disgusted that someone was using his deceased wife like this, dropped Jo to the ground with a loud thud. Jo just laughed, before standing to her feet. "No need to rush. I'm sure the girl has an hour before she runs out of air."

Luke grabbed Jo by the front of her shirt, spinning to push her against a nearby tree, choking her. "Where is she?"

"Tory, can you..." Nicola trailed off.

Before Tory could use her psychic abilities to read the mind of whoever was controlling Jo, Jo returned to normal like the one controlling her knew about the psychic abilities and left Jo's mind before Tory could find out where Josie was.

Tory was very angry, annoyed, worried. "I could have before whoever's controlling her left her mind. But they know I could've found out if they stayed in Jo's mind."

Emma, who had changed into a ball gown for the party, appeared behind them, looking at them in concern and confusion. "Mom? Dad? What's going on?"

Kaylin, Nicola, Lindsey, Ryan, Tory, Luke and Alaric looked at Emma, half disappointed that their goal to keep the kids out of this was failing, but half relieved because they knew that they needed assistance.

Ryan sighed. "Emma, we need your help. Find Danny, Rae, Hope, Madison and Ariara."

"But keep Lyla out of it," Luke told her. "Let her play with the other kids."

Emma looked at them in confusion and concern.

-

Elsewhere

Ariara walked down a stone pathway, looking down at her dress, reminded of her attire from her kingdom, managing a small smile.

Penelope walked outside, seeing Ariara. "Oh, poor little Ariara Nata. Disappointed that you didn't get to dance with one of the birthday girls? Where's Josie?"

Ariara sighed in annoyance. "I don't know, and I don't really want to have this conversation with you again, Penelope. I don't want a relationship, so you can back off. I'm not going to take Josette away from you."

Penelope tilted her head mockingly. "Mm, you'd have to have at least a chance to be with Josie if you could actually take her from me. But she can't really be with you, so looks like you're gonna have to move on, princess."

"And looks like you're going to have to find another plaything to ruin, because in order for you to insult me, I'd have to care about your opinion of me, which I don't, so try again," Ariara replied. "And just to be clear, even if Josie did have left over feelings from you, even when she says that she hates you, you could never really have a chance with her either if you are always out to destroy Lizzie, since Josette cares more about her sister than anyone else."

"And that is exactly the problem for both me and you, isn't it, Ariara?" Penelope asked. "I mean, the reason why Josie would never be with you is actually because of Lizzie, and I need to destroy her whether or not I won the girl in the end or not."

Ariara looked at her in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Before Penelope could say anything more, MG, Hope, Rae, Madison and Danny walked outside.

"Hey," Madison told them. "Have you guys seen Josie?"

MG sighed. "She's probably having the time of her life, like I was until Prince Charming showed up and turned me into the pumpkin."

Danny and Ariara gave MG an 'I told you so' look.

Danny patted MG on the shoulder. "Sorry, MG."

MG groaned. "I have hate in my heart." He saw an ax whose blade had been driven into a nearby tree stump, walking down the steps toward it, a determined look forming on his face. "I'm ready for battle. We're gonna duel."

Danny rolled his eyes. "No, we're not doing that. I'm holding you to the deal you made with me and Ariara. As of this moment, Lizzie Saltzman's cancelled."

Emma walked by with a large flashlight, a shovel and a focused expression, paying little attention to Penelope as she went to go get Hope, Rae, Danny, Madison and Ariara.

Penelope smirked sarcastically. "You gonna howl at the moon wearing that?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "Sorry, no time for bitchy banter. I'm not here for you or MG, Penelope. I came to get Hope, Rae, Danny, Madison and Ariara. I could use your help finding Josie."

Penelope, Ariara and Madison snapped to attention at the sound of Josie's name.

Madison looked at Emma in concern, worry. "What happened?"

"Apparently, her possessed biological mother buried her alive in the cemetery," Emma answered.

Not needing to hear anything else, Madison wasted no time grabbing the ax in the tree, pulling it out, holding it up ready.

"What?" Danny asked in concern.

"We're coming with you," Rae told her.

Hope nodded in agreement. "Let's go."

Ariara grabbed a shovel laying around outside the school. They all marched out toward the graveyard to look for Josie.

-

Inside - Lindsey/Ryan's Office

Lindsey, Ryan, Tory, Luke, Kaylin, Nicola and Alaric walked in to look for the knife in the safe that was in Lindsey and Ryan's office's wall. Kacie, Mikayla and Eliza were already there.

"It's a stupid move to hand over the knife," Kacie told them.

"It's Josie on the line, Kacie," Eliza told her. "Though with Hope, Rae, Emma, Danny, Madison, Ariara and God knows who else out there, it shouldn't take long for them to find her."

"So we're just making sure that the knife is secure," Lindsey told them.

"I would hand it over in a heartbeat if it wasn't for the kids looking for Josie right now," Alaric admitted.

"We know, Ric," Mikayla told him. "But if anybody could find her... it's Hope, Rae, Emma, Danny, Madison and Ariara."

Ryan opened the safe, finding that the knife was gone. "What the hell?"

"No one knows the safe number except for us and family," Tory told them.

Kaylin realized who took the knife, making a face. "Including Damon."

Kaylin took out her phone, making the call, which was on speaker.

Stefan, Damon, Cristian, Alex, Liv and Elena were outside, watching Lyla, Stephanie, Sarah, Isaac, Isaiah and Anna hang out. Stephanie and Sarah, being the 13 year olds and a bit older, were making sure that the younger 9 year olds were having fun, picking Lyla, Isaac, Isaiah and Anna up and spinning them around, making them all laugh.

