"She's laying there dying. She's had so many regrets. She's barely ever left this town. The two loves of her life left her. She was a single mother. But she was the best damn person any one will ever of have ever had the pleasure of meeting."

• • •

Camilla and Caroline rush around the boarding school getting everything ready for the schools yearly family day. Well, it was more like Camilla fixing every flaw she spotted and Caroline hovering over her, making sure she doesn't over exert herself.

This is the one time a year all the kids get to see their families, unless they leave during break but most rarely did, so it had to be perfect.

"Cami everything looks great! There's not much more you can fix!" Caroline exclaims as she tries to catch up with her sister's fast pacing.

"Everything needs to be perfect." Camilla says sternly.

They walk into the kitchen and Caroline tells them all to take a break and clear out of the kitchen. She faces her sister with her hands on her hips.

"Why are you stressing so hard about this?" She questions cautiously, feeling like she was talking to a ticking time bomb.

Camilla sighs loudly but ultimately
ignores her and keeps going.

"Camilla! Stop!" Caroline yells beginning to become frustrated and worried.

"What Caroline! You want me to stop! I can't stop! Because today could be my last day! I could not wake up tomorrow! I could never see my kids again! This is my last impression on the school I am leaving behind!" Camilla yells with blurry eyes.

Caroline opens her mouth to speak but another voice beats her to it.

"W-what?" The voice says shakily.

Both of the sisters eyes snap towards the door where Alaric stands wide eyed, eyes darting between the women.

"Nothing Ric just-" she gets cut off when he yells.

"No! You need to tell me what the hell is going on! You've been acting weird ever since you left for your trip to see Caroline in Paris! What the hell is happening!" He yells frustrated.

"Im dying." Is all Camilla says emotionlessly staring at him while trying to gauge his reaction.

His face goes into shock and he opens his mouth to react but closes it.

"What are you talking about?" He says after a few moments, finally finding the will to speak.

"I'm dying, that's all you need to know for now because I have a family day to plan." Camilla says walking out of the room leaving him in complete shock.

He turns to Caroline, "What the hell does she mean she's dying?"

Caroline sighs. She knew she would have to be the person to explain this to the family when things went south. But how was she supposed to explain to everyone that Camilla is dying when she still hadn't fully accepted it herself.

"She's not going to make it through the week. Get your shock over now because the kids are going to need you. She's in denial and I don't know what to do." She says sliding down the wall to sit in a squat with her face in her hands.

"What happened? Why would she be dying?" He asks confused. His mind working at a hundred miles an hour.

"She doesn't want anyone to know until the last minute." She says sternly. She was going to honor her sisters last wishes.

"This is bullshit! Caroline! What the hell is going on!" He continues to yell fed up with all of the secrecy.

She looks up and gives him a desperate pleading look. "Ric." She shakes her head in a signal to not fight her on this, because he wouldn't win.

"Whatever's happening...She's just giving up?" He whispers. Shocked. It wasn't like her to give up, let alone now that she has kids.

"She's letting go." Caroline corrects with a soft smile.

"Letting go of what exactly?" He says not understanding.

"I'm not entirely sure yet." She says in deep thought. She had a clue what the whole riddle meant. But she knew Camilla completely understood it now and she accepted what was coming.

• • •

Everyone is walking around with their families happy and excited. Camilla stands next to Jace and Alec as the twins mingle. Alaric stands across the room with Caroline watching her every move but she pays them no attention.

As she's walking with the boys she stumbles a bit. A strong feeling of dread washes over her entire body.

"Not yet. Not yet." She whispers on repeat, barely catching herself on a nearby table.

"Mom! Are you alright? What's wrong?" The boys ramble off questions. She was a vampire, this wasn't normal, that much they knew.

She takes a deep breath attempting to gather her strength. She turns around with a soft smile catching Caroline and Alaric's worried eyes. Her eyes pierce Caroline's and she nods slightly giving her a soft smile for only her to catch. It was a last goodbye glance. Caroline's eyes widen and she rushes through the crowds as fast as she can with human abilities to her sister shaking her head with tears in her eyes.

"Come here babies." She says opening up her arms towards her sons.

They warily walk into her arms and she wraps an arm around there necks.

"I love you both so so much." She whispers kissing them on their heads.

"What are yo-" Jace begins, starting to get worried.

She cups each of their cheeks.
"You guys and the twins are the greatest things I ever brought into this world. You've all made me so proud."

By now Caroline and Alaric are sprinting over due to Caroline hearing her say her goodbyes.

The Mikaelsons all watch in worry as they see Caroline and Alaric running at a human pace trying not to set off alarms to humans walking around. The twins see it at the same time and get confused , excusing themselves from their previous conversation and rushing towards their family with looks of worry.

But it was too late. Camilla Forbes last words were spoken too early. The boys are in tears and panic wanting to know what's happening but she shushes them with her last amount of strength.

"I'll always love you both and your sisters. Take care of them. Never stop fighting." She whispers just as she starts to fall backwards from the feeling of poison entering her heart.

It feels like slow motion. Everything was going so slow. She sees Alec and Jace's face of panic. She turns her head slightly and she can hear Caroline screaming for her running to her side.

She can see the twins screaming from where they stand watching her drop. She turns her head one final time to see Kols face of confusion and slight panic along with the Mikaelsons all rushing towards her. Lastly, she meets eyes with the hybrid. Her first love.

He sees the look on her face. It's one he has seen many times in his lifetime. It's the face people make when they've accepted their fate. When they know they're dying and they can't do anything about it. She sends him a barely noticeable smile. It looked like it took every ounce of energy in her body to do it. But he caught it. He panicked. It was her way of goodbye.

As she hits the floor she stares up at the ceiling smiling softly. All the screams and cries start to sound so far away. She can hear Alaric evacuating everyone. She takes a much needed breath in. Caroline and lizzies tear stricken faces come to view. Jace and Alec on either side of her holding her hands. Josie in Alaric's arms as she sobs asking what's happening. Klaus and Kol Mikaelson trying to get to her. She exhales her last breath as her hands that were once held by her boys falls to the floor. The last thing she sees is all of the panic on their faces. Her body goes limp.

𑁍 𑁍 𑁍
Vᴏᴛᴇ & Cᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛ
✍︎
Rᴏsʟʏɴ Mᴀᴅʏsᴏɴ