Chapter 21

AN- So I'm sure many are disappointed with no updates for such a long time. Life got in the way and I can't make any promise that it won't happen again but I'll do my best to get this story out and to an end soon. I want to thank all those who have kept reading, favorite and so on as well as all the reviews it makes me happy that so many like it. This chapter takes place right where the last one left off and it's the longest I've written so far, I hope you enjoy!

When the full moon came they would all be at the epicenter of a war and, all they're strengths and weaknesses would be tested. The scariest part was none of them were really sure if they could even survive the test.

One thing was definitely clear; whether they were ready or not, they would find out soon…

Pessimistic. That was the only word Stefan could use to describe himself at the moment. He had put on his best reassuring smile for Bonnie but he couldn't push back the sinking feeling that something would go terribly wrong.

And he was thinking of all the ways things could go wrong.

Think of something else, anything else. It was a beautiful dayhe started. But what day was it?

Well you know things are bad in the noggin when you completely lose track of the days Stefan realized. Is it Tuesday evening or Wednesday? Come on Salvatore

He was not only pessimistic at the worst possible time to be so but he was sure he was on a fast track to completely losing it. The only thing keeping him sane now was the beating of the baby's heart; completely calm and steady.

Again, very strange he thought.

He looked down when Bonnie unconsciously crossed her fingers as she watched the sun begin its descent. He could tell what she thinking without even listening to her thoughts. She was hoping that the calendar was wrong and the next full moon wasn't for another month.

According to the big bad Klaus the full moon was less than a week away. But that was about five days ago when he said it. Shit, there goes all hope for positive thinking.

The boarding house had been so quiet in the last half hour it was easy to hear the clock ticking away. It was making him crazy! There it goes again he shook his head with an eye roll. Stefan chanced a glance at the clock on the wall and it read seven.

Mason had called Tyler a couple hours ago to let him know Jules was missing and asked if he had seen her. Ty had tried once again to talk sense into his uncle even deciding to spill the beans on the whole operation hoping he could convince him to back off.

With all that information Ty still seemed to have no impact on the elder Lockwood. Mason told him they would find Jules no matter who had her and then hung up on him. His head was apparently tougher than Tyler's.

It was understandable that Mason couldn't accept the curse wasn't real. To chase something your entire life only to find out it didn't exist, that's got to be tough Stefan mused. Hell he knew someone who had first hand experience with that.

His brother had spent almost a hundred and fifty years trying to free Katherine from the tomb only to find out she was never in there. Talk about a blow to the face.

Stefan's eyes suddenly found Bonnie's. There was no doubt in their minds that Klaus had Jules. Now he had his werewolf and there wasn't a damn thing they could do to stop that. Of course as luck would have it he probably had a vampire and a witch already too. And a back-up plan if necessary.

Just freaking perfect.

The only puzzle piece left in Klaus' plan was Elena. She knew she would have to die no matter what the outcome and Bonnie still hadn't figured out a way to save her yet. Damon had given her his blood just in case and she was clearly troubled at the prospect of being a vampire.

All things considered though, she was doing her best to be a brave soldier.

When Klaus finally came for Elena the time and what day it was wouldn't even matter anymore. The full moon would be fast on their heels and a bloodbath not far behind; the werewolves on one side, the vampires on the other and the gang smack in the middle like jelly in a donut.

The only positive Stefan could immediately think of was that Bonnie and Damon had convinced Alaric a little earlier to sit this fight out. They couldn't afford anymore casualties and someone needed to make sure Caroline, Matt, Jenna and Jeremy were as safe and as far away as possible.

Ric had objected of course and he gave a dramatic eye roll when Damon had told him "Sorry buddy" with that smirk of his.

He eventually had no choice but to agree with their logic though. "Alaric you're practically a hunter, Jeremy and Caroline know a little bit of the supernatural while Matt and Jenna are completely clueless. But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter who knows what. You could all end up being hurt because you don't stand a chance against Klaus and that's not on an option."

Bonnie had folded her arms to make her point and Damon added his two cents "We're not saying this to make you feel bad but the fact is you guys are human and you need to be kept safe just in case Klaus has something else planned."

Alaric finally sighed hanging his head in defeat "Okay. But don't hesitate to call me if you need me. Be safe guys" he said to each one of them and he had given Elena and Bonnie a tight hug before making his way out.

Another tick from the clock snapped Stefan from his thoughts. 7:15. When did it get to 7:15? He watched as Damon poured himself another glass of whiskey and sat back down. It was the only thing he could do to keep himself quiet. This waiting thing wasn't the older Salvatore's specialty by a long shot.

And Tyler, feeling the slight effects of his impending transformation, kept wandering from room to room sitting and standing trying to give himself something to do before he lost it. He finally sat down beside Damon taking a glass of whiskey with him.

"Waiting sucks" he muttered.

It really did. Stefan pulled Bonnie in his arms realizing the time was coming. It was finally getting dark.

There was a knock at the door and Elijah's smooth voice came from behind it. Stefan went to open it with more than just a tinge of anxiety "What is it?"

Elijah got to the point "There is something I think will help Elena"

"Then what are we waiting for? We've been waiting in this house long enough" Bonnie said from behind her boyfriend. She was ready to step out the door but Stefan held her arm before she got far "You're not serious?"

Bonnie squeezed his arm "I want to be done with all this Stefan, the faster the better. The longer we just sit here nothing but negative thoughts are gonna come swirling in and screw us up. I'll be fine" she said strongly.

He ignored her pointed look. Of course she knew what he was thinking "The hell I care I'm not leaving you alone with him" Stefan stated in a firm voice leaving no room for argument. He marched ahead of her turning back only to ask "Coming?"

This is so not the time but take-charge Stefan looks so hot right now she mused to herself with a little smile as she took the hand he held out for her.

"You guys go ahead, we'll stay with Elena" Damon called out

Tyler gave a loud groan earning him a look from Damon

"Suck it up Lockwood"

By the time it had gotten to 7: 30, the three people waiting in the boarding house were literally about to die of anxiety. Playing cards when almost certain death was near wasn't enough of a distraction.

