Outfits in the external link

From 1.01 "Pilot", night in the woods, over the fog-covered forest floor.

Eliza: (voice over) "Previously on Worlds Colliding (The Vampire Diaries)"

From 6.12 "Prayer for the Dying", in Alaric's Loft, Kai was tied to the table.

Kaylin leaned forward against the table, looking at Kai. "What exactly did you do to Nicola?"

From 6.11 "Woke Up With A Monster", in the cafeteria, Nicola was sitting on the floor, tied up with vervain ropes.

Kai was sitting in front of her, putting a hand on the side of her head, using magic to cause her enough pain for her to let her guard down again so he could show her her memories, making her scream.

Kai: (voice over from 6.12 Prayer for the Dying) "I branded all of the bad memories into her mind with a spell, burned them into her subconscious."

From 6.13 "The Day I Tried to Live", in Tyler's dorm room, Nicola tried to step past the barrier. She held her head in pain, seeing a flash of memories that had been branded by Kai, attacking her mind at a rate so fast it would make your head spin, only it caused her physical pain this time.

Kai: (voice over from 6.12 Prayer for the Dying) "The longer that she has that branding hex on her, the worse the visions will get. Soon, that's all she will be able to think about."

Nicola breathed heavily, reeling, slowly backing into the wall behind her, slowly sliding down to the floor, wrapping her arms around her knees, closing her eyes, lying her head against her knees, looking as if she was at the breaking point. 

Kai: (voice over from 6.12 Prayer for the Dying) "It'll eat away at her sanity until it drives her mad, or she turns her emotions off, or both."

Tyler and Nicola stood at the door on either side of the boundary.

"So, it's not just when you're alone or when you're dreaming, is it?" Tyler asked. Nicola slowly turned to face him, shaking her head. "Can you see them right now?"

The first touch of the boundary made the memories and the branding spell worse, making Nicola pull back, turning away in anger and frustration.  

Kai: (voice over from 6.12 Prayer for the Dying) "What's worse than a crazy, emotionless, set-to-kill vampire?"

From 6.13 "The Day I Tried to Live", in the boarding house, Jeremy and Eliza were talking.

"I have a reason to stay," Eliza told him. "But you don't. I might not be able to leave, but that doesn't mean that you can't. Go to art school. Find the life that you want." She smiled sadly, looking down. "And be happy."

From 6.11 "Woke Up With A Monster", at the art exhibit, Sarah was explaining her art piece to a crowd.

Enzo: (voice over from 6.13 The Day I Tried to Live) "Meet the real Sarah Salvatore."

From 6.13 "The Day I Tried to Live", in Enzo's car, Enzo was in the driver's seat.

Matt was in the passenger seat.

" If you do anything to hurt Sarah in any way, when Kaylin finds out, you know that she will kill you herself," Matt told him. "You're just gonna tell her about vampires, and then tell her about Stefan, Damon, Kaylin and Nicola?"

From 6.11 "Woke Up With A Monster", in the art exhibit, Enzo was speaking to the instructor. "This family has too many secrets. Maybe there can be one less secret to one less, tragically wronged girl." He turned to the instructor, compelling her. "Be a doll and help me box up all these photographs, will you?"

From 6.12 "Prayer for the Dying", in the hallway of the medical center, Damon was watching Liz sleep through the window.

Damon: (voice over from 6.12 Prayer for the Dying) "I don't know if you remember this, but Liz and I are pretty close."

From 6.12 "Prayer for the Dying", in Liz's hospital room, Liz was having a heart attack.

Damon, Elena, Alex, Kacie, Liv, Cristian, Luke and Ryan were watching.

Lindsey and Tory continued the spell on either side of Liz's bed to keep her heart beating, their hands over her heart, eyes closed in concentration, even though they looked weaker each time. Lindsey's nose began to bleed. Tory's eyes glowed gold briefly before fading to her natural blue. Both looked weak and faint enough to fall unconscious.

Ryan and Luke pulled them out of it.

Liz woke.

Lindsey and Tory exchanged a relieved look, leaning into Ryan and Luke to keep their balance. 

From 6.12 "Prayer for the Dying", in Liz's hospital room, Caroline, Eliza and Liz were talking.

"I need you both to promise me something," Liz told them. "You are gonna need each other, even if you don't know it. You're gonna need someone to help you move on with your lives. Someone to just make each other smile. Promise me that you will be there together."

They looked at each other sadly, crying silently, not making another noise. 

------~------

Flashback - May 23, 2009

Night - Sheriff's Station 

Liz was talking to one of her deputies. "Hey, Tony, I'm headed home for the night. Could you do me a favor and check up on the Lockwood place? Carol called again. Another 5-Martini stalker sighting. Oh, and some teenagers are planning a bonfire off Route 13. No one's called to complain yet, but they will. See you." 

------

Sheriff's Office

Liz walked into her office. 

The phone was ringing. 

Liz answered. "Forbes. I'll be right there." 

------

Mystic Falls Hospital - Waiting Room 

Liz went to the Mystic Falls Hospital to see what was going on, talking to another deputy. "Hey, what happened?"

"Accident up at Wickery Bridge," the Deputy answered. "Driver lost control, careened off into the water."

"Any other casualties?" Liz asked.

"Two," the Deputy answered.

"Survivors?" Liz asked.

"Two," the Deputy answered. "We found them up on the bank unconscious. They must have crawled out of the car and passed out." 

Liz saw a team of doctors roll Alex and Elena into the hospital on stretchers, soaked from the accident, unconscious. "Alex and Elena Gilbert. Where's their brother and sister, Jeremy and Liv? Who are the casualties?" 

"Miranda and Grayson, their parents," the Deputy answered. 

Liz looked toward two stretchers with two bodies lying on them, covered by white sheets, in shock.

------

Now 

Day One

Morning - Sheriff's Station - Office 

Liz walked into her office, looking at a letter from three years ago.

------

Worlds Colliding (The Vampire Diaries) 

------

 Mystic Falls High School - Principal's Office

(Song:) Lampshades One Fire - Modest Mouse  

Liv, Alex and Elena were talking to the principal. 

"Principal Weber, I know that graduation isn't for a few months, but Jeremy just got accepted into this great art school," Elena told him.

"Jeremy Gilbert," Principal Weber told them. "I don't think so. Not with his academic record." 

"What's wrong with it?" Alex asked. 

"You have a few hours?" Principal Weber asked. Liv looked utterly bored, rolling her eyes. "All right. Let's start with drug use in his freshman and sophomore year." 

"You mean, the year that our parents died, and the year after that we were still healing from the traumatic experience that led to us being orphans?" Liv asked. 

"Okay," Principal Weber told them. "So what's the excuse for the next three years of woeful attendance?" 

Liv tilted her head. "Extracurricular activities. Health and fitness, that sort of thing. I mean, did you see how scrawny he used to be?" 

"No," Principal Weber answered, looking at Liv significantly. "But I do recall the four months where you both faked your own deaths." 

"Funny thing about that," Liv told him. "We actually didn't fake it. This immortal named Rosalita sent us to this island off the coast of Canada in search for this Cure for vampirism, and Elena's evil Doppelganger, Katherine, who had a sister that is Alex's evil Wraith named Valentina..." Alex and Elena realized what she was doing, giving her a look, opening their mouths to stop her. Liv spoke quickly so that they couldn't. "She ripped my heart out of my chest and fed Jeremy to an immortal being named Silas, who was Rosalita's brother But Rosalita, Silas, Katherine and Valentina are all dead now."

"Liv!" Alex told her.

Liv looked at Alex and Elena innocently, shrugging slightly.

"Is this some sort of joke to you?" Principal Weber asked. 

"No," Alex answered. "Look, Jeremy has had a rough time here. I know, but that's part of the reason why we want him to go." 

"Yeah," Elena  agreed.

"Well, I'm sorry, but I can't let that happen," Principal Weber told them. 

Liv looked at Alex and Elena. "So can we try this my way now?" 

"We already compelled him into art school," Alex told her. "Sorry that we wanted Jeremy to actually get a degree." 

"He will," Liv told them. "He just won't earn it." She stood, walking toward Principal Weber. "Okay. Um..." She sat on the desk, compelling him. "This small-town atmosphere doesn't nurture a creative spirit like Jeremy Gilbert, and it's or your opinion that it's high time for him to get the hell out of Mystic Falls." 

------

Mystic Grill 

Alaric, Ryan, Luke, Cristian, Tyler, Matt and Jeremy were gathered, having drinks at a table. 

Matt was texting on his phone. 

"To Matt's phone, which is clearly more important than my last day in town," Jeremy told him. 

"I'm here, aren't I?" Matt asked. 

"Look, I want to take this shot before Alaric changes his mind about letting me drink," Jeremy told them

"This place is closed for another hour," Alaric told them. "I'm making an exception. Cheers." 

Ryan raised his shot glass. "Cheers." 

Luke looked at Jeremy. "To you, brother." 

They drank.

"I swear, Jeremy, if I get a call from the drunk tank in Santa Fe..." Alaric trailed off.

"You're gonna kill me?" Jeremy finished. "Sorry, but without the Other Side as a back-up plan, I'll be dead dead, not ghost dead. Remember that." 

Cristian chuckled, taking another shot.

Alaric stood, walking away. 

