Dulles International Airport; 11:35 P.M.
Alaric shifted restlessly in his seat. *There's nothing quite like airport chairs.* No matter what position he tried, he couldn't get comfortable. He didn't understand how Meredith could be so calm. She seemed to be taking everything in stride. Caroline's murder. . .Bonnie collapsing. . .Elena and Stefan returning to Fell's Church. . .almost like a walk in the park.
He turned now to look at her in wonderment. Leaning slightly forward, her chin was in her hands. Her dark brown eyes appeared to be studying a "No Smoking" sign, but Alaric knew better. He knew she was brooding.
"Maybe we should have hired a caterer for this little family reunion," he commented quietly, hoping to break her out of her daze.
A faint grin touched her face as she turned to look at him. "Am I mistaken, Dr. Saltzman, or did you just make a joke?"
He felt his own lips curl up in response. "Tell anyone, and I'll deny it," he replied. Then, clearing his throat, he added, "I'm actually scared to death."
The smile left Meredith's face. She reached for his hands and held them tightly within her own. As always, he felt his love for her swell as she locked her eyes onto his.
"We're going to get through this," she told him firmly.
Alaric nodded, but wasn't reassured. He felt so inept, much younger than his 24 years. How odd that Meredith, four years his junior, was the source of his strength. "I know. . .this is just so unexpected. . .out of the blue. Two days ago our biggest worry was what to have for dinner, and now we're back in Fell's Church--the Evil capital of the world. It's been two years Meredith--what if it's too much for us this time?"
She sighed and turned her gaze to the floor. "I can't offer guarantees Alaric, but I know that we're going to try. And that's always been enough before."
He squeezed her hands. "I love you."
"That's good," she responded in her usual way.
Alaric chuckled to himself and off-handedly glanced at his watch. "Are you sure this is where they wanted to meet us?"
Meredith dropped his hands and looked at her own watch. "Yes, she said they'd come here as soon as they got free of the baggage claim."
"They should have been here by now," Alaric muttered as he scanned the terminal.
"Well, we had to make an entrance," responded a familiar voice behind them.
Alaric and Meredith both stood and turned in one fluid motion. Alaric breathed deeply and was immediately struck by the surrealism of the situation. Before him stood two people he'd thought he'd never see again in his entire life.
And they were different. . .Alaric hadn't known Stefan or Elena very well, but two years had seen major changes for them. When Alaric had known them in Fell's Church--fighting for their love, and their lives, both had possessed a glow. . .a fire and spirit that couldn't be ignored. He supposed that was why he and so many others had not only wanted, but had needed to help them in their fight. Now however, their lights had diminished. . .they looked almost. . .defeated. And there were physical differences too.
"You cut your hair," he said quietly to Elena, feeling awkward, but compelled to speak.
Meredith coughed pointedly and Elena favored him with a weak but relieved grin, as if she'd been expecting him to say something far worse.
"Yeah, I got it cut a few months ago. Do you like it?"
"It's different," Meredith offered, echoing his thoughts. Alaric smiled wryly and added, "But it looks good."
Indeed, for as altered as they were, both were still beautiful. Elena's pale golden hair now hung down to just above her shoulders in thin layered waves. She looked thinner, her features were more defined, and her jewel-like blue eyes dominated her face even more. Her pale skin was flawless, and her stance as graceful as ever.
Turning to her dark companion, Alaric held out his hand. "Stefan," he murmured. "How are you?"
Stefan smiled and set down the luggage he was carrying to take Alaric's proffered hand. In contrast to Elena, he'd grown his hair out, and the glossy black waves came down just below his ears.
"I'm here," he replied in a bland voice. The smile on his face reached his eyes though, and Alaric concluded that he was genuinely happy to see them. As they shook hands, he also took in the fact that Stefan was unusually pale and gaunt. His green eyes blazed forth, the only thing on him that was vibrant.
Alaric turned to see Elena and Meredith hugging each other fiercely. "I've missed you," he heard Elena whisper.
When they pulled away, he thought he caught a faint wetness in Meredith's eyes. But as usual, she remained composed and on top of the situation. "We should get on the road. It's late."
As they made their way out of the airport, Alaric's curiosity got the better of him. "How did you know we were at the hotel?" he asked Elena.
She gave him an odd look, then smiled. "I didn't. I called Meredith's house and her father gave me the number."
Meredith stopped walking. "You called my house? But Elena--"
"She told him she was Bonnie," Stefan interrupted.