Elena put on her jacket and headed for the door "I can't sit in this house another minute I need air"

"There's plenty in the house ya know"

"Damon, if I don't get out of this place I'm going to officially freak out. Look I know you wanna keep an eye on me as long as you can so you and Tyler are welcome to join me" she said turning back to face him.

Tyler followed suit "I'm with her on this one"

"Well why delay the inevitable? It's not like we all aren't headed for a painful death anyway" Damon rolled his eyes, swung his jacket over his shoulders and followed them outside.

Tyler and Elena ignored his comment and just enjoyed stretching their legs. It was dark now but the moon still wasn't close to being up yet.

Damon put his hands in his pockets and looked up. "This whole thing sucks"

"What happened to being hopeful?" Elena looked at him

He shrugged "Not my style"

Elena shook her head with a small smile. Damon was really just…Damon.

They both turned to see Tyler pacing every few seconds. "What's wrong with you?" Damon said looking Tyler up and down as he fidgeted.

"I think I should go before I change. I need to get there before the rest of you anyway. Unless of course you want a free show of me in my birthday suit Salvatore"

Damon scoffed "Please. Try to contain that ego Lockwood; the world is only big enough for mine"

Tyler smirked but it was gone by the time he looked to Elena "Look- I know I didn't exactly welcome you back with open arms but I just wanted to say…I don't hate you. If Bonnie and Stefan can try to get over the past no reason I shouldn't"

"I appreciate that Tyler" the brunette said softly

The young Lockwood nodded at her and looked back to Damon "Take care of yourselves" he said before jogging off into the shadows.

Damon was surprised the young pup actually seemed sincere when he said that. He was about to comment when something caught his senses. Elena walked up to him picking up something was wrong "Damon?"

All of a sudden he held on to her hands staring behind her with a tense expression.

"What is it?"

The look on his face answered her question. Damon straightened and Elena turned around to face what would be her death sentence. On the driveway of the boarding house Klaus stood looking calm, cool and collected. He clearly thought he had all the cards.

"Are you ready my dear?"

She took a deep breath and a couple seconds before she nodded "I'm ready"

Damon's grip on her got tighter "This is bullshit" he said looking down at her

"We don't have a choice Damon." She freed her hands from his and pulled him into a hug "Please don't do anything stupid" she whispered.

"Listen to her Damon, there's no need for anyone to get hurt" Klaus smirked earning him a growl

Elena pulled away from Damon and walked over to where Klaus stood as slowly as she could doing her best to delay the inevitable. "Come now darling, I haven't got all night" he drawled. As soon as she took Klaus' hand, they were gone.

Damon's phone beeped just as he made the conscious stupid decision to run after them; it was a message from Stefan telling him to meet them at the witch manor. He sped over to the old house to see his brother, Bonnie and Elijah in deep conversation and two people he didn't recognize; a man wearing a black graphic hoodie and a very attractive woman.

"Elena?" Stefan asked him breaking conversation. He already knew she was gone.

Damon just shook his head in response.

"Then you don't have much time to make a decision" the woman said stepping forward to look at Bonnie. She had a British accent.

"Who are you?" Damon looked at her pointedly. He was never keen on meeting strangers

"Rose. And I assume you're Damon"

"What would make you assume that?" he asked studying her

"You've worn that leather jacket for what? A hundred years now. Makes you pretty easy to spot"

Stefan grinned. He always told him that jacket would give him away in a crowd

"Funny. Why are you here? And what decision are we supposed to be making exactly?"

"She's here to help" Elijah interrupted their banter "Rose owes me a debt and after all these years she's finally come through. She's found us a reaper."

Damon blinked "A reaper?"

"Yeah, they think he can bring Elena back" Bonnie chipped in

"Aren't reapers supposed to be like fairytale or something?" he asked turning back to the Original

"Aren't you?" Rose challenged. She had a point.

"Reapers are every bit as real as vampires and werewolves. Just because you don't see them doesn't mean they're not there. Reapers bridge the gap between the living and the dead. They can only be seen by people who are in between death and life and to them they look like any normal human being."

Elijah picked up where she left off "Vampires are undead, an anomaly if you will, existing between death and life. Hence, we can see them although most young vampires such as yourselves don't know the difference."

"And why not?"

"Because it takes a certain level of experience to know a thing or two that's why." she raised a brow in his direction. Damon realized she spoke with a kind of superiority that came with living for a long time.

"Oh I love an older woman" Damon smirked

Rose ignored him although the slight upturn of her lips betrayed her amusement "Young vampires are only concerned with trivial things like getting their next meal or compelling their way to a brand new Porsche. You don't pay attention so you tend to walk past them without even realizing you didn't catch a heartbeat."

"If you looked at one long enough you may get a glimpse of their true form which isn't pretty to say the least" Elijah said glancing only slightly at the man who was so quiet he had almost forgotten he was there.

"Ok not that I don't enjoy a history lesson or whatever but how is a reaper going to save Elena?"

It was at that moment the man removed his hoodie and faced Damon. He seemed to be no more than 20, dark hair, and he had a remarkably handsome face too. He looked normal. But it was his eyes that startled Damon; they seemed to be black holes to hell.

"Like witches reapers maintain the balance." He started in a smooth voice "Usually bringing someone back from the other side has consequences but, as with all things, there is a loophole; a trade of souls. If I can get a soul to replace Elena's then I can send her back across the veil." The reaper's voice suddenly went eerily dark at the end "But only if I have a soul to restore the balance."

The vampire's ice blue eyes widened in that unique way they always did as the wheels turned in his head "Klaus' soul"

The reaper nodded only once "There are many on the other side who want him dead. Powerful witches mostly, and they wouldn't have a problem with this as long as it is a trade."

"Okay then so what's the problem? What decision does Bonnie have to make?"