Eliza walked toward them.

Matt's phone vibrated. 

Tyler looked at the Caller ID. "Why is Enzo still alive, and why is he calling you?" 

"Nothing you need to worry about," Matt told them, standing, walking away. 

Eliza had heard them, looking at the boys. "What? Sorry, can you repeat that? Did you guys seriously try to kill Enzo?" 

"All right, on that note..." Cristian trailed off, standing, walking away.

"Yep," Ryan agreed, standing, walking away.

"Right behind you," Luke told them, standing, walking away.

Tyler stood, following them. 

Jeremy closed his eyes, groaning quietly. "You weren't supposed to know that." 

Eliza looked at Jeremy in slight shock, sitting down in the seat that Tyler had been in next to Jeremy. "You guys tried to kill Enzo?" Jeremy didn't answer, tilting his head, looking away. "What? All of you? Even Cristian, Luke and Ryan?"

"No, not Cristian, Luke and Ryan," Jeremy answered. "Just me, Matt and Tyler." 

"Oh, is that all?" Eliza asked sarcastically. "And it didn't work, and now he's calling Matt? Who's keeping secrets from who now?" 

"I didn't want you to worry," Jeremy told her. 

Eliza nodded sarcastically. "Uh-huh. And what did I tell you when I told you the reason why I didn't tell you that my mom was dying of cancer?" 

Jeremy looked at Eliza, raising a shot glass. "Touche." 

Eliza gave him a halfhearted look, unable to help a smirk, clinking a shot glass to his.

They drank. 

(Song Ends)

------

Elsewhere 

Matt answered his phone. "Hey, it's Jeremy's going-away party. Whatever you want, it can wait a day." 

Enzo's voice was on the other line. "Actually, it can't. Don't worry." He was standing outside somewhere. "I'm not sending you back to Duke. I brought Duke to you." 

"What the hell does that..." Matt trailed off when he saw Sarah walk into the Grill.

"I take it from your abrupt pause that you either had a small stroke or Sarah walked in," Enzo told him. "It's good news, either way. Make her feel welcome. I sent a surprise gift to a friend of yours, Nicola, and she'll be to the Grill shortly, and maybe you can introduce them without technically telling who the other is quite yet. Not until Sarah knows about the supernatural." 

"If you wanted to introduce Sarah to Nicola, then why are you still using me?" Matt asked.

"For revenge, clearly," Enzo answered. "You did try to kill me, after all. And I'm crafty at revenge. I want Nicola and Sarah to know each other before they know who the other actually is, if you understand what I'm saying. Oh, and don't go blabbing details of our little arrangement around the party. Your tongue functions much better inside your mouth." 

Enzo hung up.

Matt hung up. 

Sarah walked toward him. "Matt. Hey." 

"What are you doing here?" Matt asked. 

"I got a call from the manager of this place," Sarah answered. "He needed someone to take pictures for the website, and he said you mentioned me. I mean, normally, the pictures I take are a little darker, but normally, I don't get paid, so thanks." 

"You're welcome," Matt told her. 

"You want to show me around?" Sarah asked. 

"Yeah," Matt answered. "Yeah. Mm-hmm." 

------

Jeremy and Eliza's Table 

Damon, Alex, Elena and Liv walked toward Jeremy and Eliza. 

Damon was holding a red cap and gown, putting the cap on Jeremy's head. "Oh. Look who graduated."

"He was okay with it?" Jeremy asked.

"Sure," Damon answered. "I mean, practically flunking, missed 100 days of school, and you can barely spell the word 'cat', but sure. He was fine with you graduating early." 

"We helped the process along," Liv told him.

"Mm-hmm," Alex hummed in agreement. 

Eliza's phone rang. She looked at the Caller ID. "Oh, look at that. Caroline's calling. I better go take this." 

Eliza stood, walking away. 

Liv looked at Alex and Elena. "Would you kill me if I go compel the bartender for a drink?" 

"Actually, no," Alex answered. "'Cause I need one, too." 

"And so do I," Elena told them.

Alex, Elena and Liv walked away.

Jeremy looked at Damon. "They okay?" 

"They will be," Damon answered. "We all will. Somehow, we'll all find a way to move on without you, Jeremy. Oh, hey, just did. Oh, look under the cap." Jeremy took the cap off. "I jacked a little going-away present from Ric's girlfriend's stash." Jeremy pulled out a joint. "Put it away, you idiot." Jeremy put it away. "Tell your sisters, I'll kill you. Again."

------

Elsewhere 

Eliza answered her phone. "Hey, I'm at the Grill, saying bye to Jeremy before he leaves. It's harder than I thought it would be." 

Caroline was standing outside of Bill Forbes' cabin, standing next to the car, opening the trunk to reveal many boxes inside. "Of course it's harder than you thought it would be. But if you really think about it, Jeremy leaving is for the best. You, Alex, Liv and Elena have always wanted to protect him from the vampire drama. Granted, he is going to art school, where the percentage rate for a well-paying job is one of the lowest in the country, but I really am happy for him." 

"So, how's it going over there?" Eliza asked. "You still setting up Dad's cabin for Mom?" 

"Yep," Caroline answered, carrying a box toward the front porch. "And I think that I packed enough. The whole point of this is for Mom to live out the rest of her time here in a relaxed and peaceful environment surrounded by the things that she loves, like photo albums and board games. You want to hear all I got her?" 

"Uh..." Eliza trailed off. 

Caroline took a book from the box, reading it. "'The Anthology of Shakespeare, volumes one through 12, and--" 

"Can you narrow the list down to a single sentence?" Eliza asked.

"All the books that she's never gotten around to reading," Caroline told her. 

"Ah," Eliza told her.

"Do you realize that whichever book Mom reaches for could be the last thing that she ever reads?" Caroline asked. "'Jane Eyre' is 600 pages. What if she doesn't finish, or, worse, what if she gets halfway through and then realizes that she hates it? What if she wastes her final precious moments on a terrible book? I just don't want to be held responsible for ruining her last literary experience." 

"Caroline, it doesn't matter," Eliza told her, sitting down at a nearby table.

"What doesn't matter?" Caroline asked.

"It doesn't matter what book Mom reads in her final precious moments," Eliza told her. "It doesn't matter if it's good, or if it's terrible. It doesn't matter, because life isn't about your final moments. It's about the moments that led up to them." 

"I know," Caroline told her sadly. "I just wanted it to be perfect, you know? I just wanted..." 

"Control?" Eliza finished. "Hey, look. If anyone can control death... it's us." 

Caroline sighed, perking up after a moment, trying to lighten the mood. "Seriously, Eliza, since when did you get so wise? When did you get smarter than me?" Eliza chuckled. "If Mom calls you, tell her that what I'm doing is a surprise, all right?" 

"Okay," Eliza told her. "But what about you? Do you need help? I can be over there in no time." 

"No, no," Caroline answered. "You stay there. Eliza, you need to stay there and say bye to Jeremy. You need to have your goodbye." 

Eliza smiled a small smile, hanging up. 

------

Sheriff's Station - Office 

Liz was there, going through all of her things, looking at the folders that were labeled UNSOLVED CASES.

Damon stood in the doorway. "Not to be blunt, but I think dying gets you a ticket out of work. Just saying. How you feeling?" 

"Like I'm not gonna leave this job with unfinished business," Liz answered. "I have all these open cases." 

Damon took out his phone from his pocket, starting to dial a number. "Well, let me see if I can help you close a couple of them. If I don't know who did it, I'm willing to bet that I know two people who do." 

Liz looked at him in slight confusion.

Damon smirked, putting his phone to his ear. 

------

Whitmore College - Tyler's Dorm 

Nicola was getting ready to leave, grabbing her jacket, walking toward the door, opening it. She stopped when she saw a box on the floor in front of the door, looking at it in confusion, looking around for anyone that could have left it there. She didn't see anyone, pulling the box into the dorm, closing the door, looking at the address on the box. 

Whitmore College 

Tyler Lockwood's Dorm Room 

There was no return address.

Nicola frowned in confusion, looking at the name of the person the box was addressed to.

Nicola Salvatore. 

Nicola looked more confused, finding a knife nearby, cutting the tape open, opening the box, looking inside to all of the photographs inside of frames inside, pulling them out, seeing the darkness about all of them. The pictures were extreme. 

Nicola held one of the pictures in her hand.

It was the same picture that Sarah had been explaining to the crowd at the Duke Art Auction while Stefan and Alex had been watching in 6.11 Woke Up With A Monster.

Nicola, still confused about how they got there, turned it over, looking at the photographer's name on the back of the picture frame. 

Sarah Nelson. 

Nicola looked up in confusion. 

------

Sheriff's Station - Office 

Stefan and Kaylin were here now. 

Stefan, Damon and Kaylin looked through the files.

"Yeah," Damon told them. "This one was me." 

Damon plopped the file aside.

Kaylin looked at a file. "Me." She placed the file aside, looking at the next one. "Also me." 

Kaylin placed the file aside.

Damon looked at another, looking at Stefan. "Ooh, this one was you, Stef." 

Stefan looked at the file. "No, that's not. That's you." 

"Oh, yeah," Damon told him, remembering, placing the file aside.

Stefan looked at the file in his hands. "Now, this one is me." 

Stefan placed the file aside. 