Damon's phone rang. He answered. "Kaylin. Let me guess, it's on speaker so that you, Nikki, Lindsey, Tory, Luke, Ryan and Ric, and Kacie, Eliza and Mikayla can rip my head off. And gonna get me in trouble with Stefan, Cristian, Alex, Liv and Elena in the process."

"Where is it?" Nicola asked.

Damon couldn't help but chuckle grimly. "Asking for a friend?"

"We need the knife, Damon," Kaylin told him. "Josie's life is at stake."

"That's why I moved it," Damon told them. "I knew the monster was gonna make a play."

Stefan, Cristian, Alex, Liv and Elena, realizing what Damon did, gave him a look of exasperation.

"Damon, they're not stupid enough to hand over the knife," Stefan told him. "Kaylin, Nikki, Kacie, Mikayla and Eliza wouldn't bargain with homicidal monsters, and Lindsey, Ryan, Tory and Luke don't let their emotions control them."

"Where's the damn knife, Damon?" Liv asked in annoyed worry.

"It's Hero 101," Alex told him. "You don't give the bad guys what they want, especially if we don't know what it does. I mean, this thing could spawn Armageddon."

"We just need to make sure the knife is in safe hands," Elena told him. "We won't have to hand it over, right?"

"No, because Hope, Rae, Emma, Danny, Madison and Ariara are out there looking for Josie right now," Eliza answered. "We're about to go out there and help look after we're done here."

"Just make sure the knife is secure," Lindsey told them.

"And, Damon, next time, listen to Stefan, Alex, Elena, Liv and Cristian, and don't go behind our backs," Tory told him. "One thing I didn't miss since you've turned human."

Damon smirked sarcastically. "Hilarious, Tory."

"You guys need help?" Cristian asked.

"No," Luke answered. "You guys are human, Cristian. You just stay with Lyla and your guys's kids. Make sure they stay out of trouble. We'll take care of everything else." Lyla was with the other kids, listening to the phone call with her heightened hearing and psychic abilities. "We just gotta get to the cemetery and help Hope, Rae, Emma, Danny, Madison and Ariara look for Josie."

"And beware of zombies," Ryan added. "Jo might not be the only one out there."

"Call us if anything comes up," Kacie told them. "We're going out there now."

"Be careful," Mikayla added.

"We'll save Josie, Ric," Kacie assured. "But we're not giving up the knife."

"Let's go," Mikayla told them.

They hung up.

The other kids called out when they realized that Lyla was gone. "Lyla!"

Stefan, Alex, Elena, Damon, Liv and Cristian looked over to them, realizing that Lyla was no longer with the other kids, sighing in realization and worry.

"Lyla's just like Tory and Luke," Liv told them. "Reckless and martyr-ess."

"Elena, stay with the kids," Cristian told her. "Alex, Liv, Stefan, Damon and I'll go after Lyla, in case anything's out there."

Elena nodded in agreement. "Be careful."

Stefan, Damon, Cristian, Liv and Alex walked off, grabbing shovels as they did, while Elena stayed with the kids, walking toward them to keep the kids calm.

-

Cemetery

Hope, Rae, Danny, Emma, Madison, Ariara, Penelope and MG continued to head into the cemetery through the woods, all of them clutching shovels or weapons tightly, looking worried.

"MG, listen for her breathing," Hope told him. "Rae, try to see if you can sense her presence through mind reading. Madison, if you get a Banshee vision that is helpful with a location this time, let us know. Emma, Danny and I don't have hearing as good as a vampire's or a psychic. Ariara, how good is your control over your shifting now since Aunt Kacie, Aunt Mikayla and Aunt Eliza found that cure for you?"

"Not that good yet," Ariara answered. "But maybe good enough to fend off whatever these things are since I was able to do it to kill the Arachne, but I might need help to turn back again."

"Okay, we can do that," Madison agreed. "Don't worry, Ariara."

Danny stopped walking. "Hold on. I hear something." He turned, holding out his hand to Emma. "Shovel."

Emma handed the shovel to Danny. Danny quickly started digging up a newly dug patch of earth in front of a gravestone, but was stunned when a decomposing arm pushed itself through the soil, starting to grab Danny by the ankle as the zombie rasped and hissed. The creature burst out of the dirt, revealing himself to be a young adult male who started clawing his way toward the group of teenagers in front of him.

Rae stepped forward. "Danny!"

Rae, with eyes glowing with Hellfire, thrust out her hand and sent a burst of Hellfire out of her hand to burn the zombie alive to make it let go of Danny, incinerating it into ash.

Danny caught his breath, sighing heavily. "Thanks, Rae."

Another zombie burst up from behind Ariara to grab her. Penelope took the shovel she was holding, swinging it at the zombie, burying the blade into the side of his neck, making him let go of Ariara, barely slowing the zombie down. Ariara turned to look at Penelope in surprise.

"That won't work," MG told them. As another zombie burst up, MG jammed the end of the blade into his forehead, killing it, before scoffing at the girls and Danny, who seemed shocked by how easily MG took the revenant out. "To kill a walker, besides Rae incinerating it with Hellfire, you gotta go for the brain. Everybody knows that."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Yeah, every nerd, maybe. Just call it a zombie."

Several more zombies burst out of the ground all at once.

"Zombies," Ariara corrected. "Plural."

Hope, Emma, Danny, Ariara, Madison, Penelope and MG all clutched their weapons tightly, while Rae let her eyes glow with Hellfire, prepared to use Hellfire to incinerate as many as she could without hurting her friends and family, as they were all tense and looking around as more zombies surrounded them in a circle, forcing them to stand shoulder to shoulder in a circle.

-~-

Salvatore Boarding School - Ballroom

(Song Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by Sleeping at Last - Resumes)

The party was still on the dance floor, where Rafael was using the skills Emma taught him to waltz with Lizzie. Lizzie seemed content to have the boy she liked at her side. Rafael spun her around.