"There is still no guarantee Elena will come back untouched. It's a witch's rule of thumb, what's dead should stay dead. A piece of the other side might always be with her, creating a link. Since Elena isn't here to decide for herself Bonnie must decide if she is willing to take that risk on her behalf"

"So much for no consequences" the vampire mumbled. He did a double take when a gruesome distorted image of bone and rotting flesh flashed across the reaper's face.

"I don't think we have much of a choice at this point. Hopefully nothing happens and Elena will be fine. Just tell me what I have to do" Bonnie looked at him swallowing a little. Elijah wasn't kidding about their true form not being pretty

After he gave Bonnie the proper instruction she wasted no time doing the spell, the power of her ancestors making it easy to do. Stefan was obviously relieved it didn't seem to put any strain on her.

"The spell should anchor her soul long enough for me to make the switch. A few moments of death on this side may be a day or week on the other. It's up to the rest of you to make sure I have Klaus' soul in her place or Elena will stay dead"

The group nodded and watched him replace his hoodie before disappearing into thin air. Damon was more than ready to get the show on the road

"What now?"

"Now its time for me to get the hell out of dodge" Rose said almost eagerly

"Not coming to join the fight?" he turned to face her

Rose lifted a brow "My job is done and my debt is paid. I've already pissed off Klaus and spent centuries running for my trouble. Perhaps another time when the stakes aren't so high"

"I never thought an older vampire would be so concerned with stakes. It would have been nice to see some of that 'experience' in action. Shame" he smirked

"You never know Damon; maybe we'll cross paths again. If you survive that is" she gave him a wink, a wave to the others and disappeared.

Shaking his head slightly and getting rid of his smirk Damon turned back to the others "Alright back to the important stuff. So we let Klaus' witch do the ritual yadda yadda, when he starts to turn Bonnie tears him apart and Elijah here goes in for the fatal blow."

They all nodded in agreement. That was the plan

"But oh yeah! Stefan and I gotta make sure the werewolves and the vampires don't completely fuck us by ruining everything. Tell me again why you didn't kill your buddy Zachary?"

Elijah squared his jaw "At the time I had other concerns. If he is stupid enough to go after the stone he will die before sunrise"

"Ya know if you had just -I don't know- told him the truth about the curse we wouldn't have to be dealing with a bunch of vamps not to mention a bunch of clueless pups in all this"

"I upheld the pretence of the curse because no one else needed to know it wasn't real. It would have defeated the purpose of creating the myth in the first place"

"This is gonna be one big fucking mess you know that right?"

"You talk a big game Damon. For once in your life why don't you quit you're bitching and prove just how tough you think you are"

Stefan and Bonnie couldn't help but snicker.

Damon made a very childish mocking face and rolled his eyes "Let's go"

Elena stumbled trying to keep up with the guy Klaus had given her to. What was up with his freaky eye?

"Where are we going?"

He did nothing but grunt. Maybe he couldn't talk.

She stumbled over another rock "I can't see"

Several torches went a blaze in a clearing ahead of her and she could see a young woman who for a split second reminded her of Bonnie, standing over a stone pulpit and another surrounded by a ring of flames.

"It's nice to finally meet you Elena. My name is Nyssa and I'll be your witch this evening." The woman by the pulpit said with a sadistic smile.

Elena thought maybe she could get through to her "You don't have to do this you know, you can let us go. Please. Don't you both know what kind of monster Klaus is?" she asked looking between her captors

"Save it sweetheart. We chose a side; the winning side and there is nothing you can say to change our minds"

Elena swallowed…so much for talking herself out of this one.

Mr. Glass Eye as she nicknamed him since he seemed to have no name shoved her close to the other woman and she too was surrounded by flames. What else was there to do but introduce herself? It's not like she was going anywhere "Hey. I'm Elena"

The woman looked at her "Lea. And I know who you are. You're the reason I'm in this mess" she spat

It was sadly true "Sorry"

Elena breathed trying to calm herself. She only hoped things would be over soon. Klaus suddenly appeared with a third woman that she assumed was Jules and flung her to the ground nearby turning to signal to his witch. A third ring of fire was created locking Jules in too. She seemed to be struggling with herself.

"What- is -this?" she asked looking to Elena "I know you know something. This is about the moonstone right? W-what do they want with us?" she asked again shakily grabbing her stomach as if in pain.

Elena looked at her solemnly. She felt bad for her.

Jules read the look on her face "Oh shit. We're all gonna die aren't we?"

Movement caught their attention and they all nervously faced Klaus as he walked towards them again bouncing like he just won the lottery.

Then again the perfect lottery tickets were right in front of him. In three adjoining circles of fire stood Lea, the vampire, Jules, the werewolf and Elena the doppelganger. Klaus stood marveling at them as if they were a great masterpiece.

"I love the idea of having three women to sacrifice. The perfect trifecta"

Like Jules and Elena, Lea was trying to stop herself from shaking "You bastard! You said I was forgiven!"

"I say a lot of things darling, you should have known better not to believe it. Now pipe down before I stake you through the heart prematurely"

Empty or not, the threat made her shut up. This was it for her she knew, no point in throwing a fit over it. But she refused to go down without a fight. Biting back her smile, Lea folded her arms and sat comfortably in her little circle.

In the wooded part of the forest the vampires waited patiently watching the flames at a reasonable distance so that Klaus wouldn't detect their presence. It was imperative that they stayed hidden. If Klaus knew they were there they would all be dead in seconds.

A part of Zachary wondered if all this was really necessary since the curse actually had to be broken for Elijah to kill Klaus. But after being servant to Elijah for all those years he also knew how much Elijah didn't want that to happen.

He had spoken of it time and time again after all. Only to Zachary did he ever confess his belief that the world would be worse off if vampires had that kind of freedom. Elijah had a strange respect for humans that Zachary never understood and would never understand.

Why should they care about them? Humans took every moment of their lives for granted and he told Elijah as much but the Original was still adamant on the curse being broken. Every time he saw him it was the same. Almost like a broken record; no curse broken and Klaus dead. That was all he cared about.

