Audrey sat anxiously beside Elena and grabbed her hand. No matter how much they fought, they were still sisters. "I don't know what'd I do without you, Lena," All Audrey wanted was to go back to when everything was simple and easy. Back when her parents were still alive and there weren't any vampires in her life. Jeremy watched from outside the room and sighed. How did this happen to them?

"She's gonna be fine. She got a little banged up today, hit her head, but it was just a slight concussion, nothing to worry about," Meredith said to Jeremy, trying to comfort him.

"But she collapsed, there was blood," Jeremy said worriedly.

"Honestly, Jeremy, she's okay. She's just...she's been through a lot. Is there anyone you want to call?" Meredith asked. Jeremy nodded and got out his phone. He immediately called Damon.

"Hello?" Damon answered while driving.

"Elena passed out and she was bleeding so I took her to the hospital," Jeremy said instantly. Damon choked on air at the sudden reply and looked at Stefan, who was next to him.

"You did what?!" Damon shouted.

"I took her to the hospital. When you find your sister unconscious, you call 911," Jeremy said sarcastically.

"Not when you have a parade of vampires at your disposal. Where's Audrey?" Damon questioned worriedly.

"Here with me," Jeremy answered.

"Get them out of there immediately. Alaric could come at any moment to kill Audrey and every Original is going to want Elena dead now," Stefan explained into the phone.

"Meredith said I should keep her here for observation," Jeremy reasoned.

"Jeremy, get Elena and Audrey home, we're on our way," Damon stated before hanging up. Jeremy rolled his eyes but did as told. He called Caroline, who showed up immediately, and carried Elena home. Matt and Tyler met them at the Gilbert house to help, but what was there to do? Caroline carefully helped Elena to the couch.

"I'm fine. I just...I want something to eat first," Elena said tiredly.

"We're on it, as soon as we make sure no one is lurking in the closets," Tyler said as him and Matt walked upstairs cautiously. Audrey sighed and sat beside her sister on the couch.

"Hey, tell your boyfriend I said thanks by the way," Caroline said to Audrey. "I'd be dead if it weren't for him,"

"See, he can be a decent person sometimes," Audrey smiled. "He wants me to runaway with him tonight, but I don't want to leave you guys,"

"I don't want you to leave either, but maybe it's for the best," Caroline sighed. "Alaric is hell bent on killing you, Audrey. I mean, I want you here but I can't protect you. None of us can, and I want you alive. Klaus is your best chance when it comes to protection," Audrey looked down and thought about it. Caroline had a point, but everything was moving too fast. Her and Klaus hadn't even established a relationship yet.

"It's all happening too fast and I don't know what to do," Audrey confessed. "I know going with Klaus is my best bet, but...what if I never see you guys again?"

"Please, that'd never happen. I'd hunt you down myself," Caroline smiled.

"Audrey, you should go," Elena mumbled out. "I don't want to lose you either. You're my baby sister, which means I need to protect you. You need to go with Klaus," Audrey blinked a few times and felt tears surfacing.

"Um, well let's brighten the mood! Does anyone want some tea, maybe some vodka? Both will help you relax," Caroline said as she walked towards the kitchen. Elena and Audrey just stared up at her. "I know, I know. I'm being smothering,"

"No, it's...it's nice," Elena smiled, relaxing into the couch.

"I'm thinking maybe tea with vodka," Caroline smiled back.

"I second that!" Audrey laughed, causing the other two to laugh with her. Caroline went to make the alcoholic beverage while Audrey stayed back on the couch. Elena had been staring at the picture on the end table before she slowly drifted to sleep. Audrey looked at it too and smiled sadly. It was a picture from sophomore year. Elena and Audrey were both in their cheerleading uniforms, posing with their parents. It was times like these that Audrey missed her parents. Right now, they'd all be sitting on the couch together, talking about their days. They'd be one big happy family again.

"So the only vodka you had was pineapple flavored but it's surprisingly good in this," Caroline chuckled as she handed her friend a mug.

"Thanks, Care," Audrey said softly. Caroline nodded and sat on the couch opposite of her friends.

"So, how are things between you and Klaus? You know, besides the Alaric drama," Caroline asked sipping her tea.

"Things are good," Audrey smiled. "I almost told him I loved him the other night,"

"What?!" Caroline said choking on her drink. "You almost told him you were in love with him?!"