"I always had a sneaking suspicion," Liz told them, handing them a new file. "What about this one?" 

"Jeremy and Liv's parents," Kaylin told them. "Didn't know there was an open investigation." 

"Well, at the time, I was taking care of Jeremy, Liv, Alex and Elena, and I didn't want to drag them through more heartache," Liz told them. "Then when I was finally ready to reopen the wound, They had moved on, and I became friends with the three vampires that are responsible for most of the death in this town..." 

"Hey, not all of it," Kaylin told her in defense. "You're forgetting that the tomb vampires, Katherine Pierce, Valentina Petrova, the werewolves, the Originals, Silas, Rosalita, Enzo and the Travelers were here, too, you know." 

Liz nodded in acknowledgment. "You're right, Kaylin. I'm sorry. Anyway, I was worried that..." 

"What?" Stefan asked. "That we were involved? Liz, no. No, I promise you." 

Damon shook his head as sincerely as Stefan had spoken.

"I had nothing to do with it, either," Kaylin told them. "I hadn't even been in town, yet." 

Liz exhaled in relief. "Miranda left me this message two hours before they got in that car, two hours before they drove off that road for no reason." 

Liz played the message. 

Miranda: (voicemail) "Liz, it's Miranda Gilbert. I have something urgent to talk to you about. Please call me back as soon as you can." 

"I'll be damned," Damon told them. The message ended. "Looks like you got a good, old-fashioned Sheriff-y whodunit on your hands." 

------~------

Mystic Grill - Outside 

Jeremy walked outside, down the stairs, about to light the joint that he had gotten from Damon.

Alex, Elena and Liv appeared. 

"You know that we're vampires, right?" Alex asked. "Three sisters with nearly perfect senses who can sneak up on you without making a sound." 

Elena walked toward him. "Really sucks for you. Give it." 

"Damon gave it to me, and technically, it's from Ric's girlfriend's stash," Jeremy told them.

"Well, Damon is an idiot, and Alaric conveniently disappeared," Elena told him. "So, we can only yell at you." 

"Yeah," Liv told them. "Ric and Ryan left. They were worried someone might recognize them when they're both supposed to be dead."

"Right," Alex told them. "That hadn't occurred to me. Our lives are so weird." 

"That's the understatement of the century," Liv told them.

Alex looked at Jeremy, smiling a small smile. "Give me your lighter." 

"What?" Elena asked.

"Really?" Jeremy asked. 

"Yes," Alex answered, looking at Elena and Liv. "I just decided that us smoking a joint with our brother might be the most normal thing that we've done together in years." 

Jeremy, Elena and Liv smiled small smiles, realizing that she was right. 

------

Inside

(Song:) Sweet Ophelia - Zella Day 

Matt and Kacie were talking at the bar. 

Kacie looked toward Sarah, who was taking pictures of the Grill. She looked at Matt. "So who's she?" 

"Girl from Duke," Matt answered. "The manager here wants her to take promotional photos so that we can officially get back in business." 

"Where have you been lately?" Kacie asked. "You're always working, and you hardly answer your phone. I feel totally disconnected from you." 

"Ah, you know," Matt told her. "Just trying to take care of me and Tory." 

"Yeah, you don't need help with that anymore," Kacie told him, leaning her head forward. "Hello? Compulsion." 

Matt smirked. "No, but thanks for the offer. It proves how much you care about things like that. Which is why I love you." 

Matt leaned forward against the bar, kissing Kacie sweetly, pulling away after a moment.

Sarah had seen them.

Kacie looked at Matt thoughtfully, still troubled. "You would tell me if something's wrong, right?" 

Matt looked at Kacie, continuing to work. "Yes, I would tell you, if it's something that I couldn't handle. You don't have anything to worry about." 

"Then why do I feel like it?" Kacie asked. 

"Because you worry too much," Matt answered. "Why don't you go talk to Tory and Tyler? You've barely talked to them since she brought you back from the prison world." 

"Hey, that's an exaggeration," Kacie told him. "I've been hanging out with Tory and Tyler a lot lately." Matt looked at her, unconvinced. Kacie hesitated. "If something bad was happening and we needed help with something witchy or Nicola." Matt smirked. "All right, fine. I'll go talk to them." Kacie stood, backing away from the bar, pointing at Matt playfully, making her voice deeper. "But I'll be back." 

Matt smiled.

Kacie turned around, walking away.

(Song Ends)

------

Sheriff's Station - Sheriff's Office 

Stefan, Damon, Kaylin and Liz were going through the old Gilbert case, trying to solve it after three years.

"Right," Damon told them, exhaling. "You know, this would be a lot more fun if I had some--" 

"Top right-hand drawer," Liz told him.

Damon opened the drawer, pulling out a bottle of bourbon. "Well, look at that. This is why you are a terrible Sheriff." 

"No, I'm a terrible Sheriff because the three vampires that I protected most are the perps in half my open cases," Liz told them. Damon held the bottle toward her. "Not till I finish this." 

"Ah, suit yourself," Kaylin told her, taking the bottle, taking a drink. 

"You all seem pretty on edge today," Liz told them. "I have only one guess, and it's a name, and I'm pretty sure I'll get it right." Stefan, Damon and Kaylin didn't answer. "Have you talked to Nicola since what happened?" 

"She won't talk to us," Stefan told her. "Nikki won't even see us. Every time she sees us, the hex that Kai puts on her gets worse, and it's supposed to either drive her mad or make her turn of her humanity switch or both. And right now, she doesn't want to be bothered by us. We're just trying to give her the space that she needs without making anything worse." 

Stefan looked at Kaylin significantly.

Kaylin gave Stefan a slightly sarcastic, slightly serious look in return.

"Can I ask you something about that night?" Liz asked. "Kaylin, you told me that you weren't in town that night." 

"I wasn't," Kaylin told her.

"And I believe you," Liv told her. She looked at Damon. "But you saw Alex and Elena." She looked at Stefan. "And you pulled them out of the car." 

"Yeah," Damon answered. He looked at his brother. "Stefan, you're always a one-upper." 

"So you both just happened to be in town the night their parents died?" Liz asked. "Why?" 

"I was in town, visiting Zach and Nikki when it happened," Stefan answered. "I heard the accident and got there as fast as I could, but I only got there in time to save Alex and Elena." 

"And believe it or not, Liz, we once had a mommy, too," Damon told her. "She died around that day. In the years that my emotions were 'on', I would stop by an leave flowers at her grave." 

"I waited until the day of her funeral to come by," Kaylin told them, looking down. "Come, pay respects, leave before I got caught." 

"Got caught by what?" Stefan asked.

"By you and Damon, dumbass," Kaylin answered. "Remember, guardian angel?" 

"Kaylin, you still never explained that," Damon told her. 

"You remember how I was in the '20s?" Kaylin asked. "How close I came to being that person again last year?" 

"Yeah," Damon answered. "Murderous, homicidal bitch that loved torture more than you already do, Kaylin." 

"I only got that way because you made me and Stefan kill back in 1912, because of Rosalita's mind control on you, Damon," Kaylin told him. She looked at Stefan. "And I got worse because I was around Ripper you. And sometimes, Damon, in some ways, you were worse that Ripper Stefan ever was." 

"And if you were around us, you were afraid that you would go right back to being that," Stefan realized.

Kaylin nodded. "I couldn't be that girl again. So, I strayed clear of you whenever I could. Except when Stefan called me for help in dealing with Damon three years ago. And, honestly, I'm glad you did. But I had already been in town by the time that you called." 

"Because you were at Mom's grave," Stefan finished.

Kaylin nodded. "Yep." 

"You never talk about her," Liz told them.

"Not much to say," Damon told her. "She died. Old-timey disease. Consumption." 

 "Why do I feel like you're leaving something out?" Liz asked.

"Tell you what," Stefan told her. "Why don't we use your investigative instincts to solve this. Come here. Check this out." They looked at the map in front of them and the crime scene photos. "All right, so why were the Gilberts taking Wickery Bridge when Old Miller Road was clearly 10 minutes faster, and why are there no skid marks at the scene of the accident, and why was the trunk full of luggage as if they were going out of town?" 

Liz nodded. "Something did happen that night." 

------

Mystic Grill - Outside 

Jeremy, Alex, Liv and Elena were sitting together. 

Jeremy looked at Liv. "Let me have your car." 

"No way in hell," Liv told him.

"Oh, come on," Jeremy told her. "I'm moving to a new town, starting a new life. I need a car." 

"And it has to be mine?" Liv asked. 

"Technically, Liv, you're not even old enough to drive," Jeremy pointed out. "You had to compel yourself a driver's license, so just compel yourself a new car." 

"Oh, God, how many cars you think we've destroyed?" Elena asked. "Like, more than the average family, right?" 

"Mom and Dad's station wagon," Liv told them. "That's one." 

"That SUV on my birthday," Elena told them.

"My old car at the side of the road when I ran over that one vampire," Alex told them. 

"Katherine wrapped my car around a light post," Jeremy told them. "That's four." 

"Yeah, the one that Alex threw me into because she was under Silas' mind control," Liv told them. 

Alex smiled, hitting Liv teasingly. "Don't be mean." 

They laughed. 

Liv looked at the fry plate. "They really didn't give us many fried, did they?" 

"Yeah, they did," Jeremy told her. "You just ate them all." 