Well he should have never taken for granted Zachary's desire to see the sun again. Perhaps hundreds of years of wanting to be free made him as crazy as Klaus. He shook away the thought, they needed to do this.

Once it was over and Klaus was dead Elijah could use the little witch to reverse the ritual he was sure of it. This is why they were there; to make damn sure they got the moonstone in their hands and leave their side of the curse broken. After all they couldn't have werewolves having freedom too.

To hell with what Elijah wanted. They would see daylight once more, no ring, no spell, but free to walk as they pleased. It was this desire that drove them and they were ready to fight for it. They were ready to die for it.

As soon as Klaus was done with his psycho babble the ritual would begin. Then they just had to wait.

More than eager to get things started Klaus turned from the girls to walk over to his witch "I finally have the moonstone. I spent five hundred years looking for this. Make the pulpit" he commanded as he handed it to her.

"The moon is almost at its apex. It's time. Do you remember what you must do?"

He nodded slightly "I remember"

She dropped the moonstone unto the pulpit and it caught fire. The spell left her lips as she closed her eyes and it began.

About a quarter mile away the earth softened under the weight of the werewolves as their heavy paws treaded quickly through the forest.

Under the full moon they were in their element. They could smell and hear every thing that moved in the night and best of all, they were stronger.

The scent of vampires stung their noses and they were doing their best to stay out of sight. Luckily for them Jules was the pack's only concern. But so help them if she was hurt. Mason growled as he picked up her scent on the wind. She wasn't far.

Mason couldn't shake Tyler's warning as he led the pack. He knew his nephew had no reason to lie to him and the presence of the vermin around them made it clear that vampires were after the moonstone just like he had said.

What if Ty was right about the curse? What if he was leading them to their death for no reason? That didn't matter now. One of their own was with one of them.

They fanned out into an arrow-head formation picking up their pace as the wind got stronger and the smell of smoke flowed with it. Something was happening.

The flames that surrounded Jules died down as she fought against the spell stopping her transformation. Instead of making a run for it she used what strength she had left to try and attack Klaus.

He was faster of course and he quickly forced her to the ground and smashed his hand through her rib cage grabbing her beating heart. She gasped looking up at him a look of shock and acceptance in her eyes.

Mason and the others heard her whimper and sped to the sound. They came to the clearing just in time to see Klaus straddling over her body, her heart in his hand.

The werewolves snarled and growled at the sight. Mason gave a long howl full of rage. It was an instruction every werewolf was happy to receive; kill everyone in sight.

Speeding to place Jules' heart on the pulpit Klaus looked around and snickered "Well things just got interesting"

Three wolves including Mason prepared to charge at Klaus while the others darted back into the trees where the vampires were hiding.

They were all suddenly getting antsy…and worried.

"Maybe we should back off. We never bargained for werewolves" one said to Zachary

"We made the choice to do what's necessary Luke. Everyone knew the risks"

"Zach they could kill us with just one bite!"

"You don't think I know that? Klaus will knock them off easy enough. They don't stand a chance. Now grow some balls and stay quiet"

It didn't take two seconds before one of the vampires a few feet away yelled out in pain. A werewolf was mauling him to death.

"Oh shit"

"I'm out" Luke became a blur running in the next direction but it wasn't fast enough. He was struck down hard with a very pissed off werewolf on top of him.

"Ahh!"

Zachary jumped up to brake off a tree branch and swung at the wolf knocking him away with great strength. Luke looked down at the bite marks; it was over for him.

His head spun to the unmistakable growls of another werewolf heading straight to them. Luke yelled at Zachary "Go you idiot!"

Zachary ran and jumped through the air avoiding the wolf's bite and barely making it to the clearing where Klaus was gutting one of the wolves.

For a split second he reasoned he would be safer from the wolves if he was standing near to Klaus. He soon realized he was dead wrong.

"What's this?" Klaus sped and held him up by the throat studying his struggling features "A betrayer. No doubt here to take the stone for yourself…and to think I let u live" Klaus ripped Zachary's heart out before he even realized what happened.

Mason took the distraction to stupidly attack Klaus again this time biting into his shoulder missing his neck only because Klaus heard him in time.

Klaus grabbed hold of him and flung him down to the ground in an audible crack. This time he didn't get up. Tyler ran in front of the fallen wolf in the nick of time snarling and bearing his canines giving his uncle time to recover.

He realized he was very much a dead dog now that he was in Klaus' path. An unexpected flying rock landed smack in Klaus' face distracting him long enough for Tyler to bite down into Mason's neck and drag him into the trees with wolf speed.

Elena shook as Klaus cast his deadly eyes to her. "You're lucky I can't kill you yet" he growled

The sounds of another vampire being mauled rang through the air and Klaus got that blood thirsty look again. He sped to the sound and tore the jaw of the wolf clean from its head. The unknown vampire tried to scramble away but Klaus used his right hand to twist his arm backwards and tossed him out into the clearing effortlessly.

"Thought you could stand against me, take my moonstone and live? Shame on you"

Stuck in her little circle Elena watched in horror as Klaus took care of another victim while Mr. Glass Eye was torn apart by a wolf. As soon as it was done it set its sites on the witch who had being doing her best to keep the chaos away from her as she continued to say the spell.

At the top of the hill Damon and Stefan realized they had to intervene before the plan went up in smoke.

"Shit, the wolves are going after the witch" Damon snarled.

Elijah was focused on the scene before them "We need her to finish the ritual"

Stefan looked to Bonnie and she stared at him seriously "Just don't go get yourself killed". He barely nodded and kissed her long and hard before touching her stomach and tearing himself away from her.

Nyssa stopped the spell and used as much magic as she could spare to create a temporary shield that sent the wolf flying backwards away from her when it charged. She wasn't able to react fast enough when another leaped at her and bit into her neck.

Damon reacted first and impaled the wolf with a fallen tree branch shoving him off the witch. He didn't notice the other wolf behind him.