Lizzie mustered up the courage to make her pitch for her after party plans. "There's a clothing optional rock quarry nearby." Since Lizzie's back was saying against Rafael's chest, she couldn't see when he realized what she was proposing and sighed quietly. Rafael closed his eyes as he thought about the nicest way to respond to this. "It's cold, but I figured since we won't be getting much sleep tonight, it could be refreshing."

Lizzie looked back at Rafael.

Rafael forced himself to smile as he spun her back around so they were face to face. "Lizzie, I'm sorry, but I can't." Lizzie's smile fell as she frowned in confusion. "I know it's a dick move to do this on your birthday, but it would be even worse to lie to you. Now I'm yours, and I'm here tonight, and I want to be the best date that I can be, but the other stuff is not gonna happen."

Lizzie gulped nervously, removing her hands from around Rafael's shoulders, trying not to show too much emotion. "I don't understand. Last night..."

Rafael's voice was gentle, as the expression on his face was serious. "Last night was a mistake."

Lizzie blinked back tears for a long moment, before ultimately deciding to finish the dance with Rafael, clutching his shoulder with her left hand, and with all of the excitement having died down, she realized that Madison was gone and she had not seen Josie once since she left for the party. "Where're Josie and Madison?"

Lizzie looked around the room, searching for her twin sister and her adoptive step cousin, but not seeing them anywhere.

(Song Ends)

-

Cemetery

Hope, Rae, Danny, Emma, Madison, Ariara, Penelope and MG were still standing back to back, fighting off the zombies.

Emma used her shovel to stab a zombie through the head to kill him.

Ariara used the ax that she had found outside the school to behead another male zombie. His head fell to the ground and rolled away.

Hope used her shovel to stab another zombie through the head to kill him as well.

Danny threw his shovel into the zombie's head in front of him, making him stop and fall, using magic to pull the shovel back into his hand, spinning it around in his hand, holding it ready to kill the next.

Madison used her shovel to slash her shovel through the head of the zombie in front of her, diagonally, making it fall dead.

Emma swung her shovel to slash through a zombie's head to kill him, watching the body fall.

"Get back," Rae told them worriedly.

Knowing what Rae was about to do, Hope, Danny, Emma, Madison, Ariara, Penelope and MG backed away.

Rae held out her hands, as her veins and her eyes glowed with Hellfire, as she released a devastating psychic scream to release a lot of Hellfire around at all of the zombies to incinerate all of them into ash, causing Hope, Danny, Emma, Madison, Ariara, Penelope and MG a lot of pain from the psychic scream, but they were not harmed by the Hellfire because Rae was careful to make sure that she was far enough away to where she wasn't a danger to them.

Rushing through the woods, Kaylin, Nicola, Eliza, Kacie, Mikayla, Tory, Luke, Lindsey and Ryan heard Rae's psychic scream, holding their heads in pain as it caused them much pain as well. They looked up in realization. "Rae."

Across the woods on the way to the cemetery, Lyla heard the psychic scream as well, holding her head in pain. As Stefan, Damon, Alex, Liv and Cristian were almost caught up to Lyla, they heard the scream and held their heads in pain as well. They looked up, also realizing who was behind the scream. "Rae."

Kaylin, Nicola, Eliza, Kacie, Mikayla, Tory, Luke, Lindsey and Ryan finally reached the point where they found Hope, Rae, Danny, Emma, Madison, Ariara, Penelope and MG, as they all looked at each other in relief.

"Mom?" Rae asked. "Did you hear me?"

"I'm pretty sure the entire town heard you, Rae," Kaylin told her in amusement, proud. "That's my girl."

Hope chuckled. "Try the entire world. But, yeah, Rae had to do that because the zombies kept coming and she incinerated all of them with Hellfire, but not before Emma, Danny, Madison, Ariara, Penelope, MG and I each got to kill one or more."

Nicola nodded in approval. "Good job, kids. Have you found Josie?"

"If we found Josie, do you think we would be here fighting zombies instead of saving her?" Madison replied. She sighed. "Lizzie's so gonna kill me for ditching out on the party even before we knew Josie was in danger."

"Worry about that later, Madison," Ariara told her. "We got to find Josette."

"And we will, Ariara," Emma told her. "Madison, we'll find her."

Madison and Ariara nodded nervously. Penelope was just as worried.

They were all shocked to see that more zombies were bursting up from the graves.

"Guys..." Danny trailed off.

Nicola took out her sword, spinning it around. "You kids go, look for Josie. "We can handle the rest. Just find her."

MG nodded in understanding. "Right. Got it. Just go for the brains."

Without another word, the teens all ran off to go look for Josie, leaving the adults to deal with the zombies approaching.

Lindsey looked at Tory. "How do you want to do this? Magic?"

"For you and me, yeah," Tory answered. "Why not, Lindsey?"

Luke shrugged. "For the rest of us, I say we do it ourselves and pretend they're Rosalita and take out everything she did out on them."

Ryan watched as a male zombie stumbled toward him, shrugging in agreement. "Works for me."

"And me," Kacie agreed.

Mikayla chuckled in agreement. "Hell, yeah."

Eliza smirked. "Let's do it."

Nicola spun her sword around, using it to slash through the skull of a zombie to kill it.

Kaylin, Tory, Luke, Ryan, Kacie, Mikayla and Eliza all ripped off zombie heads or used their arms to karate chop through their skulls to kill them since they didn't have weapons, but they had enough strength and speed to kill the zombies anyway.

Lindsey was using magic to rip off heads or split skulls as well.