Jeremy and Liv laughed. 

Alex's phone rang. She looked at the Caller ID, showing them that Sheriff was calling. "Hmm. Oh, my God, we're so busted." 

"Dude, just click ignore," Jeremy told her. 

"Dude, I am," Alex told him, clicking ignore, laughing. 

Elena's phone rang. She answered. "What? I'm bonding with Jeremy, Liv and Alex." 

Damon was still in the Sheriff's Office with Liz, Stefan and Kaylin. "I want to run something by you. Is there any chance you and Alex can get to the Sheriff's Office?" 

"I'm not so sure it's a good idea to be around a Sheriff right now," Elena told him, laughing. "Jeremy, Alex, Liv and I smoked your going-away present." 

"Ah," Damon told her. "Okay. Well, you two need eye drops, a squirt of perfume, and half a pizza each. This is important." 

"Okay," Elena told him. "I'll get Alex, and we'll walk over." She hung up. "Whew. Hide the evidence." 

Alex sighed. "Liv, Jeremy, see you at home." 

Alex and Elena slid off the seat, walking away, leaving. 

Liv looked at the fry plate in her hand, looking at Jeremy. "I need more fries." Jeremy chuckled. Liv smiled. "I'll be right back." She slid off of the seat, walking up the stairs to the back door of the Grill, opening it. Eliza walked outside. "Hi, Eliza." 

"Hey, Liv," Eliza told her. 

Liv smiled, stepping inside, tilting her head at Eliza. "He's all yours. Good luck." 

Liv walked inside, closing the door behind her.

Eliza looked at Jeremy in amusement, smiling. "Is she okay?" 

"Right now, I think she's better than okay," Jeremy answered. 

(Song:) Yours - Ella Henderson 

Eliza smiled, walking down the steps toward him. "I just needed to say goodbye to you before you left tonight." 

"Well, like Liv said, I am all yours," Jeremy told her. "Say whatever you want." Eliza sighed, sitting down next to him, looking thoughtfully sad. "What's wrong?" 

Eliza sighed. "I am the world's worst girlfriend." 

"Don't be stupid," Jeremy told her.

"I am," Eliza told him. "My dad died, and I had nearly been killed, and what did I do? I closed myself off. Then you died. I did the exact same thing until you were brought back. And, then, it was good for a while. And then Bonnie died... twice. Lindsey and Ryan died once. And Damon and Kacie did, too. Lindsey, Alaric and Ryan got to come back, but Damon, Bonnie and Kacie didn't. And that's where it really hit me hard. I turned into this emotionless, numb shell of a human girl, coiled into this nice, warm, soft shell that made it nearly impossible to feel. I did some things that I'm not proud of, and some things that I thought I would never do. I shut you out. I shut everybody out." 

"I never thought any of those things made you a bad girlfriend, or friend," Jeremy told her. "You went through hell, Eliza. And now it's happening all over again. You were this nice, incredibly sweet girl, and then... I don't know. You still are, and you make everybody else see the light of day, but there's just something different about you." 

"Yeah, I know," Eliza told him. "I'm not the same girl. I mean, I still hope that things will get better, that they have to, and I still try to fight for everyone else to see that, but... It's different now, because I know that some things won't get better. They'll just keep getting worse and worse until they're not here anymore. I know that now." She sighed, looking at Jeremy. "I know that things are going to get worse for my mom, but I know that things are going to get better for you. I still need you to go and live your life, because I..." 

"Can't be the thing that holds me back," Jeremy finished. "Yeah, I know. You said that." 

"It's true," Eliza told him. 

Jeremy nodded. "I know that." He took Eliza's hand in his. "So, I'm guessing that this is goodbye." 

Eliza looked down, nodding. "Yeah. I guess it is." 

Jeremy and Eliza looked at each other for a long moment, kissing slowly, sweetly and passionately for a long moment, pulling away, looking at each other.

(Song Ends)

They heard Enzo's voice. "Isn't that sweet?" Jeremy and Eliza looked at him instantly, worried and confused. "And yet so utterly heartbreaking." Enzo looked at Jeremy. "So, I hear you're leaving town. Probably smart, considering you tried to kill me, and, surprise, I'm still here." 

------

Inside

(Song:) Cold Coast - Secret Sun 

Liv stood at the bar, standing next to Cristian, ordering fries.

"Liv why would a vampire need to eat so much?" Cristian asked.

"I might be a little over-hungry, Cristian," Liv admitted, smiling, giggling.

Cristian seemed to smell it on her, looking at Liz in amusement. "Are you stoned?" 

Liv laughed. "No." She returned serious. "I'm slightly buzzed." 

"Wow," Cristian told her.

"What?" Liv asked. "Give me a break. Jeremy is leaving town tonight, and it was Alex's idea, and Elena actually let us have some fun for once." Cristian smiled, looking down. "What?" 

"Just glad that you found the silver lining in all of this," Cristian told her.

"Aw," Liv told him. "You know, I can find the silver lining without the help of my 500-year-old vampire boyfriend." 

Cristian chuckled. "Easy." 

"What?" Liv asked. "I feel... feisty." 

"Yeah, I can see that," Cristian told her.

Liv smiled, taking the new fry plate off of the bar, holding it up as a toast to Cristian. "Cristian, I'm gonna take the deep dish of fries to Jeremy and Eliza, and we'll eat, and they'll probably be gone in the next two minutes, so, I'll see you in three." 

Cristian smirked. "See you then, Liv."

Liv smiled, turning around, walking away, walking past Nicola as she did.

Nicola sat at the bar, sighing. 

Tory walked toward Nicola hesitantly.

"And where have you been, Donovan?" Nicola asked. "It's not like you to ditch out on your job, Tory." 

"Just talking to Tyler and Kacie," Tory answered. "So... what's up?" 

"Bored," Nicola answered. "Got a Mikaelson-like present but it wasn't from an Original, so confused. Feeling like the world is crashing down around me, and I need a drink, stat." 

"Okay," Tory told her. "Got it." She poured Nicola a drink. "Coming right up, Nicola."

"Thanks," Nicola told her, taking the drink, taking a sip.

"So... you're not pissed?" Tory asked.

"You're gonna have to narrow that one down just a little bit, Tory," Nicola told her. "I'm pissed about a lot of things." 

"I just thought that you were pissed at everyone and everything," Tory told her.

"I'm pissed at my family and the people knew the con artist who was pretending to be my sister before Enzo killed her trying to get information out of Stefan and Kaylin," Nicola told her. "Which would be Matt, Eliza, Jeremy. Stefan told Alex before I found out. Damon told Bonnie, Kai, Kacie and Elena before I found out. Neither of them or Kaylin told me. Looks like you didn't make it onto the list, Tory. Neither did Liv, Cristian, Luke, Ryan or Lindsey. I don't have a reason to be pissed at you, or Liv, Cristian, Luke, Ryan or Lindsey." 

"Right," Tory told her awkwardly. "Did Ty give you a name as to who the con artist and what your sister's name would've been?" 

"Nope," Nicola answered. "Said that he didn't know their names. Do you?" 

"No," Tory answered.

"Then I don't want to talk about it anymore," Nicola told her. "The more that I talk about it, the more I..." 

Nicola didn't finish, gazing off, having a rapid series of flashbacks of everything bad Stefan, Damon and Kaylin had did, or every bad thing that happened to her because of them. 

"I get it," Tory told her, bringing Nicola out of her thoughts. "I'm sorry, Nicola."

"Don't be," Nicola told her. "You didn't do anything wrong. And, as strange as it seems, no, I'm not that pissed at Matt, Jeremy, Alex, Elena, Bonnie, Kacie or Eliza. I'm just pissed at the ones who actually deserve it." 

Nicola took a drink.

Tory looked behind Nicola, clearing her throat to get her attention and to get her to stop talking about the supernatural.

Sarah stepped up to the bar next to Nicola. "Hey, you're Tory, right? Matt's cousin?"

"Yeah, I'm Tory," Tory answered.

"Hey, Tory," Sarah told her.

"Hey," Tory told her. "You're the photographer, right?" 

"Yeah," Sarah answered. "Have you seen Matt?" 

Tory shook her head. "Haven't seen him since I saw him with my sister, Kacie. Sorry." 

Sarah seemed curious. "Hmm." 

"Anyway, you can just tell me," Tory told her. "Not like I get a lot of action around here." 

Tory looked at Nicola, winking.

Nicola smirked at the inside joke, knowing full well that Tory got to see plenty of action. 

"Okay," Sarah told them, showing Tory the pictures on her camera. "So, we can go moodier with the lighting if you want, or feature more patrons or menu items." 

"No, these are good," Tory told her. "I'll run them by the manager. He's a dick, but he's the boss, so..." 

Sarah and Nicola smiled smile smiles.

Sarah took a USB drive out of her camera, handing it to Tory. "Those are all the pictures for the restaurant." 

Tory took it. "Thanks."

Tory nodded to them, holding the drive up in a mock toast, turning around, walking away.

Nicola took a drink, looking at the name tag on the camera Sarah was holding.

If lost, return to: 

Sarah Nelson 

Nicola looked at Sarah in surprise. "You're Sarah Nelson? The photographer?" 

Sarah smiled a small, confused smile. "I didn't know that people this far from North Carolina would know me." 