It was Stefan's turn to jump in. He used his super speed to falcon kick the werewolf into a nearby tree breaking the tree in the process. Damon smirked at his brother in gratitude earning him a smirk in return.

Out of nowhere a wolf jumped out of the shadows and attacked Stefan landing them both heavily on the ground.

From her place high on the hill Bonnie bit down hard on her tongue to keep from screaming out his name. She clutched her chest and gasped in pain; it was as if she was in his place.

"Bonnie don't. Klaus can't know you're here" Elijah said firmly, grabbing hold of the hand he was sure she was going to set the wolf on fire with.

"He's busy!" she tried to free herself from his grasp but he was too strong

""We can't take that chance! Stefan can handle himself"

The witch took shallow breaths looking down at the horrific scene below

Damon's path was blocked by another snarling werewolf and some unknown vampire tearing into each other as Stefan fought hard to get the wolf off him trying his best not to get bitten. The wolf was determined however and flung all its strength into biting down and latching on to Stefan's flesh.

It was almost ripping his chest apart when Tyler-reaching just before Damon- pounced, bit into its tail and flung him away from Stefan. He knew Stefan's scent and it registered in his mind that he had to protect him.

Whoever the werewolf was he had no idea what he had just done. When he tried to rush at Tyler clearly upset that one of his own was siding with vampires Tyler dodged his teeth and bit his own down into his neck ripping out a large chunk. He flung him aside and looked at the brothers before darting back into the trees.

Bonnie didn't even process that it was Tyler who had just saved Stefan. It was hard to tell from that distance how badly he was hurt but none of that mattered. The man she loved was bitten by a werewolf and in a few days or less he would be dead.

"No" she whispered tearfully

I'm going to lose him…

In that moment Bonnie stopped breathing. No tears fell, she didn't blink and every memory of her and Stefan flashed in her mind. In that moment for her time stood still.

Damon knelt down to check his brother. "Oh shit" he cursed. He knew what the bite marks meant.

"Just help me up I'll be fine" Stefan gritted out

"Yeah right" Despite what he was feeling Damon did as he asked then dragged the witch off the ground roughly.

"Why would you even save me?" Nyssa asked holding her neck

Damon growled shoving her to the pulpit "Because you still have a job to do."

Both brothers looked down the hill as Klaus tore the head of the last wolf in his path from its body with a sickening echo.

The hillside was covered in blood and bodies; werewolf and vampire alike. Most had been torn apart not by each other but by Klaus. Amongst the trees the few remaining vampires and werewolves were licking their wounds as they retreated.

"Lets got on with it shall we? Whenever you're ready Nyssa!" Klaus stared at Lea breathing hard from all the killing. Though he seemed to be enjoying it Elena thought, he didn't even seem to be concerned that Stefan and Damon had just shown up out of nowhere.

The brothers stood on either side of the witch as she continued to say the spell just in case. She was necessary for now.

Just as before with Jules the flames around Lea died down and she knew it was her time to go. Her plan had been to take out the witch herself but since the werewolves royally screwed everything up the bitch managed to get bodyguards.

She decided-knowing it would be futile-to run.

She wasn't even close to getting away when Klaus grabbed her by the neck and staked her through the heart clearly enjoying her pathetic attempt. She withered and fell to the ground with a slight thud.

Elena was breathing hard now. This is it.

"Your turn" he smiled and walked to her as her flames died down as well.

He caressed her cheek "Such a pity. Thank you Elena"

"Go to hell" she gritted out as the tears she had been holding back finally fell

Wasting no more time he bit into her neck, drained her dry and dropped her body like nothing. Nyssa struggled to say the last words of the spell as more blood poured from the wound in her neck

"Come on, finish!" Klaus yelled

She rattled off the last words of the spell and the fires in the pulpit and the torches disappeared. The ritual was complete. Klaus looked up at the moon with Elena's blood running down his chin "I can feel it, it's happening"

He staggered down the hill as his transformation begun his body slowly beginning to twist and bend.

The very second the witch's expiration date was up Damon snapped her neck like a twig.

Stefan looked over at her with no remorse catching Damon off guard. He usually had some objection to killing people especially a female. Then the look on his brother's face made it clear. They both shared the same sentiment; you side with Klaus you die.

Damon left his side to go for Elena's body and as soon as he did, Bonnie pulled on every emotion she could ready to kill Klaus. The one that stood out the most was pain as she thought of losing Stefan forever. "No" she let out a low growl and cast her hands over the earth beneath her feet allowing her emotions to take over.

Large cracks ran from where Bonnie stood straight down the hill as the ground shook. The fire that had lit the three circles spread like a wild fire running across the forest floor with deadly speed. Every vampire within a 5 mile radius that was still alive or barely alive-excluding Stefan and Damon-burst into flames as her wrath unfolded.

It wasn't enough.

She cast her deadly eyes to the werewolf who attacked Stefan. Tyler had inflicted enough damage that he couldn't move but was still alive. Without even muttering a spell she crushed every bone in its body watching the wolf howl in agony. He was nothing more than a mangled ball of fur when she was done.

Tyler was able to lead an injured Mason away before Bonnie's magic sent aneurisms and pain through the bodies of the other two remaining werewolves. They were wise enough to run away before she did more damage.

Then, without warning, she focused on the one who truly deserved her wrath. His transformation was half complete when several trees tore apart at their roots and lightning flashed in every direction.

Klaus was thrown into a nearby tree as Bonnie marched down the hill the words of the spell dropping from her tongue with deadly purpose. Only Klaus could see the ghosts of Bonnie's ancestors suddenly appearing like dust in the wind marching behind her and chanting the spell like a choir.

His agonizing screams were drowned by the roar of the witches. Though they couldn't see them, Damon, Stefan and Elijah could hear their voices carrying on the wind.

Klaus crippled to the ground even the smallest bones in his body breaking and twisting in a thousand directions. "You c-can't kill me. You're- n-not strong enough" he choked out in arrogance even though he was unable to crawl more than a few feet from the enraged witch.