Tory rushed away from the group of the adults, standing tall, taking a deep breath, releasing a psychic scream as well, with enough force to throw many of the zombies to the ground, causing everyone in the cemetery and the woods (Kaylin, Nicola, Lindsey, Luke, Ryan, Kacie, Mikayla, Rae, Hope, Emma, Danny, Madison, Ariara, Lyla, Stefan, Damon, Cristian, Liv and Alex) a lot of pain like Rae did before, making it easier for the other adults to kill off the zombies.

-

Elsewhere

The teens were running to try and find Josie.

MG stopped when he heard rustling in the earth. "Josie, I hear you! Hold on!"

MG used his vampire speed to quickly dig up the grave, stopping when he heard his shovel hit wood. He then used his superhuman strength to rip the lid off the makeshift coffin, flinging it several meters into the air. However, another zombie, this one female, hissed and crawled out toward him. MG tried to get free from her hold.

Madison stood behind the zombie, stabbing it through the head with the handle of her shovel to kill it, looking at MG with exasperation. "MG, we're running out of time!"

Before MG could return to searching for Josie, he saw a zombie approaching Madison from behind her. "Watch out!"

The zombie attacked Madison and made her drop her shovel. More and more zombies surrounded them, causing Hope, Rae, Emma, Danny, Ariara, Madison, Penelope and MG fight them off again and kill them.

Madison pushed the zombie back. "Ariara! Ax!" Ariara tossed the ax to Madison. Madison caught the ax, swinging it hard to chop the zombie's head off, before turning to MG, impatient, frustrated with crippling worry for her adoptive step cousin. "Damn it, MG, get up and find her!"

MG scrambled to rise to his feet. "There's too much noise."

"Well, listen harder," Madison told him. "Pretend you're on a beach or something."

-

Elsewhere

Lyla was across the cemetery, walking through the graveyard, pulling off her bracelet, holding her bracelet in her hand, not wearing it so that she could use her powers to try and find Josie, looking around in determination. "Come on, where are you?"

Stefan, Damon, Cristian, Liv and Alex were looking for her. "Lyla!"

Lyla turned to look behind her as they caught up to her finally, just as zombies tried to attack them from behind. "Duck!"

Looking behind them to see the zombies, Stefan, Damon, Cristian, Liv and Alex ducked. Lyla released a power psychic scream to throw the zombies away from them with psychic waves, making them fall to the ground behind the five of them, causing the same kind of pain to everyone in the cemetery that Tory and Rae had done before.

Furthest away in the cemetery across the way, Kaylin, Nicola, Lindsey, Tory, Luke, Ryan, Kacie, Mikayla and Eliza held their heads in pain, realizing the only other psychic that could do that was in the cemetery, all of them worried. "Lyla."

Tory and Luke, recovered from the pain, rushed away instantly to go to their daughter. The others followed.

In the middle of the cemetery, Rae, Hope, Emma, Danny, Madison, Ariara, Penelope and MG were recovering from the psychic scream, in shock to know who was there. "Lyla?"

Kaylin, Nicola, Lindsey, Ryan, Kacie, Mikayla, Eliza, Tory and Luke rushed up to Rae, Hope, Emma, Danny, Madison, Ariara, Penelope and MG. They all exchanged a look.

Madison's eyes glowed silver as she was overtaken by a Banshee vision, nearly stumbling. In her vision, she was coughing up dirt and was gasping for breath.

Eliza reached out to steady her immediately, holding Madison standing.

Hope, Rae, Emma and Danny reached out worriedly. "Madison?"

"Madison, what do you see?" Eliza asked worriedly.

"I just feel what Josie feels," Madison answered. "But I think... I feel where she is."

"Can you lead us there?" Kaylin asked.

"I think so," Madison answered, starting to lead the way at a run.

Nicola nodded worriedly. "Okay, good."

"Let's go," Lindsey told them.

The others followed Madison at a run.

"We've gotta be close," Ryan told them. "Come on."

"And once we get done here, Luke, you and me are gonna have a talk with Lyla," Tory told him.

Luke nodded in agreement. "Oh, yeah."

"Tory, Luke you can get on to Lyla for following in her parents's footsteps after we save the day again," Kacie told them.

Mikayla sighed worriedly. "Come on."

-

Elsewhere

Stefan, Damon, Cristian, Liv and Alex struggled to recover from the pain since they were human, but they had enough time to turn around and stop the zombies behind them with their weapons, managing to kill them.

"Lyla, what are you doing out here?" Stefan asked.

"I wanted to help find Josie, and I can," Lyla answered. "I heard her thoughts. She's close. Come on."

Lyla ran toward where she heard Josie's thoughts coming from.

Stefan, Damon, Cristian, Liv and Alex exchanged a look, sighing in frustration, running to follow her. "Lyla!"

Lyla stopped at a bunch of dug up spots where Josie could have been, trying to focus on her power to try and hear where Josie's thoughts was coming from exactly.

Madison ran closer with the others following behind, following her Banshee sense where Josie could have been. "Come on!"

Tory and Luke ran toward their daughter. "Lyla."

"Mom, Dad, I hear Josie's thoughts, coming from this spot, I just don't know exactly where," Lyla explained.

"Lyla's right," Madison told them. "Josie's here. I feel her. I just... can't tell where exactly."

Kaylin tilted her head. "Well, start digging."

They all started digging, while Stefan, Damon, Alex, Liv, Cristian, Hope, Madison, Emma, Danny, Ariara, Penelope and MG all had a shovel to use, and Kaylin, Nicola, Rae, Tory, Luke, Lyla, Lindsey, Ryan, Kacie, Mikayla and Eliza were left using their hands to dig up the dirt. Soon, they saw Josie's smooth, alive hand rise out of the soil, and they all gasped.

Madison grabbed Josie's hand, pulling her out of the earth. "Josie!"