"Well, I mean, I don't know you, know you," Nicola told her. "But I just got this whole box of pictures from somebody unknown, and the pictures said they were taken by you." 

Sarah nodded in understanding. "That's where all those went." 

"What are you talking about?" Nicola asked.

"I had an open house for my work not that long ago," Sarah explained. "Somebody told me that a man just came in and bought all of them. Didn't say what for. Just that he wanted it to be a surprise. You have a boyfriend?" 

"Yeah, I do," Nicola answered. "But I don't think he's ever been anywhere near North Carolina." 

"Well, maybe you have an admirer," Sarah told her. "That sounds pretty cool." 

Nicola chuckled without humor. "Yeah, right." 

"Well, obviously, since you saw this..." Sarah trailed off, pointing to the name tag on the camera. "You've correctly assumed that I'm Sarah. What's your name?" 

"Nicola," Nicola answered.

"Hi, Nicola," Sarah told her.

"Hey," Nicola told her.

"Can I call you Cola?" Sarah asked. 

"No," Nicola answered. "Anything but Nikki and Cola. Nikki's a family nick name, or closest friends, and I am not a Coke." 

Sarah smiled in amusement. "Okay. Well, I have some more pictures on the camera if you want to see." 

"Sure," Nicola told her. "Just... anything to take my mind off of some things." Sarah sat down next to her, showing the pictures to her. "Wow." 

"I know," Sarah told her. "A lot of darkness. I'm just really into dark subject matter. And now I sound like a freak. Sorry. I'm a little twisted." 

Nicola chuckled. "No, it's okay. These are great." 

"You like darkness?" Sarah asked. 

"Believe me when I say that is all I see," Nicola told her. "And now I'm the one that's starting to sound like a freak." They both chuckled. The next picture Sarah scrolled to had nothing to do with the others, completely provocative. "Whoa, too far." 

"Oh, my God," Sarah told her, scrolling to the next picture quickly, laughing nervously. "Totally forgot that was on there." 

Nicola laughed, sighing. "Oh, God." 

"What?" Sarah asked. 

"Nothing," Nicola told her. Sarah tilted her head, unconvinced. "It's just that... It's been a while since I've been able to laugh like that. I guess we're both a little twisted." 

"It beats being normal," Sarah told her.

Nicola chuckled once thoughtfully. "Yeah. You can say that again. Although, sometimes, I would kill to be normal. Have a normal life, family, friends..." Sarah nodded understandingly. Nicola looked away. "Sorry. You don't want to hear all this." 

"No, it's okay," Sarah told her. "I mean, I wouldn't know anything about any of what you're going through, but it's okay. It'll all get better, right?" 

Nicola sighed, looking down, sighing. "I don't know." 

(Song Ends)

------

Elsewhere 

Matt stood at the door, looking toward Nicola and Sarah. His phone rang. He answered. "This is gonna come as a shock to you, but this is not a good time." 

Enzo's voice was on the other line. "Oh, this will come as a shock to you, but I don't care." He was outside. "There's a tunnel along the river off Route 13. It's dark, private. I want you to bring our photographer friend there." 

"Yeah?" Matt asked. "What are you gonna do to her?" 

"Shake her hand, exchange pleasantries, standard introductory behavior, dropping the supernatural bomb and then the fact that she has a family of vampires waiting in the wings," Enzo told him.

"Yeah, well, she's talking to her vampire sister right about now," Matt told him. "She was talking to Tory and Nicola."

"Well, that was the plan all along," Enzo told him. "Getting her to talk to Nicola was the goal, but it's a plus that she got to talk to Tory, too, isn't it? You can't tell her that she has a vampire family and a werewolf/witch/Doppelganger distant cousin before she actually met the vampire sister and distant cousin. It would overwhelm her."

"If you want to introduce them officially, come here," Matt told him.

"See, that sounded like you telling me what to do," Enzo told him. 

"Oh, is this the part where you threaten my mom again?" Matt asked. "Because that's brave." 

"Yeah," Enzo told him. "You're right. That was uncalled for. After all, what has your mum ever done to me? Well, except that one night..." 

"I'm hanging up now," Matt told him. 

"So I went to something local," Enzo told him. "It's more noble, right, Jeremy?" He had Jeremy pinned toe the ground, his foot over his mouth, holding Eliza against the building by her throat. "What about you, Eliza?" 

Jeremy mumbled something.

Enzo pushed his foot down harder onto Jeremy's mouth.

"Stop it!" Eliza told him.

Enzo pulled Eliza close to him to where her back was to him, holding the phone closer to her. "What was that? Could you repeat that so that your friend Matt can hear you, Eliza?" 

"Go to hell," Eliza told him. 

"You seem remarkably brave for a girl that I nearly smothered to death," Enzo told her.

"What the hell did you do?" Matt asked. 

Enzo took the phone away. "Nothing too serious yet. So care to reconsider my request?" 

Matt hung up.

Eliza glared at Enzo.

------~------

Sheriff's Station - Sheriff's Office 

Alex and Elena sat at the desk in front of Stefan, Damon, Kaylin and Liz. 

"Honestly, I don't remember why we took that route home, and I had no idea that there was luggage in the trunk," Elena told them.

Alex shook her head.

"What about the lack of skid marks?" Stefan asked. "Any reason your dad would just drive off the road like he was trying to avoid something without braking?" 

"I was texting with Bonnie when it happened," Elena told them.

"I was... severely drunk," Alex told them. "I got hammered with Kacie right beforehand. I don't remember most of that night. Embarrassing, I know." 

"What about the voicemail?" Damon asked.

"We weren't home that night," Alex told them. "You really think there's something up with our parents' crash?" 

"I don't know, but given the way this town works, I wouldn't be surprised," Kaylin told them.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, girls," Liz told them. "I know I should've brought this up sooner, but in those first few weeks after your parents died, I..." 

"No," Alex told her. "You took care of us and Liv, and Jeremy. I remember. Poor Jenna was trying and failing, but you let us stay at your place. You took us to school, made us dinner." 

"Wait," Damon told them. He looked at Liz. "You cook?" 

Alex and Elena exchanged a look, looking at Liz.

"You really tried," Alex told her. 

Liz, Alex and Elena laughed.

"We'll see if Jeremy and Liv know anything," Elena told them.

"Thanks," Liz told them. 

"Yeah," Alex told them. 

Alex and Elena stood, walking out of the office. 

Liz looked faint.

"Hey," Stefan told her, helping her stand. "Oh. You okay?" 

"Yep," Liz told them. "Yep. I'm good." 

"Yeah?" Damon asked. 

"I'm fine," Liz told them. 

"Okay," Kaylin told her.

Stefan, Damon and Kaylin exchanged an unconvinced look.

------

Tunnel Off Route 13 

Sarah and Matt walked down the tunnel.

"Sure," Sarah told him. "I'll follow a guy I barely know into a shady tunnel." 

"Hey, would you rather take more pictures of potato skins?" Matt asked. "I thought you were into dark subject matter." 

Sarah laughed sarcastically. "Graffiti. How provocative." 

"This is Mystic Falls," Matt told her. "This is about as dark as it gets." Sarah laughed, taking pictures of the graffiti around them. Matt's phone rang. He answered. "All right. We're here. Where the hell are you?" 

Enzo's voice was on the other line. "I'm here. You don't see me?" 

"No," Matt answered. "I can't." 

"Take a few steps to your left," Enzo told him. Matt did as told. "Here I am." 

A car drove directly toward Matt, running him over, making him flip over the car before landing badly on the ground, driving away quickly without stopping.

Sarah gasped, running toward him. "Matt!" 

Matt coughed up blood, scratched, bruised and bleeding.

------

Mystic Grill

(Song:) Goodbye Man - Robin Wynn 

Nicola was sitting at a table alone now, having a drink.

Tyler sat next to her. "Look at that. She's now longer closing herself off." 

"Look at that," Nicola repeated.

"And I saw that you were actually being friendly with Tory, who is technically related to you, too, very distantly," Tyler told her. "Man, Tory is related to everybody." 

Nicola chuckled once. "Yeah, seems like." She seemed to remember something. "Hey, did you send me any pictures?" 

Tyler looked at her in amused confusion. "What?" 

Nicola shook her head. "Nothing." 

"Who was that girl you and Tory were talking to earlier?" Tyler asked.

"Sarah, some girl from Duke," Nicola answered. "Photographer. Matt got her a gig here for taking pictures of the Grill, and then they left." 

"So, what do you think?" Tyler asked.

Nicola shrugged. "I don't know what to think." 

"Well, I'll tell you what I know," Tyler told her. "You were laughing. That hardly ever happens anymore." 

Nicola smirked. "You're making it sound like it's my fault." 

"No, of course not," Tyler told her. "But I can tell you that it was good to see that." 

Nicola smiled a small smile, looking away. "Oh, God." 

Tyler smiled, leaning back into the chair. "What?" 

Nicola shook her head. "Nothing." 

Tyler slowly returned serious. "I talked to Luke, Ryan, Tory and Lindsey. They told me that Kai's MIA, and that he's sick, and that while he's sick, he can't do anything to help you. But the merge with Lucas made him start to feel all of these feelings, and now he's feeling guilty about what he did to Jo, to Olivia. To you. He knows that he can't take back what he did to their family or to their coven, but he's trying to prove to Jo that he's sorry. He also feels guilty for what he did to you, and he said that once he finds a way to get better, then he's gonna undo what he did to you." 