An army of eyes looked at him then, each witch raising their left brow at his statement "We are many. Keileh manus, na lespera! Lathos beh neign remus na lanespera!" the voices of a hundred witches along with Bonnie's rang like the sounds of heavy drums through the air.

She thought of her child. The child he wanted to take from her and she felt an intense rush of anger. He had put her in a state of unimaginable fear. This wasn't just for everyone else; this was so he could never take her child from her.

"Nensa la sespera. Des matos var a meh!" she yelled even louder and the branches of every tree in front of her were flung back, blown by hurricane Bonnie force winds.

Stefan had been trying to call out to her but she didn't seem to hear him. The bite marks had been so deep in his chest he seemed to be getting infected fast and he was coughing up blood now.

As he slumped over Damon set Elena down beside him to look at the damage again. He hadn't fully processed the idea that his brother was going to die. "Ahh fuck. It's bad"

He nodded as he struggled to stand straight "Yeah. You should get Elena out of here"

"What about you?" Damon didn't try to hide his brotherly concern.

"Go, I'm not leaving Bonnie. I want to make damn sure he's dead"

He would have been by her side instantly but he couldn't get to her so easily. Her magic had almost thrown him back.

"Bonnie!"

His voice broke through to her mind and even though her heart leaped to know he was okay, she felt the heavy weight of sadness when she realized she would lose him. She pushed on even harder once he was at her side.

"Vera manus, rimo sespera!"

The intensity of the spell didn't faze Bonnie like she was warned but a trickling on her inner thigh broke her concentration for the slightest moment. She ignored it. Klaus had to die and she would settle for nothing less.

She faltered again when a sharp pain cut through her stomach. Only a little longer…

Klaus was bleeding now. From his eyes, nose, mouth; even parts of his skin began to tear away from what bones he had left. He was almost at his last. Bonnie stopped chanting and Elijah appeared to finish the job.

"Elijah"

"Hello brother"

"Elijah, d-don't. Our family is safe. I never - scattered them over the sea. I s-swear I can bring you to them"

Elijah rammed his hand through his chest but he hesitated. This was all about his family in the first place. He seemed to be changing his mind when a cold chill came over him.

"ELIJAH!" Bonnie bellowed ignoring the pain she felt

It was as if Bonnie's desire to see Klaus dead manifested into a tangible entity and her magic gripped hard on the arm stuck in Klaus' chest holding it place. If he was even thinking about changing his mind she wouldn't let him.

Before he did what he needed to Elijah called out "Stefan, come here". The younger vampire did as he was told

Elijah motioned to his shredded chest "His blood will save you."

Klaus looked up at him with a smile "G-go ahead. I hope you c-choke"

Without hesitation Stefan ripped into his neck partly wanting to save his own life but mostly taking deep satisfaction that he was causing Klaus some pain. He pulled away as his wounds started to heal and without another moments pause, Elijah ripped Klaus' heart out in a satisfied growl.

It was over; he couldn't believe after all this time Klaus was really dead. If there was any truth to what his brother had said Elijah vowed he would find out for his family's sake. For now, he had found some peace.

Bonnie would have felt the same knowing Stefan would be fine except the pain in her stomach got stronger and it finally dawned on her what the trickle on her thigh was.

Stefan's senses had picked up something was wrong even before his eyes searched every inch of her to check if she was okay. He was sure he smelled her blood.

"Bon?" he held onto her fearing the worst

As the pain intensified Bonnie's knees gave out on her and she almost fell clutching to her stomach but Stefan's ready arms wrapped around her holding her up against him.

"Bon!" his voice was desperate and worried that the spell had been too much. For a split second he thought he was going to lose her.

All of a sudden, as if all the life had been sucked out of her, she couldn't even find the strength or the words to tell him the baby was coming.

Stefan burst through the hospital doors carrying Bonnie in his arms.

"I need help!"

Two nurses rushed over to him "What happened?" one asked

"Her water broke but she's just less than 7 months along"

"Who's her doctor?" she ushered him to a wheelchair so he could put Bonnie down

"Dr. Bryan" he told her breathlessly

"Take them to room 4 and page Dr. Bryan now" she commanded to the other nurse.

By the time Bonnie was in a bed and being monitored an eager Damon along with Elijah and Elena were all in the waiting room unsure of the situation.

Elena was fine. Damon had to pinch himself when Elena had opened her eyes and started breathing; completely human. He really didn't believe the reaper idea would have worked. Elijah had shown up to tell him they needed to get to the hospital to be with Bonnie.

There was no time for questioning Damon had to be there. He didn't even care that Elijah came along he just made sure to send a quick call to Alaric.

Bonnie was breathing and clutching to Stefan's hand with all her strength as another contraction took her.

"Urgg doc you have to stop this-I c-can't give birth yet. Riight?" she asked hopefully talking through the contraction and squeezing Stefan's hand.

"I'm afraid that might not be possible Bonnie. Usually women who break their water early without contractions are given steroid shots, magnesium, put on bed rest, closely monitored and we do our best to delay labor until at least 34 weeks where we induce but-"

"But?" Bonnie interrupted eagerly

"But in your case your contractions have started, your body hasn't responded to the steroids or any of the medications and you're almost 6 centimeters dilated already. This baby seems determined to make an early entrance so we don't have much choice."

"Oh God." Bonnie closed her eyes praying she could hold on for even another day. Her eyes snapped open when Stefan released her hand

"I'll be right back" hurrying down the hallway Stefan spotted the infamous leather jacket as Damon paced up and down

"Damon, Bonnie needs you in there" he told him urgently

The two made it back to Bonnie's room so fast they almost knocked over two nurses in their hurry. Whether it was pure curiosity or a secret fascination with babies Elijah followed after the brothers. Of course Elena went too.

When Elijah and Elena got to the door a tremor shook the hospital.