Once Josie was free, she gasped for breath for several moments, traumatized but relieved to see her cousin. "Madison?" 

Eliza and Liv knelt down to embrace Madison and Josie instantly, as the four held each other close.

Everyone else was breathing heavily in relief, closing their eyes, lowering their heads.

Ariara saw that Josie was wearing the necklace, sighing in relief, managing a small smile. "Hope, the talisman that you spelled for me to give to her. It worked. That's why Lyla could hear her thoughts even when she was underground."

Hope smiled in agreement. "Yeah."

Josie, half gasping, half sobbing from what just happened, looked down at the necklace, grabbing it with her hand, before looking up at Hope and Ariara questioningly. "What's it supposed to do?"

Hope managed a weak smile. "Make quite things heard."

Everyone sighed in relief again, as Eliza and Liv helped Josie and Madison up, as the two cousins remained in their tight embrace.

-

Salvatore Boarding School - Alaric's Office

Elena, Liv and Alex had come to tell Alaric and Jo that they had saved Josie.

Jo was lamenting what she unknowingly did to Josie. "She could have died because of me."

Alaric watched Jo pace around in front of him, giving her a sympathetic look. "But she's okay, and it wasn't you. I know that now."

"We all know that, Jo," Alex told her. "It's whatever takes over. I mean, something is driving these monsters. A--a dark presence. And we just can't figure it out, and until we do, we're just at its mercy."

Jo shook her head, unwilling to take any more risks. "This is wrong. This isn't safe for any of us. We have to get this thing out of me. Tell the girls to siphon the magic from me."

"But the magic's probably the only thing keeping you alive," Liv told her. Jo gave them a weak, knowing smile, and Liv  realized that that was the point she was trying to make. "Oh." Liv, Alex and Alaric's eyes all filled with tears because this would be the third time that they lost her, together, which they tried to hold back. Elena, also having been close to Jo before she died the first time, had tears in her eyes. Liv licked her lips, nodding. "Right."

Alaric stood, walking over to Jo, wrapping his arms around her.

Surprised by this display of affection, Jo returned the embrace. "Josie thinks you're lonely when Caroline's away." Alaric sobbed. Liv and Alex held each other's hands. "Are you happy?"

Alaric, overwhelmed with emotion, choked back tears. "Caroline and I haven't been happy in a really long time. But I am happy right now... in the arms of my demon-possessed baby mama."

They both chuckled sadly as the tears spilled down their cheeks. Elena, Liv and Alex sighed heavily.

"I'm serious," Jo told him.

"I will be happy when the girls are grown, I promise," Alaric told her.

Jo opened her eyes when she remembered the merge. "Do they know what happens when they turn 22?"

"No, not yet," Elena answered. "And Ric and Caroline don't want them to know until they've exhausted all options. That's why Caroline's missed their birthday. She's following some lead. Eliza's been helping her."

Jo looked at Liv sadly, but smiled, happy and proud to have so many people looking out for her daughters even if she could not do so herself. "Liv, thank you for being the reason that our girls got to live in this world. I was close with you, and Alex and Elena, and I'm glad that you're the reason why they were born." Liv tried not to cry, nodding, looking down, walking over so that Jo and Liv could embrace. "Alex... Elena..." Alex and Elena embraced Jo in turn. "Thank you. All of you. For still being Ric's family, and being family to my girls. You tell Caroline and Eliza and Madison I said thank you for being family to my girls too."

Alex, Liv and Elena nodded in agreement, starting to cry.

-~-

Hallway

MG and Ariara were standing in the hallway.

MG was happy despite being let down by Lizzie, cheerfully babbling. "I'm serious, Ariara. Something clicked while I was taking out those zombies. Uh, it felt right inside, like that was the real me."

Ariara looked at him curiously. "Meaning..."

MG looked at her as if the answer was obvious. "I'm a superhero." Ariara couldn't help but laugh. "Like from the comics. 'Cause heroes don't just get the girl, they get all the girls!"

Ariara nodded sarcastically in amusement, smiling. "Oh, absolutely. Yeah, because superheros are always swinging around like people from my kingdom. Trust me, my kingdom was very open into being with all kinds, all races, all genders, and all into open relationships. Don't tell me that you're turning into that."

MG and Ariara started laughing again, which settled down when Josie walked out of her room, wearing a fluffy white bathrobe, carrying a towel.

Penelope saw them from down the hallway, walking closer.

Josie was both physically and emotionally exhausted as she walked past her friends. "MG, Ariara, thanks for tonight."

MG's jaw dropped excitedly as he gestured to Josie. "First hero thank you? Uh, accepted." He flung his jacket over his shoulder, turning to leave. "Up, up, and away!"

Ariara chuckled. "You're welcome, Josette. I hope you feel better."

Josie nodded, walking past her toward the girls's shower room, walking past Penelope like she wasn't there.

Penelope turned to face Josie. "Hey, what about me?" Josie stopped walking, sighing, keeping her back turned to Penelope. "I helped."

Josie turned to face Penelope, looking furious. "You're the reason I got buried alive on my birthday." Penelope scoffed with a frown, putting her hands on her hips. Josie walked toward her. "I took your advice. I wanted something, and I went for it. I made the selfish move, and I ended up fighting a zombie. There's room for people in this world that just care about other people. Not everybody has to be a show boat."

Penelope stepped toward Josie, shrugging nonchalantly. "You're right. This world needs the selfless and the selfish to keep spinning." They were now almost nose to nose as Penelope's voice took on a seductive tone. "I happen to be the latter."

(Song:) The Safety Dance - Sleeping At Last

Penelope put her hands on either side of Josie's face, pulling her in for a kiss. The two made out for a brief moment.