Nicola nodded thoughtfully. "So you're gonna put your faith into a madman turned Samaritan overnight?" 

"No," Tyler answered. "I'm just saying that we hold him up to his word." 

"And how do we do that?" Nicola asked.

"Easy," Tyler told her, looking toward the table that Lindsey and Luke were sitting at. Tory was serving them. Nicola followed his gaze. "We have Lindsey and Tory, two super-powerful witches, Kacie and Luke, two hybrids, Ryan, a werewolf." He looked toward Kacie, Cristian and Liv standing at the bar. "And Cristian, 500-year-old vampire, along with three 150-year-old vampires, and Alex, Elena, Liv and Caroline, four new-born vampires, they're ages starting from about a year ago." He looked at Nicola. "Plus, Tory's a witch-werewolf-Doppelganger you do not want to piss off, and Ryan's a werewolf, too. With all of us working together, you think that we could pull it off? Though, I'm pretty sure that Eliza Forbes could just guilt trip him into doing it with the information that they're all giving me." 

Nicola smiled a small smile. "Sounds like a plan." 

Tyler looked at Nicola in slight surprise. "Really?" 

"Why do you look so surprised?" Nicola asked.

"I just expected more of a fight on this one," Tyler answered.

"Yeah, well, I'm tired of fighting," Nicola told him. "Especially when I have these things playing on in my head on repeat every single second of every freaking day thanks to Olivia's backfiring boundary spell." 

Tyler took Nicola's hand on the table. "Every second? Even now?" Nicola didn't answer, but that was answer enough. Tyler sighed, leaning forward against the table. "Then I guess we just have to find a way to get you through it until Kai takes that spell away." 

"We?" Nicola repeated. 

"Yeah," Tyler answered. "We. Nikki, you're barely hanging on by a thread. Just let me help you." 

Nicola nodded. "Okay. So, when is this grand rescue supposed to come?" 

"Whenever Kai finds a way to stop being sick," Tyler answered.

"Oh, yeah?" Nicola asked, tilting her head. "And when's that gonna be?" 

Tyler shrugged, shaking his head. "I have no clue. But I wish soon." 

Nicola smiled a small smile. "Thank you." 

"For what?" Tyler asked. 

"For everything," Nicola answered. "Helping me when nobody else would. Teaching me how to be a vampire and doing everything you could to keep me from killing anyone, even when you turned human. Not turning your back on me when my only family did. And out of all of my friends, you're the only one that never lied to me, so... thank you." 

Tyler smiled a small smile. "Don't thank me until you get better." Nicola smiled, looking down. "Hey." Nicola looked at him. "Come here." 

Nicola smiled a small smile, leaning forward, kissing Tyler slowly, sweetly for a long moment. 

(Song Ends)

------

Tunnel Off Route 13 

Sarah knelt next to a dying Matt worriedly. "I called 911." 

"You need to get out of here," Matt told her. 

"What the hell kind of a person just barrels into someone and then drives off like that?" Sarah asked.

Enzo approached them. "Are you okay? What happened?" He knelt next to them. "Do you need help? I was out walking, and I heard you two." 

"We're waiting for the stupid ambulance, but he seems bad, like, really bad," Sarah told him. "His breathing is..." 

"I think he punctured a lung," Enzo told her.

"Fix it," Matt told him weakly. 

"What, are you, like, an EMT or something?" Sarah asked.

"Not exactly, sweetheart," Enzo answered.

Matt coughed. 

"Oh, my God," Sarah told them. "We have to do something." 

"Look, I can help, but..." Enzo trailed off. "What's your name?" 

"Sarah," Sarah answered.

"Sarah?" Enzo repeated. "Right. I need you to remain calm. What you're about to see is something you've never seen before. Just promise me you'll remain calm." 

"I promise," Sarah told him. "Just help him, please." Enzo bit his wrist. "Oh, my God." 

Enzo fed Matt his blood to heal him. "You staying calm, love?" 

Enzo pulled his wrist away from Matt, standing, rushing away.

Matt coughed, healing.

Sarah looked around in shock. "How did you just... Did you just..." 

------

Night - Salvatore Boarding House - Kitchen 

Eliza was sitting on the counter.

Jeremy was applying first aid to her cheek from when Enzo hurt her. "You okay?" 

"I've had better days," Eliza told him. "But, then again, I've also had way worse days. Like he said earlier, there was that actual time that he killed me." 

Jeremy nodded in acknowledgement. 

Alex, Elena and Liv walked in.

"There you are," Alex told them. She noticed the scratch on Eliza's cheek that Jeremy was bandaging. "Oh, my God, what happened?" 

"Enzo's a dick is what happened," Jeremy answered.

"Are you kidding me?" Liv asked. "I'm gonna kick his ass." 

"I don't need my little sister beating up bullies, thanks," Jeremy told her.

"Eliza, your mom wanted to talk to me and Alex earlier today," Elena told her.

"What'd she want?" Eliza asked. 

"She wanted to talk about the night that our Mom and Dad died," Alex answered. "She thinks something else happened, like maybe it wasn't an accident." 

"Then what was it?" Liv asked. "A vampire attack? A werewolf in the road? What else could we possibly go through?" 

"Mom had called her a couple of hours before the crash," Elena told them. "She left an urgent message asking her to call back." She looked from Jeremy and Liv. "Think. Do you remember anything out of the ordinary about that night?"

Jeremy took a moment to think, chuckling in realization.

"What?" Liv asked. 

"I... I used to smoke pot in my room," Jeremy told her. "Liv, remember the night of the accident, we were playing games in my room, and Mom caught us." 

Liv sighed in realization, nodding. "Of course." She looked at Eliza, Alex and Elena. "She said she was gonna have Jeremy arrested. So, she called the Sheriff. She was pretending to be all business, but we could hear Jenna giggling outside. It was the last time we spoke. Fighting through a door." 

------

Sheriff's Station - Sheriff's Office 

Stefan was on the phone. "That makes sense. Yeah. I'll let them know. Thanks, Alex." He hung up, looking at Kaylin, Damon and Liz. "So, the message was a joke on Liv and Jeremy." He looked at Liz. "Miranda wanted you to bust Jeremy for smoking pot." 

"Well, what about everything else?" Liz asked. "I mean, the route, the skid marks? What about the luggage?" 

"There was a storm the day before," Damon told them. "Jeremy and Liv's dad was planning a secret trip to their lake house, and the storm rained them out." 

"The storm," Liz told them in realization. "Yeah. Oh, the storm that dropped a power line across Old Miller Road, explaining why they took Wickery Bridge, which had a drainage issue before its renovation, meaning the road was probably still slick." 

"Slick roads, no skid marks," Kaylin told them. "The storm. That was the reason. Mystery solved." 

Liz exhaled. "Kaylin, would you mind calling Caroline and Eliza and telling them they can surprise me tomorrow? I'm not really feeling up to it tonight." 

"Absolutely," Kaylin answered. "I was planning to go to the Grill, getting a drink anyway. It's just been that kind of... last few months." 

"I'll go get the car," Stefan told them. 

Stefan, Damon and Kaylin walked out of the room. 

Liz put her badge on the desk, giving her office one last look, turning the light off, leaving. 

------~------

Salvatore Boarding House - Living Room 

Eliza was on the phone, sighing in worry. "Yeah. Thanks for letting me know." Jeremy, Alex, Elena and Liv walked into the room behind her. "Just call me if there's any other updates. I'll be there as soon as I can, okay? Bye." 

Eliza hung up.

"What happened?" Jeremy asked. "Your mom okay?" 

Eliza turned to face them. "Ah, you weren't supposed to hear that. Kaylin said that she's getting worse." 

"I can't leave now," Jeremy told her. "No way. Not with your mom sick, and Enzo on a rampage. It's not the right time." 

Alaric walked into the house, closing the door behind him.

"No kidding, because the right time was a couple of years ago," Elena told him. "Enzo could have killed you today, and the other day, Olivia threw you across a room, and let's not forget the times that you actually died." 

"Eliza's right," Alaric told him. "Time to get the hell out of here.' 

"You deserve a normal life, Jer," Alex told him. "You deserve the life of a kid whose only baggage is that he lost his parents."

"Come on," Eliza told him. "Let's get you to the airport." 

"Actually, why don't you let me take him?" Alaric asked. "You should go be with your mother." 

Eliza nodded.

Jeremy looked from Eliza to his sisters. "I'll call you when I get to the airport, and when I land." 

"Um, and in a couple days, expect an SUV-sized package from me," Liv told him.

"Wait," Jeremy told her. "Hang on, Liv. You're giving me your car?"

Liv smiled. "Just don't crash it, okay?" 

Alex, Elena, Jeremy and Liv embraced for a long moment, pulling away.

Jeremy turned to Eliza, stepping closer to her until he was inches away from her. 

Eliza smiled a small smile, wrapping her arms around Jeremy's neck, kissing him sweetly yet passionately until the next time she would see him again, pulling away.

Jeremy wrapped his arms around her. "I love you."

Eliza leaned her head against his shoulder, exhaling. "I love you, too. Be safe." 