Elena sighed and adjusted the carry-on bag she had slung over her shoulder. "Don't worry Meredith, as far as Fell's Church is concerned, Elena Gilbert is still dead."
They resumed walking in silence until Stefan put his own question forth. "Why are you guys in a hotel anyway?"
Meredith looked quickly at Alaric. He met her gaze steadily, but had no solution to offer. Finally she turned to the other couple.
"Why did you come back to Fell's Church?"
Stefan snorted. "Now, that's a good question. I can't answer it, but maybe someone else can."
Elena cleared her throat and avoided looking at Stefan. "I'm not sure," she replied vaguely. "I just had a feeling. . ." She raised her eyes and focused them on Alaric. "Is something wrong here again?" Her voice pleaded with him to say no.
He turned to Meredith. "Is something wrong here?" he questioned.
Meredith threw him a withering glare, and he knew she was pissed at him for throwing the responsibility at her. "Yes, something is wrong," she bit out. They passed through the airport doors into the night air and she gazed off into the distance.
"I don't remember where we parked."
* * * * *
Fell's Church; 12:00 A.M.
Bonnie's Apartment
Bonnie hung up the phone and stared at it quizzically. Why weren't Meredith or Alaric in their hotel room? Alaric was the lightest sleeper in the world--if they were there, he would have answered the phone.
"No luck, petite?"
She turned to see Aurora emerge from the bathroom in a cloud of steam. She was wrapped in Bonnie's favorite blue bathrobe and vigorously toweling her long raven-colored hair.
Bonnie smiled slightly. "No. I guess they're asleep. I know they were both pretty tired."
Aurora chuckled as she hoisted herself onto a stool by Bonnie's breakfast bar. "I know how they feel. We'll just try again in the morning."
Renewed by the beautiful girl's optimism, Bonnie joined her at the breakfast bar. "I've never met anyone like you," she stated candidly.
The vampire looked surprised. "Pardon?"
"All the vampires I've ever known have either been brooding and moody, or homicidal maniacs. I've never known one who was. . ."
"Happy?" Aurora supplied.
The red-head smiled. "Pretty much. I don't know how to say this without sounding corny and stupid, but you're a really refreshing change."
Aurora seemed taken aback. Her surprise slowly melted and left a look of pensive concern on her beautiful features. "Bonnie--" she began.
Bonnie frowned. "Is something wrong?"
"No," Aurora replied. "Not wrong, just unfinished. You trust me, non?"
"Well. . .yes."
"Then I need to tell you something. You might not like it, but I have to be honest."
Fear began to overwhelm Bonnie's senses. "Aurora, what is it?"
The dark-haired vampire paused, then idly laid her hand over Bonnie's. "The boy who died this morning, in the gas station. You've been thinking about him."
A lump was forming in her throat. Bonnie swallowed several times before she could reply. "Chris? Yes, I went to school with him."
Aurora's violet eyes were worried. "Bonnie--I killed him."
Bonnie felt as if someone had just dumped ice water over her. "You?" she whispered. She quickly drew her hand away from Aurora's. "You--why?"
"You know what I am," was the quiet answer.
She stared at Aurora in dumb-founded horror. "That's it? That's your excuse?"
Aurora's eyes darkened with anger. "It is not an excuse, petite. C'est la raison. I am a vampire. I need blood to live. This is not an unfamiliar concept to you."
"Just because you're a vampire doesn't mean you have to kill people!" Bonnie raged as she jumped off her stool. *How could I have been so stupid?*
"You are not stupid. . .just emotional." Aurora stated simply.
"Emotional? Where in the Hell---"
"And you're right."
Bonnie paused in the middle of her rant and looked into Aurora's eyes. They were filled with tears. "What did you say?"
"I said that you were right. I did not have to kill that boy. I didn't mean to kill him."
"Didn't mean to?"
Aurora sighed. Bonnie's frigid stance relaxed a measure or two and she moved back toward the bar. "I may be immortal petite, but I am not perfect."
Thinking about Damon and Stefan, Bonnie nodded and sat down again. "I think I learned a long time ago that immortality is definitely flawed. But Aurora, murder isn't just a mistake--"
Drawing her feet up on the stool, the beautiful vampire took on the look of a frightened twelve year-old. "I don't kill people. I take what I need, and usually they're fine. The only thing I can say about what happened is that I hadn't fed in a long time. I know that sounds pathetic, but it's true. I'm sorry that he died, but I cannot take it back."