Josie pulled away, fury flashing in her eyes. "I hate you."

Penelope smiled sadly. "I know."

Josie, despite her best efforts, leaned forward to continue kissing Penelope, as the two made out in the hallway.

Ariara saw this from down the hallway, looking down with a flash of sadness in her eyes, but knowing that it was for the better, before turning around and walking away.

-

Common Room

Rafael, whose tie had been loosened at some point in the evening, walked into the common room to find Emma staring into the lit fireplace, still in her party dress, covered in dirt. "Hey."

Emma looked surprised to see him. "Hey."

Rafael noticed her appearance. "Rough night?"

Emma laughed lightly, turning in her seat to face him. "Um, no. All evidence to the contrary. I actually had a lot of fun. Most of my family went out fighting zombies in the woods, looking for Josie to save her from being buried alive by her zombie of a mother. Well, one of them, since she and Lizzie have three moms." Rafael was stunned by this response, not knowing how to respond. "What about you?"

Rafael chuckled, sighing, before sitting down on the coffee table in front of the couch that Emma was sitting on. "About that. I was straight with Lizzie."

Emma hummed sympathetically, and Rafael smiled weakly, clearly feeling terrible after rejecting Lizzie on her birthday.

Emma wanted to cheer Rafael up a little. "You were right."

"About?" Rafael asked.

"About Riley," Emma answered. "I just always felt responsible, even if it wasn't my fault, since I was the one that Rosalita gave the spell to to get the Hollow out of Kol, Rebekah, Elijah and Lucien, into me, Hope, Danny and Madison. The reason why Riley took the Hollow from us to save us. It might have not been my fault. Or my responsibility. But I still felt guilty for being tricked by Rosalita like that."

"Why?" Rafael asked. "It sounds like Rosalita tricked everyone you love."

Emma scoffed. "That's putting it lightly. And I don't know why. I just... did. So I tried to take your advice tonight. Why I got dressed up to go to the party, before everything with the zombies went down and interrupted the party for me, Hope, Rae, Danny, Madison, Ariara, Penelope and MG, and even Lyla, since she followed us out there, to help us, Kaylin, Nicola, Aunt Tory, Uncle Luke, Mom, Dad, Aunt Kacie, Aunt Mikayla, Eliza, and Stefan, Damon, Alex, and, Liv and Cristian Hunter take out some zombies."

Rafael chuckled. "Looks like you guys are always busy and having to put events on hold."

"Oh, yeah," Emma agreed. "But I still managed to take your advice, because now I might be friends with MG. We got our own Avengers squad."

Rafael was so stunned by all the news that he couldn't help but burst into laughter, which Emma then echoed with her own laughter. They looked at each other and smiled.

Rafael stood, holding out his hand in offering. "You want to see if I still got it?"

Emma looked at him in surprise, but smiled. Rafael winked a little.

Emma shrugged. "Why the hell not?"

Emma stood, taking Rafael's offered hand before they started to dance in front of the fireplace.

Rafael looked over her appearance. "You look like you took a bath in dirt."

Emma smiled in sarcastic amusement. "Oh, thank you."

Rafael chuckled. "You're welcome."

As Emma and Rafael continued to talk and dance in front of the fireplace, they laughed and had a little fun.

-

Ballroom

Rae was here, looking around the empty ballroom, a little bored and disappointed, still in her dress.

Danny leaned against the doorway behind her, crossing his arms over his chest. He was still in his suit. "What's going in your head, Rae? Remember that I'm not the mind reader in this relationship."

Rae turned to face Danny, smiling. "Is that what we are now? In a relationship? We never really specified that."

"No, we didn't," Danny agreed, pushing away from the doorway, walking closer, reaching out a hand. "What do you say, Rae? Would you be my girlfriend?"

Rae smiled, deciding to answer with a kiss, leaning closer to kiss him sweetly, slowly and passionately for a moment, pulling away, her arms around his neck, nodding. "I would love to, Danny."

They both grinned.

"You look disappointed," Danny pointed out.

"Yeah, because with all the zombie drama going on, we didn't get to have a slow dance," Rae admitted. "It's just, all our lives, it's been like a nonstop fight."

Danny nodded in agreement. "It sure has been one hell of a ride."

"You can say that again," Rae told him.

"But you look more at peace now," Danny told her. "More happy."

"I guess that's because I stopped pushing people away and decided to actually live my life like you tried telling me for the last two years," Rae confessed. "And after screaming in the woods earlier, and releasing all that Hellfire, and burning all those zombies... I released a lot of Rosalita's anger too, a lot of energy, so that it doesn't feel like she's trying to take over anymore, at least not for the night."

Danny smiled. "Good. I can't do much about the monsters coming for us, or about Rosalita inside your head besides helping you fight her, but... I can make one thing you're disappointed about a little better." Rae looked at him curiously. Danny took her hand, kissing it, meeting her gaze, smirking. "Would you like a slow dance?"

Rae smiled. "Hell, yeah. I just want to spend the rest of the night dancing with you.

Danny and Rae both smiled, before they started to dance to no music, placing their heads together. Danny spun Rae around, pulling her closer. They shared a slow, sweet, passionate kiss as they danced, holding each other close.

(Song Ends)

-

Madison, Lizzie and Josie's Room

Alaric and Jo had gathered the freshly showered Josie and Lizzie in the girls' room, where they were explaining their plan and how the twins factored into it.

Lizzie was confused and apprehensive, narrowing her eyes at them. "So, we just siphon the magic out of her until she's., what, dead again?"

Josie gave her a look. "Oh, my God, Lizzie, what is wrong with you?"

"What?" Lizzie asked.

"It's okay, Josie," Jo told her. "It's okay."