"I will," Jeremy told her. "Same goes for you." 

"I will," Eliza told him.

Alaric, Alex, Elena and Liv smiled small smiles. 

Eliza closed her eyes, holding Jeremy for a moment longer.

------

Mystic Grill 

Kaylin sat at a table, having a drink. Her phone rang. She looked at the Caller I.D. to see that it was Enzo calling, clicking ignore.

Enzo approached her from behind. "Busted." 

"Oh, you're right," Kaylin told him sarcastically. "You caught me. Whatever shall I do now? Oh, I know. I know. I can leave." 

Kaylin stood, starting to walk away.

Enzo caught Kaylin by the arm, turning her to face him gently. "Five minutes. Please." 

Kaylin sighed, looking at Enzo, considering it. "You're on the clock." 

Enzo smirked. 

They sat at the table.

"You've been avoiding me," Enzo told her.

"Me?" Kaylin asked sarcastically. "Avoiding you? Never." 

"Kaylin..." Enzo trailed off.

Kaylin nodded. "Okay, fine. You want to know the reason why I've been avoiding you?" 

"I already know why," Enzo told her. "Because I killed that girl who was impersonating your distant niece, Nicola's sister." 

"Her name was Monique," Kaylin told him. "And you remember Stefan's girlfriend that you turned into a vampire, which led to her getting killed by the same vampire hunter that Stefan turned you into? Her name was Ivy." 

"I know all of this," Enzo told her. "Why do you care?" 

"You know, I may know what to do with some fancy torturing, but I still have a heart," Kaylin answered. "I don't just go out there killing or turning people because it suits my needs or because of revenge or to get secrets out of people. You know, I used to write my victims' names on a wall. A list of a million people. This was back in the '20s, when I was the darkest part of me, and even then, I didn't want the victims to be forgotten or for it to seem like they didn't even matter." 

"It seems I've hurt your feelings," Enzo told her in amusement.

"Hardly," Kaylin told him. "Quite the opposite, actually. I'm pissed. You killed Monique trying to get secrets out of me." 

"No, I killed Monique trying to get secrets out of your brother," Enzo told her. 

"With me standing right in front of you," Kaylin told him. "You know, I told you that I would kill you if you broke my rules, and you broke pretty much every single one, so do I get to kill you now?" 

"Thought you said that you didn't kill people because it suited your needs, revenge or finding secrets," Enzo told her tauntingly.

Kaylin smirked sarcastically, standing, leaning forward against the table. "You have something deeply, fundamentally wrong with you, you know that? Or maybe, since I'm the reason I keep getting stuck in these situations, maybe there's something deeply, fundamentally wrong with me. Goodbye." 

Kaylin started to walk away.

Enzo stood, turning after her. "There's nothing wrong with you." Kaylin stopped walking, sighing. "Just like there's nothing wrong with me." 

Kaylin turned to face him. "Then are you willing to give up some silly, petty revenge fantasy against my brother and learn to let it go?" 

"You truly don't understand, do you?" Enzo asked, stepping closer to her. "I'm not doing this for revenge." He tilted his head thoughtfully. "Well, partly revenge, but not against Stefan, just another chap who's tried to kill me recently." Kaylin looked at him in confusion, opening her mouth to speak. Enzo cut her off. "Let's just say that I'm opening a door that none of you thought of opening. Letting there be no more secrets, between your family and everyone else who deserves to be a part of it. But there might be a few unorthodox ways of doing so. Because I can't necessarily tell someone the truth about a clan of people without her knowing what they were before hand, can I?" 

"What the hell does that mean?" Kaylin asked.

Enzo smirked. "It's a surprise, love. And it just might mend the bridge that has appeared between you and your surrogate sister before it's too late. You might not lose her after all." He put a hand on Kaylin's cheek briefly, walking past her. "You can thank me later." 

Kaylin hesitated in confusion, turning around to face him, opening her mouth to speak only to find that Enzo had disappeared, leaving her alone.

------

Forbes House - Liz's Room

(Song:) Alive - Gabrielle Aplin 

Damon led Liz toward her bed. "Okay. Get in there." Liz laid down, covering herself up. "Oh. Nice PJs situation. You look hot." 

"Oh, I do not have the energy to tell you how deeply that disturbs me," Liz told him.

"You wanted more today, didn't you, about the accident?" Damon asked. 

"If there had been a supernatural reason they died, it would've been easier, would've been a reason," Liz told him. "As it is, it was just an accident. It was a stupid accident." 

"No," Damon told her. "You wanted someone to blame." 

"I did everything, right, Damon," Liz told him. "I lived a good life. I took care of my family. I just..." 

"I know," Damon told her. "Sometimes really terrible things happen to amazing people." 

Liz sobbed, sniffling. "I have to admit, there is a certain amount of peace knowing I'll be one of the only people in Mystic Falls to die an ordinary death." They both chuckled. "I'm exceptionally ordinary. I'm okay with that. Caroline and Eliza are anything but. They were meant to be extraordinary, and they need to know how proud I am of them." 

"Yeah," Damon agreed. "They will. You tell them yourself. Come on. Lay down on this bed." 

"Oh," Liz told him. "Okay." She relaxed further back into the bed. "Thank you." 

"For what?" Damon asked. 

"For today, for being here," Liz answered.

"You know, I didn't get a chance to spend much time with my mom before she died," Damon told her. "I volunteered to write the eulogy, and then when she actually died, I didn't even go to the funeral." 

"You want a second chance?" Liz asked. 

"Hmm?" Damon asked.

"Write mine," Liz told him. "Only do me a favor. Nothing dirty." 

"No promises," Damon told her.

"If you won't make me a promise about a non-dirty eulogy, then make me a promise about this," Liz told him. "I know that Tory and Lindsey saved my life the other night."

Damon nodded. "Yeah, they save a lot of people's lives. Little martyrs." 

"They almost died saving me," Liz told him.

"They do that a lot, too," Damon told her. "But they learned most of what they know from Bonnie. What do you expect?" 

"I know," Liz told him. "But just promise me that you won't let them try to save me this time. They'll die trying to save a dead woman. If they manage to bring me back, and they die in the process... I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Promise me that you won't let them." 

"I promise you that I won't let them," Damon told her. "Against my better judgement, and they won't be too happy about this, but, yes, I promise you." 

"Oh," Liz told him. "I'll take that drink now." 

"Yeah?" Damon asked. "I'll be right back." He stood, walking toward the alcohol table. "Want rocks, or you want neat?" Liz didn't answer. "Liz?" 

Damon looked at Liz to realize that she had slipped into unconsciousness.

------

Mystic Falls Hospital - Waiting Room 

Caroline and Eliza walked through the doors worriedly. 

"Where is she?" Caroline asked, looking at the woman behind the front desk. "Elizabeth Forbes, what room's she in?" 

Stefan, Damon, Alex, Elena, Kaylin, Kacie, Liv, Cristian, Tory, Lindsey, and Luke were already here, sitting or standing around the waiting room.

Lindsey walked toward them. "Caroline. Eliza." 

"Lindsey?" Eliza asked. 

"She fell asleep," Damon told them. "I couldn't wake her up. They said she slipped into a coma." 

Eliza looked around, completely overwhelmed. (Slow motion) 

Caroline walked toward Liz's room, breathing heavily.

"They said they can make her comfortable," Cristian told them.

"She's not comfortable, Cristian," Caroline told him. "She's dying." 

------

Liz's Room 

Caroline and Eliza walked in to see their mother in the hospital bed, unable to wake up.

Eliza had tears in her eyes, crying. "We didn't get to say goodbye." She looked at Caroline. "We didn't get to say goodbye to our mom." 

Caroline started to cry.

(Song Ends)

------~------

Whitmore College - Tyler's Dorm Room 

Nicola was sitting in a chair, looking at the screen on her phone, seeing that Damon had tried to call her. She hesitated, giving up, listening to the message.

Damon: (voicemail) "Nikki, hey, it's Damon. Look, I know you're angry at me, Stefan and Kaylin right now, and that you have every right to be. And I know that you're going through a lot right now, but Caroline and Eliza's mom isn't doing too hot. She's dying, Nikki. Tonight. I just wanted you to know. And I don't know if you'll come to the hospital because you know that Stefan, Kaylin and I will be here, which we will be, but... I'll call you with updates. And I wish that you'll come. I'm sorry." 

Nicola looked to be in numb denial.

Tyler was standing a few feet away, standing in the doorway. "Yeah, I heard about it, too. I'm going to the hospital. But the question is, are you?" 

Nicola slowly looked at Tyler. "Even after all the things that Stefan, Damon and Kaylin did, or what they didn't tell me about what..." She shook her head sadly. "Sheriff Forbes doesn't deserve me taking it out on her." 

Tyler looked slightly surprised and impressed by her response, knowing what it meant. "Yeah."

"Neither do Caroline and Eliza," Nicola told him, standing. "Let's go."

------

Mystic Falls Hospital - Hallway 

Tory, Lindsey and Luke were standing together.

"Luke, what'd the doctors say?" Lindsey asked.

"Oh, she's stable," Luke answered. "But, you know." 

Tory scoffed softly, shaking her head. "Ryan can't even be here because he's afraid someone might recognize him when he's supposed to be dead, and Sheriff made Damon promise to not let us try to help her with magic, Luke." 