"But--"
"No." Aurora held her gaze steadily. "I've made my peace with it, and with you."
Bonnie was stunned. "You should meet Damon," she whispered unconsciously.
Aurora's eyes glittered fiercely. "There is evil here Bonnie, but it is not me."
And that made more sense than anything the small red-head had ever heard in her life. What she couldn't comprehend was how she had finally met someone who didn't bullshit with her, who told it to her like it was.
"You need to get out of Fell's Church more often ma petite." Aurora touched her cheek with a well-manicured hand. "There's a whole world out there waiting to meet you."
"I hope you're talking about friendly, day-type people," Bonnie replied seriously.
Aurora smiled slowly and removed herself from her stool. "I imagine some of them might be," was her return as she sauntered down the hall into the guest bedroom.
*This is going to prove interesting.* Bonnie stood up and yawned. Immediately she was stuck by a wave of dizziness. *Imagine that, the doctor was right. I do need rest.*
She was going through the livingroom turning off the lights when the phone rang. She glanced at the clock. 12:12. *Who. . .probably Meredith.*
"Hello?"
"Bonnie? It's Alaric. What are you doing awake?"
Bonnie frowned. "Gee Dad, I don't know. Could the fact that you called me have something to do with it?"
She heard him sigh. "You're right--stupid question. Sorry. Listen, Meredith and I have. . .a surprise. We'll be at your apartment first thing in the morning."
"I don't like surprises Alaric. What's going on? And how "first thing" are we talking here?"
"Calm down. We all just need to get together and talk. Is 10:00 okay?"
Bonnie concentrated. He was hiding something, she was sure. A few hours with Aurora, and her psychic senses were already toning up. "What aren't you telling me?"
"Bonnie--" Alaric paused. She could picture him--his eyes pinched shut while he ran his free hand through his sandy hair over and over again. She could hear the frustration in his voice. "Fine," he continued. "Meredith didn't want me to tell you right now, because she said you'd freak out and not sleep. But I know that you're over there trying to read my thoughts or something, so I'm not even going to fight you."
"Alaric--"
"They're back."
Now, those were not the words she had been expecting to hear. "Back? Who?" "
"Elena. And Stefan."
Shock. There was no other word to describe the feeling that had come over her. * Why are they here? Did they know? Did something happen? *
"Bonnie?"
She licked her lips and noted that her tongue felt like it had glue all over it. "Yeah?"
"We'll be at your apartment at 10:00. Try to get some sleep. . .don't stress about this, okay?"
*Don't stress? Is he nuts?! *
"Okay, Alaric. I'll see you in the morning."
It was only after she'd hung up the receiver that she realized she hadn't told Alaric about Aurora.
"They'll find out tomorrow."
Bonnie turned. Aurora was leaning against the hallway wall, dressed in a short silk nightgown. She smiled sweetly.
"One Salvatore found. One more to go."
* * * * *
Fell's Church City Limits, Same time
The car sped down Fell's Church's main road--clearly ignoring the posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour.
Officer Lewis sighed and turned on his lights. "Crazy kids," he muttered, taking off after the offender. "Why can't they just slow the hell down?"
At first he thought he'd have to give chase, but after thirty seconds or so, the small car pulled over to the side of the road just outside of the Flowers Boarding House. Officer Lewis picked up his two-way radio.
"This is car 68. I've got a speeder with the license plate L6-1180. I'll be back to report the license number and car make. It's something foreign."
He got out of the car slowly, and whistled appreciatively as he neared the automobile. *Fancy digs. Must have a rich daddy.* He tapped on the *illegally* tinted window, and it rolled down slowly. Lewis turned on his flashlight, expecting some young, upset Virginian debutante.
"Hello young lady, did you know---" he trailed off. "Oh, I'm sorry sir. Did you know that you were speeding?"
"Was I? How unfortunate."
Lewis squinted. *Was that an accent?* "Yes, you were doing 55 in a 35 zone---" He paused, feeling dizzy and strange. "Whoa."
"I don't really think I need a ticket, officer. I'll be sure to drive more carefully from now on."
"What? Oh, yes. . .more carefully."
The voice was slow and soothing. "Why don't you just go back to your car now Officer Lewis. Go home and go to sleep. In a minute, you won't remember any of this."
Lewis turned and headed back to his car. He looked back once more to see the other car's taillights disappear around the back of the boarding house. Something in his mind clicked.
*A Porsche.* Then, he went blank.
* * * * *