(Song:) Wake Me Up - Tommee Profitt feat. Fleurie

Josie and Lizzie looked at Jo sadly.

Jo smiled affectionately with tears in her eyes. "I'm already dead. I was a witch, just like you, and we believe in the natural order of things. I shouldn't be here. I love that I had this, but it's a lie. And now, I need you to help me make it right." Alaric watched them with tears in his eyes. Josie and Lizzie nodded as their eyes became filled with tears as well. "The longer I'm here, the more I remember where I came from. I used to watch you. I used to watch all of you. Like in a dream, where everything is warm and happy. I think I was at peace. So that's where I'll be, waiting for you."

Lizzie tried not to cry. "I am so sorry. I was awful to you. And when I wasn't, I didn't get to spend any time with you."

Jo smiled at her sadly, but warmly. "Oh, Lizzie... you have such a big heart. It's okay to let other people see it." Josie and Lizzie burst into tears. Jo stood so she could kneel in front of them to look them in the eyes. "Oh, my beautiful girls. You are everything that I could have ever wished for. Everything. Be good to each other. Fight for each other. When you're older, you'll understand what I mean, but I need you to remember that I said it."

Jo held out her right hand. Lizzie hesitated before she finally took it. Jo looked over to Josie, offering her her left hand.

Josie was overwhelmed with sadness, shaking her head. "I can't. I can't."

Jo sighed sadly. "Oh, Josette, this is the right thing to do. It's the only thing to do for you." Josie sobbed, and after a moment, she reluctantly took Jo's hand. Jo looked between her daughters and Alaric. "I love you." She stood. "I love all of you so much."

Alaric burst into tears. Jo nodded at him encouragingly, before turning back to her daughters, taking a deep breath, closing her eyes. Josie and Lizzie closed their eyes, and their hands started to glow red as they siphoned the magic from their biological mother. After a moment, she faded into dust, leaving the girls with their hands out trying to reach her. Alaric, trying hard to remain strong for his daughters, stood to his feet so he could wrap the twins into a tight hug as they cried together. They heard something by the door, turning to see that Alex, Liv, Elena, Eliza and Madison were there, pulling away, standing.

Lizzie and Josie immediately went to embrace Eliza and Madison, the two who returned the embrace to comfort them as much as they could. Alaric went over to Alex, Liv and Elena, who embraced him as well, tears in their eyes, as Alex and Liv tried not to cry at having to lose Jo for a third time as well. Liv pulled away so that she could embrace Lizzie and Josie, as the two twins held onto Liv tightly, glad to have one of their mothers still there for them, though crying at the loss of their biological mother they had just met and had to lose again.

-

Outside

Now that everything was calmed down, and everyone was safe, Stefan, Alex, Sarah, Damon, Elena, Stephanie, and Liv, Cristian, Isaiah, Isaac and Anna were all about to leave in the three cars that they took to get to the school for the big day, as well as Eliza about to leave to go back on the road to help Caroline, Klaus, Elijah and Kol look for answers as to how to help Lizzie, Josie, Kassandra, Nicola and Rae.

Kaylin, Nicola, Lindsey, Tory, Luke, Ryan, Kacie, Mikayla, Rae, Hope, Emma, Danny, Madison, Lyla, Ariara, Lizzie, Josie and Alaric were all outside, each one sharing an embrace to their families or friends that they were saying goodbye to, all emotional and exhausted after the long day that they had all had.

Stefan, Damon, Kaylin, Nicola and Rae embraced in turn, and Sarah and Stephanie embraced them before the Salvatores pulled away. Tory and Lyla embraced the Salvatores as their distantly related family, all in turn. Cristian, Liv, Alex and Elena embraced with Kaylin, Nicola and Rae as their family by marriage.

Kacie, Alex, Elena and Eliza shared a big embrace as well. Kacie and Alex chuckled and high fived together. Liv, Lindsey and Tory embraced as well as the three best friends held each other close, before Liv embraced Luke and Ryan as her close friends as well. Stefan, Damon and Cristian each gave Alaric a friendship hug, sympathetic and concerned for him after that night. Damon and Alaric's embrace was tighter because they had been best friends despite all their fights and differences. Kacie and Damon shared an embrace as well because despite their complicated history, they were still close friends too. Having been best friends for over a hundred years, Kaylin and Cristian had another tight hug, before Cristian embraced Nicola, and then Lindsey and Tory as well. Cristian patted Luke and Ryan both on the shoulders. Luke and Ryan chuckled, doing the same for Cristian. Stefan, Damon, Luke and Ryan nodded to each other.

Alex and Elena also embraced with Lindsey, Tory, Luke and Ryan, before Liv, Alex and Elena embraced with Mikayla.

Eliza and Madison embraced tightly, before Eliza also gave a goodbye hug to Lizzie and Josie, holding them comfortingly after everything that happened. 

Liv and Cristian each embraced both Lizzie and Josie, who cried as they held them close, as well as Elena and Alex, and Stefan and Damon.

Lyla, Emma, Danny, Ariara, Hope and Madison, being extended family to the Salvatores/Hunters, gave Stefan, Damon, Alex, Elena, Liv and Cristian all an embrace too.

Eliza gave Kaylin, Nicola, Hope, Rae, Ariara, Emma, Danny and Lyla all a lasting embrace, and Alaric as her brother-in-law.

Alex, Elena and Liv all embraced Alaric, as he held the three women that had been like daughters to him before in a tight embrace for goodbye.

Sarah, Stephanie, Isaiah, Isaac and Anna brought in Lyla, Hope, Rae, Emma, Danny, Ariara, Madison, Lizzie and Josie for a big hug between the teens and the kids, causing them to laugh lightly, and for the adults to smile at them.