"Because it's too dangerous," Luke told them. "Tory, Lindsey, there's always consequences. Haven't we learned this already?" 

Lindsey sighed. "How much longer?" 

"Not long," Luke answered. "The hospital says she has a DNR, so..." 

They listened to the EKG beeping.

"And there's nothing we can do about it," Lindsey told them. She took a deep breath. "I'm gonna go get some air." 

Lindsey walked away, leaving. 

Tory looked at Luke. "I'm not used to feeling this powerless." 

"I know that," Luke told her.

"I hate it," Tory told him. 

Luke sighed sympathetically, wrapping his arms around her. Tory leaned her head against his chest. 

------

Liz's Room 

Caroline and Eliza stood at Liz's bedside.

Alex, Kacie and Elena stood in the room with them.

"We should have been with her," Eliza told them.

"You didn't know," Kacie told them. 

"But we knew she was sick, and we knew it was bad," Eliza told them.

"Eliza, you were saying goodbye to Jeremy," Kacie told her. "You were saying goodbye to your boyfriend. And Enzo tried to kill you. And, Caroline, you were setting up your dad's cabin for your mom as a surprise. That's why neither of you were with her. That's not your fault." 

"We're her daughters, Kacie, okay?" Eliza asked.

Cristian walked slowly into the room.

Caroline shook her head. "We were supposed to give her peace and convince her that we would be okay and thank her for being an amazing mom. God, I don't even remember the last thing I said to her. We were supposed to be with her in her final moment." 

"You still can," Cristian told them. 

Alex, Elena, Eliza, Caroline and Kacie looked at Cristian in confusion. 

"Cristian?" Eliza asked. "What does that mean?"

------

A Bus Stop Outside Mystic Falls 

Jeremy and Alaric were waiting for the bus. 

"Oh," Alaric told him. "Oh, yeah. Airport looks packed. Yeah. Long-ass security line, too. Oh. I don't want you to miss your flight. I know you have orientation tomorrow." Jeremy smiled at the sarcasm. They looked into a bag of weapons. "Look, this probably goes without saying, but you keep this shut till you get off the bus. Just stuff that above your seat." Alaric closed the bag, handing it and a map to Jeremy. "This is where you're headed. The bus will take you to a town about 30 miles north of Santa Fe. Now, I can't confirm if these are actual animal attacks or something else, but it's worth looking into." 

"I'm on it," Jeremy told him. 

"And, man, you're probably gonna have to generate some art to actually sell the story, because if Alex, Liv or Elena find out this is one big lie, they're not gonna just kill you, but they're gonna kill me, too," Alaric told him. 

"Yeah," Jeremy agreed. "They will be fine as long as they think that I'm safe, and so will Eliza." 

"And happy," Alaric added. "You know, a responsible guardian would try and stop you." 

"But?" Jeremy asked. 

"But, believe it or not, you're actually an adult now," Alaric answered. "And you found your purpose. So, might as well pursue it. Granted, being a vampire Hunter doesn't lend itself to a healthy social life." 

"Yeah, turns out a social life isn't as much fun as kicking vampire ass," Jeremy told him. 

"Just don't do anything stupid, okay?" Alaric asked. "I'll send you leads. You can follow up on them."

"You already went over this," Jeremy told him. "No one needs to worry about me, okay?" They embraced. Jeremy laughed, pulling away. "All right. It's not like I'm not gonna have email or anything." 

"Just shut up," Alaric told him. "Let me hug you. I'm proud of you, Jeremy." 

"Hey, do me a favor," Jeremy told him. "If something happens to Sheriff, and Eliza doesn't pick up the phone 'cause she doesn't want me to worry about her..." 

"You'll be the first person I call," Alaric told him.

(Song:) Colour Me In - Damien Rice 

Jeremy walked toward the bus, waving bye to Alaric, walking aboard. 

The bus drove away with Jeremy inside.

Alaric watched it go, looking as if he would miss him, but as if he knew that this was the better choice. 

------

Mystic Falls Hospital - Liz's Room 

Cristian was trying to teach Caroline how to enter Liz's thoughts. "Try to clear your mind." 

"Okay," Caroline told him.

Cristian looked from Caroline to Eliza. "Think about your favorite memory of your mom." 

"I don't know," Eliza told him. "There's too many, Cristian."

"It's okay," Cristian told them. "It's okay. Just relax. Close your eyes. Open your minds. You're gonna live in her memories." 

"We can do that?" Liv asked. 

Cristian nodded, looking at Caroline and Eliza. "Just take each other's hands." 

Eliza took one of Liz's hands, and one of Caroline's. 

Caroline took one of Liz's hands, and one of Eliza's. 

Caroline and Eliza looked at each other, nodding, closing their eyes, concentrating. 

------

Flashback 

Day - Bill Forbes' Cabin - Outside 

A young girl was learning how to ride her bike. Liz and another young girl were helping her keep her balance. 

"I want to stop," the little girl riding the bike told them.

"If you stop, you'll never learn, sweetie," Liz told her.

"I don't want to learn," the little girl told them.

"Yes, you do," the other girl told her. "I didn't want to learn, but I did. Now, you can, too." 

"No, I can't, Caroline," the little girl told her.

"Just pedal, Eliza," Young Caroline told her.

"I'm gonna fall off," Young Eliza told them. 

"We're holding you up, sweetheart," Liz told her. "You can't fall." 

"I'm scared," Young Eliza told them. "I want my other wheels back on." 

 ------

Now 

Night - Mystic Falls Hospital - Liz's Room 

Caroline and Eliza still held each other's hands, and Liz's, eyes closed in concentration.

"It's working," Cristian told them. 

Alex, Elena, Kacie and Liv exchanged a look, exhaling, not knowing what to do.

------

Flashback 

Day - Bill Forbes' Cabin - Outside 

 Liz and Young Caroline still held the bike steady.

Young Caroline took her hands away too quickly, making the bike swerve. 

"Caroline!" Young Eliza told her, scared, trying to keep balance. 

"You're okay, Eliza," Young Caroline told her, smiling. "You're doing great." 

"Keep pedaling," Liz told her. "You can do it." 

"Don't let go, Mommy," Young Eliza told her. 

"I won't," Liz told her. "Not till you're ready." 

Liz slowly let the bike go.

Young Eliza kept riding forward without realizing that her mother was no longer helping her. "Don't let go. I'm not ready." 

Liz smiled a small smile, watching her youngest daughter continuing to ride away. "Yes, you are."

Young Caroline smiled, jumping up and down cheerfully. "Yay!" She giggled. "Go, Eliza!" 

Young Eliza looked behind her to see that they were no longer holding on, seeming scared at first. She realized that she was riding on her own, looking forward in shock, smiling a small smile, relaxing slowly, happy that she was learning out to do it. 

 ------

Now 

Night - Mystic Falls High School - Liz's Room 

Elena, Damon, Stefan, Kaylin, Matt, Tyler, Tory, Lindsey and Luke had joined them, standing next to Alex, Elena, Kacie, Cristian and Liv. Ryan had arrived as well, wearing a hoodie over his head so people in the hallway wouldn't know he was alive. Behind everyone, Nicola stood there, holding the doorway lightly, looking only at Eliza, Liz and Caroline. No one seemed to notice that she was there, which was what she wanted. 

The line on the EKG diminished.

"Mom..." Eliza trailed off. The flat line beeped. "Mom..." 

Caroline sobbed, crying, looking at the others. "She's gone." 

Eliza sobbed, leaning her head against Liz's chest. "No." 

Everyone remained silent, despaired.

Cristian hesitantly turned the machine off.

The beeping stopped, signaling that Sheriff Elizabeth Forbes was no longer with them. 

(Song Ends)

------~------

6.15 "Let Her Go" Trailer 

From 6.15 "Let Her Go", in flashback, Young Eliza had fallen off her bike, sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree.

Young Caroline and Liz knelt next to her.

"Mommy?" Young Eliza asked.

"Are you gonna die?" Young Caroline asked.

"Not for a long, long time," Liz told them.

From 6.15 "Let Her Go", in a church, everyone was at Liz's funeral.

Damon delivered his eulogy. "Liz Forbes was my friend."

From 6.15 "Let Her Go", in the church, Eliza was looking at Liz's body in her military uniform, lying in her coffin.

Caroline walked toward her.

Alex: (voice over from 6.15 Let Her Go) "I'm worried about Caroline and Eliza."

Eliza looked at Caroline.

Caroline nodded, numb.

Alex: (voice over from 6.15 Let Her Go) "I don't think they're handling this as well as they think they are."

IN DEATH

From 6.15 "Let Her Go", in flashback, Young Caroline and Liz were kneeling next to Young Eliza.

"What if you die, and we're still here?" Young Caroline asked.

MEMORIES LIVE ON

From 6.15 "Let Her Go", in the Forbes House, Caroline and Eliza were together, crying.

Eliza: (voice over from 6.15 Let Her Go) "It hurts so bad."

Caroline and Eliza embraced.

Caroline: (voice over from 6.15 Let Her Go) "I can't do worse."

WORLDS COLLIDING (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES)

Elena and Alex were sitting on a bench in black dresses. Kaylin and Nicola were sitting in two chairs on either side of them in black dresses. Stefan and Damon stood behind them, wearing black suits.