"Whoa" Elena whispered glad she was already standing in the doorway

"Bonnie?" Stefan held her hand as she closed her eyes and breathed in and out

"I don't think I can control my powers right now" she opened her eyes and looked from Stefan to Damon who sat on either side of her

"I'm sorry, powers?" Dr. Bryan asked

Feeling the peak of his fear rumbling in his stomach Damon found himself not giving a damn about his secret.

"Yeah Doc sorry to drop this on you but Bonnie here, she's a witch. And my brother and I are vampires." He pointed between himself and Stefan "So you see this baby is not your everyday bundle of joy. Now I don't know if you can handle the shit I'm sure is gonna go down so just tell me one thing, can Bonnie have this baby safely?"

The older woman blinked several times at the elder Salvatore looking to both Bonnie and Stefan as well. "Okay…I told Bonnie I would do everything to make sure this baby came into the world safely and I intend to keep that promise…no matter how out of my element I may be" was the woman's reply to which both brothers were surprised.

This woman had some balls.

Damon nodded "Good, because I got to tell you doc, you're in for one hell of a night" Bonnie squeezed Stefan's hand when she felt the power rise in her gut. The lights went out in response then came back on again.

Looking at the three supernatural's in the room and showing only a glimpse of the nerves she must have been holding back, the doc took charge "I'm going to get the two nurses that checked you in here and get you prepped as soon as possible. It's best if everyone in the room and has access to this room knows all the details if that's alright with you gentlemen?"

Both brothers nodded their heads in unison. Their secret was the least of their concerns at the moment. Anyway they could just compel everyone after.

The two nurses in question looked at Dr. Bryan like she was crazy at first. But after the older woman snapped them out of their daze with a few colorful words and a reminder that they were in this field for a reason they both agreed that they would help and be discrete.

Ten minutes. Bonnie was now fully dilated, her room was fully prepped, the doc and the nurses were prepped in their gowns, she had already started pushing, 33 tremors and counting had shaken the hospital and the rest of the gang had burst through the front door and flocked all the poor nurses on the maternity ward; all in a record braking ten minutes.

"We're here to see Bonnie Bennett" Caroline said urgently

"Uhh one minute" the nurse whispered to another. They both looked back to the blonde then started whispering again.

"Why is no one telling us anything?" Caroline whispered to the group behind her

Another tremor shook the hospital causing everyone to look around in worry. That kinda thing just wasn't normal in the small town.

Tyler furrowed his brow as the two nurses ran down the hallway with a look of fear written all over their faces.

"Uh-I think we should-"

"This is crazy! Come on" Caroline cut him off as she took off in the direction the nurses went. The gang followed right behind her.

Caroline and the others got to the room just when things got even more interesting. All the machines in the room were floating as Bonnie was breathing through another contraction.

"Caroline! Thank God, get in herrre!" the witch ordered her

"I'm here. I'm here. You got this Bon, just breathe"

Stefan furrowed his brow with a strained look on his face "Is it me or is she-using- magic to squeeze our- hands" he gritted out

Damon shook his head "It's not you-ow"

"Would you both please shut uuuuuuuppp?"

Matt and Jenna stood in shocked silence watching the machines float up and down from the ceiling to the floor and back again. "What the hell?" they both said in unison

Alaric took Jenna's hand "I know this sounds crazy but Bonnie's a witch and…well, I'll tell you the rest later"

She just looked him and nodded dumbly with a look of 'you better' in her eyes. Matt studied the faces in the room with his jaw still slightly dropped. Besides Jenna no one else seemed to be hearing this news for the first time.

"Dude I wanna hear everything when this is over" he elbowed Tyler slightly although he had a slight smirk on his face. He thought the whole thing was cool. Freaky, but cool.

"Is there any way I can convince the rest of you to wait outside?" Dr. Bryan asked her eyes never leaving Bonnie. She got a giant 'NO' in response and shook her head "Fine, but if any of you are going to faint, don't. Alright Bonnie you're crowning. I need you to give me a good push now okay?"

"Piece of cake!" the witch yelled sarcastically and pushed as hard as she could gritting her teeth and causing multiple tremors in the process.

"Okay good Bonnie, good. One more"

"No I c-can't"

Tyler and Matt both bit down on their fists when they saw the gushing of blood and the appearance of the baby's head. "Holy shit" Tyler said

"Bonnie, yes you can. Now give me one big push!"

"Errrgggh!" Bonnie was giving everything she had left. It was so overwhelming tears started flowing. Stefan and Damon held her hands taking the force of her magic in stride. It hurt like hell but they kept giving her words of encouragement…through clenched jaws of course.

Caroline, Jenna and Elena were helping the nurses hold her legs in place while Alaric, Jeremy, Tyler, Matt and Elijah stood transfixed watching what was most likely…the birth of the century.

What looked like a wet and bloody tennis ball with dark hair was now between Bonnie's legs. "Alright now the shoulders, come on Bonnie your almost there. Home stretch, now PUSH"

Small electrical sparks came off the baby's head and Dr. Bryan had to move her hands for fear of being shocked. She was not going to be deterred however and quickly put her hands back in place as Bonnie continued to push.

One by one the shoulders slipped out and with an extra push and a little help from Dr. Bryan the baby was out. The machines all landed back to the ground in their upright positions and Bonnie finally released both vampires to take several breaths.

Damon and Stefan both froze at the sight. They had been around babies before of course but in all their hundred plus years they had never seen something so beautiful.

The rest of the men in the room however couldn't take their eyes off the blood and guts that just gushed from Bonnie. Jeremy raised one finger to be excused before he dashed out of the room to throw up.

Alaric felt like he might pass out after seeing the 'sunshine and stars' of Bonnie's…so he opted to go sit outside.

As the rest of the group recovered Dr. Bryan clamped the umbilical cord and looked up at them "Bonnie, Stefan, and Damon…say hello to your baby girl" she smiled

Stefan took the scissors the nurse handed to him and locked eyes with Damon. The brothers shared anxious smiles and both placed a hand on the scissors to snip the cord. Dr. Bryan handed the baby to the nurses who made quick work to clean her up, make sure all was fine and wrap her tiny frame in a small blanket.