After everyone had had their chance for a goodbye, they all watched as Eliza got into her car and drove away, Stefan, Alex and Sarah getting into their car and driving away, Damon, Elena and Stephanie getting into their car and leaving, and Liv, Cristian, Isaiah, Isaac and Anna getting into their car and departing. Everyone looked at each other, as Kaylin, Nicola, Hope and Rae shared an embrace, Lindsey, Ryan, Emma and Danny did, Tory, Luke and Lyla, Kacie, Mikayla and Ariara, Lizzie and Josie with Madison and Alaric. They all headed their separate ways, with the kids going inside along with Alaric.

-

Inside - Hallway

Kacie and Mikayla walked toward Ariara as she was walking away. "Ariara."

Ariara turned to face them. "Yeah?"

"Are you okay?" Kacie asked. "You seemed upset."

"Yeah," Ariara answered. "Fine. I just... Penelope was right, when she said that I liked the thought of liking Josie, without being with her, since I knew that we wouldn't actually be together, because I didn't even want a relationship. Just because I liked being alone, even though I liked Josette, because I wasn't ready to move on and be with anyone, not after what happened with Xavier, and everyone else in my kingdom. My family."

Mikayla sighed sadly in sympathy. "Ariara..."

"Kacie, Mikayla, it's okay," Ariara told them. "I'm trying to move on, but..."

"But it's hard," Kacie finished. "We know."

"Come here," Mikayla told her.

Ariara, Kacie and Mikayla shared a sad embrace.

-

Kids's Room

In one of the rooms for kids, Tory and Luke were putting Lyla to bed.

"You shouldn't have followed us out there today, Lyla," Luke told her.

"But I wanted to help, and I helped find Josie," Lyla pointed out.

"Yes, you did, but you put yourself in danger," Tory told her. "And Luke and I don't like you putting yourself in danger."

"Even when I can help everyone?" Lyla asked. "How long did you keep Hope and Rae out of things when they were younger? Or Emma and Danny or Madison and Ariara? They weren't much older than me before they had to deal with stuff, and some things a lot worse than this."

"Yeah, but their families, including Lindsey and Ryan, tried to keep them out of it as much as they could," Luke told her. "Like me and Tory are trying to do with you."

"But it didn't work because they wanted to help and they got in danger and had to be involved," Lyla pointed out. "And I don't want the same things to happen to me, but the Hollow's gone, so it can't. And I want to help to. And I have the power to help. You couldn't keep them locked up for long, so you know that you can't with me either."

Tory and Luke knew that she was right, sighing.

Tory tucked her in. "Just get some sleep, Lyla. We'll talk about it in the morning."

Lyla nodded in agreement, settling in to go to bed. Luke and Tory both gave her a kiss on the head, holding hands before leaving the room.

(Song Ends) 

-

Cemetery

Alaric, Lindsey, Ryan, Kaylin and Nicola were in the cemetery.

Alaric had brought out a lantern and an armful of keepsakes to rest at Jo's grave, including her wedding gown, a photo of Josie and Lizzie in their school uniforms, the framed photo of Jo and Alaric on their wedding day, and their wedding rings.

"Ric, why don't you go home?" Nicola asked. "We'll take care of this."

"And don't worry," Kaylin told him. "Whatever monster did this, we're gonna find it and kill it. Slowly."

Suddenly, a loud, evil sounding laugh was heard from behind them, and Alaric, Lindsey, Ryan, Kaylin and Nicola turned to see a shadowy figure approaching them with a strong English accent, and as he walked closer, he was illuminated by Lindsey's flashlight, revealing a man whose face seemed to have been torn off and resewn onto his skull. His appearance looked almost like that of a zombie, with worn, leathery pale skill, pale ice blue eyes surrounded by dark shadows, and a mouthful of sharp fang like teeth.

His name was the Necromancer. "It wouldn't do you any good."

Ryan glared. "And who the hell are you?"

The Necromancer scoffed as if offended by Ryan's bravado, though none of the adults were afraid. "Oh, your pathetic attempt at humor does nothing to mask your fear. Tremble then in the presence of the Necromancer!"

The Necromancer laughed evilly once again, but it soon became clear that, while he intended to be terrifying, Alaric, Lindsey, Ryan, Kaylin and Nicola, who frowned in confusion, had no idea what he was talking about.

"Who?" Lindsey asked.

The Necromancer, upset that he was not as well known as he wanted to be, tried to remind them of his presence in history by dramatically reciting his title. "The Necromancer! Bringer of life and death! He who holds the Fates' threads! The cursed king of the Underworld!"

Kaylin, happy and smug to have a reason not to fluff up his ego, simply shook her head with a feigned sad expression sarcastically. "It's not ringing any bells." She looked at Alaric, Lindsey, Ryan and Nicola. "You?"

Nicola shook her head, smirking in amusement. "Nope. I'm not well versed in that."

"All I know about Necromancers is from video games from when I was a teenager," Ryan told them. "And they're, like, low level witch cannon fodder."

Lindsey chuckled. "Ooh. Ouch."

The Necromancer was clearly offended, laughing at their attempt to insult him. "I am no mere witch! There is only one of me, I assure you. And now you've seen what I can do. Let's get down to the business of a certain knife."

Alaric became furious as he glared at the monster in front of him. "If you're the one responsible for what went down today..."

The Necromancer nodded, eager to take credit for his pain. "Yeah."

"You're gonna wish you were someone else," Alaric finished.

The Necromancer scoffed. "I told you, death cannot hold me."

Kaylin walked closer. "Oh, yeah?" She rushed over to snap the Necromancer's neck, letting him fall to the ground, smirking. "We'll see about that."

Alaric, Lindsey, Ryan, Kaylin and Nicola exchanged a look, looking at the Necromancer's body, smirking.