Bonnie was so exhausted her eyes were only half open "Stefan, does she have ten fingers and ten toes?" she asked weakly

He couldn't help but snicker at the question "She's perfect". Caroline nodded and made a tear filled echo "Perfect"

"Mhm okay" she mumbled before her eyes closed and her head lulled back. The machine monitoring her vitals started beeping; Bonnie's blood pressure was dropping.

"She's hemorrhaging" one of the nurses said frantically

"Hey, don't you even dare" Stefan commanded in a harsh whisper before biting into his wrist and placing it over her mouth. He wasn't going to lose her, not after everything they just survived.

After a second's delay Bonnie began drinking the crimson liquid and her vitals went back to normal. The nurse did a check just to make sure and she sighed in relief that the bleeding had stopped.

"Amazing" the other nurse whispered

"Tell us doc, what's the verdict? How is she?" Damon asked nervously

Dr. Bryan gave a small smile "She's in perfect health"

Everyone relaxed in relief but Damon and Stefan picked up some uncertainty in her voice

"You don't sound convinced" Stefan focused on the woman as he held Bonnie's hand.

"Normally I would be discussing any long term health problems you might face but your daughter isn't a normal premature baby. This isn't my area of expertise by a long shot. I mean your daughter is easily healthier than most full term babies its remarkable"

One of the nurses came over with the baby and gave her to Bonnie. If she had any thoughts on what this moment would be like the reality shattered all of them. Warmth, love, joy, excitement all enveloped the young witch and she couldn't fight the tears that flowed.

Bonnie was overcome with more emotion than she could have imagined and placed a wet kiss on her daughter's forehead.

Caroline recognized the need for privacy and she motioned for the others to leave the room. As the door closed Bonnie whispered prayers of thanks for the safety and health of her daughter. She was more than just a miracle.

Bonnie looked up at Stefan and glanced at his brother and he nodded in response. "Damon" she called and the vampire was glued in place for a moment unsure of what to do. He walked over to her bedside and hesitated before taking his daughter.

She fussed only a second before relaxing quietly in his arms. He smiled at that; she recognized him.

Damon held her like she was a delicate piece of glass he didn't want to break. He too was filled with emotion and fought hard not the choke up as he stared at the precious gift in his arms.

"I know you don't know me that well but-but I'm your old man." He stuttered "And this guy, he's your dad too" he said looking to Stefan

Stefan stood speechless staring at his brother. He knew he would be apart of the baby's life no matter what but he never expected Damon to…

"That is if he can stand being a dad with me" Damon interrupted his thoughts

Stefan smiled warmly at his brother for what may have been the first time in decades. After all the shit that had happened this tiny baby was like a fresh start; a new beginning for all of them. His smile widened as Damon handed their daughter over to him and it was his turn to lose himself to emotion.

He kissed her as Bonnie did as he couldn't find any words to say. It was when she latched on to his finger with her tiny hand that he found his voice and managed to say "Hi" and found himself laughing for no apparent reason.

For several minutes the three of them could do nothing but marvel at the baby throwing out names that would fit her the most. She was a unique force of nature and she deserved a name befitting such a being.

They each laughed at the suggestions they came up with until they finally agreed on one. It was as if the Universe handed the name to them. A knock at the door prompted them to break their never ending focus from their daughter and Damon went to see who it was. It was Elijah.

"I don't wish to disturb such a precious time but may I have moment Stefan?"

With another gentle kiss Stefan placed the delicate bundle back in her mothers arms and followed Elijah into the lobby

"This is where I take my leave. Klaus is finally dead, now I must find the family he stole from me."

Stefan pursed his lips "I hope you find your family Elijah. I really do. But if you do, and you all decide to go crazy and I don't know, try your shot at world domination; we won't just let you all roam free"

"I would expect nothing less." He peeked into the room at the new mother "Take care of your family Stefan; they are the most important things to a man. For helping me I will gladly repay you if you ever find yourself in need of an Original touch" he smirked

When the young vampire nodded in farewell and went back to his family Elijah found himself grounded to where he stood. There was a pull on him, slight and familiar.

Elijah looked back into the room to see Sheila and Emily staring down at their new grandchild. Emily looked up with that ghost of a smile she always gave him before disappearing. He smiled to himself and left. He would see her again.

The gang of course couldn't wait to re-enter the room. When they all came back in everyone had giddy smiles on their faces while Damon and Stefan sat on either side of Bonnie as she held her sleeping daughter in her arms.

"Come on I think we're all dying to hear, what's her name?" Caroline bobbed up and down

Of course Bonnie did the honors "Her name is Bree Sheila Salvatore"

Jenna smiled "That's beautiful, where did you come up with Bree?"

"Blue-green"

When everyone in the room looked at each other in confusion the little bundle in Bonnie's arms opened her eyes for the second time since being born one at a time to reveal one icy blue eye and one hazel green eye.

Caroline gushed, "Oh! Blue-green. That is so cute!"

Everyone cast a strange look at Tyler when he let "Aww" slip past his lips. His cheeks went red but he never took his eyes of his friend and his new god-daughter.

"The moment we saw her eyes we somehow remembered Bree. It was the only one Stefan and I both liked but we never really decided for sure. Now it just feels right"

"What does it mean?" Matt asked

"It's Gaelic…for one who is strong, virtuous and exalted" Stefan said to the group fatherly pride written in his features

Damon bore the same expression "I couldn't have come up with a better name myself. I think it's perfect"

"Yes she is. You knew you were coming early all along didn't you?" Bonnie whispered

Bree yawned in the cutest way and closed her tiny eyes again. Everyone in the room gushed.

TBC

AN-I hope I did okay with the birth it was a little hard for me to write not having first hand experience and all. Klaus is finally gone! Does that mean the end of drama? Well it is Mystic Falls after all but I will be sure to focus on all things Stefonnie and Bree from now on. And the reaper thing (hope it made sense) was just my way of not copying the show and bringing Rose into the story *wink wink*…Anyway reviews welcome!