"Well yeah. We were making out and things were getting...intimate. I don't know, it felt right," Audrey explained casually. "I didn't tell him though, I chickened out,"

"Oh my god-!" Caroline's shrieking phone cut her off instantly. She answered it hesitantly and frowned. "Mom?" Liz must've been talking frantically because Caroline's eyes widened. "Okay, yeah. I'm coming now," She hung up her phone right as Tyler came running down the stairs.

"Did your mom just call you too?" Tyler asked.

"Yeah, she said there's an emergency and she needs me home," Caroline answered. She turned back to her best friend and smiled. "I love you," Audrey smiled and stood up to hug her friend.

"I love you more, Care," They hugged for a long time before Caroline and Tyler left. Once they were gone, Matt came downstairs. He sat beside Audrey on the couch and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I've never been so exhausted in my life,"

"Yeah, this past year has been one big shit show," Matt chuckled. Audrey nodded in agreement and laid her head on his shoulder. "So, are you leaving with Klaus?" She looked up at him and cocked an eyebrow. "I was eavesdropping,"

"Of course you were," She laughed. "Well, I don't know yet. I probably will no matter what. There's no way in hell Klaus would leave me here without protection,"

"I never would've expected you to have him as your soulmate, but it's fitting," Matt said with a small smile. "You can turn the most evil people in the world good. Just look at Damon,"

"Damon wasn't evil, just a dick," Audrey giggled.

"I still remember the day he saved your life," Matt said in a daze. "We were all wondering where you were and all of a sudden here comes Damon carrying you in his arms. You were sobbing and thanking him and I could've sworn I saw the change in his eyes,"

"I used to think Damon was my knight in shining armor," Audrey smiled. "Maybe he is," There was a moment of silence before Elena stirring awake interrupted that.

"Hey sleeping beauty," Matt said with a chuckle.

"Where is everyone?" Elena yawned.

"Caroline and Tyler had to go because their moms called them," Matt explained.

"Speaking of calling someone. I need to go call Klaus. I'll be right back," Audrey said standing from the couch. She walked to the back of the house and dialed the hybrid's number.

"Hello, my love," She could tell he was smiling just from the sound of his voice. She smiled too.

"I've decided that you were right," Audrey sighed. "Maybe we should leave,"

"Yeah...about that," Klaus trailed off. "I thought about what you said and decided to take matters into my own hands,"

"What do you mean?" She asked quickly growing worried.

"Damon and I are luring Alaric out of town tonight," Klaus explained. "Stefan is going to let it slip that they used the desiccating spell on me and are now taking my body to the Atlantic,"

"And then what?" Audrey asked.

"Once he realizes that they're really taking my body to a storage unit he'll come looking for me and that's when we'll kill him," Klaus explained so assure of himself.

"That's a horrible plan! You and Damon could die!" Audrey said worriedly.

"Don't worry, love, we'll be fine. Besides, you should be happy I'm willing to work with this distasteful lunatic," Klaus said with a smirk. Damon rolled his eyes at the smug hybrid but kept quiet.

"But what if you're not fine! What if everything backfires?" Audrey bit her nails anxiously. How could he be so reckless?

"Don't worry I have a backup plan," Klaus assured.

"Well...these could be our last words to each other then right?" Audrey sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I guess I should tell you now,"

"What is it?" Klaus questioned with panic.

"I love you-," Audrey said but the connection went dead before she could finish. She looked at her phone to see that it had died. "Of course," She groaned before throwing her phone and walking back to her sister. Once she returned to the living room she was surprised to see Stefan and Matt cooking in the kitchen.

"I'm being over coddled. I feel completely fine," Elena complained.

"You're on house arrest. You're supposed to be coddled," Stefan replied. Audrey rolled her eyes and sat beside her sister.

"Wouldn't it be smarter if we just got you the hell out of town?" Matt asked.

"And do what? Go on the run for the rest of my life? No thank you," Elena said standing up. "And I'm not a invalid. I'm done with the couch," She walks out of the room leaving Audrey, Matt, and Stefan.

"So you're just gonna let her call the shots?" Matt asked Stefan.

"I'm letting her make her own decisions," Stefan sighed.

"Even if they're the wrong ones?" Matt cocked an eyebrow.

"Nothing wrong with free will, Matt. Trust me, you don't realize that till you lose it," Stefan answered. Matt shook his head and continued cooking. After they were done cooking they made plates for everyone and sat in the living room to eat. Elena was seated beside her sister and was barely eating. Audrey scarfed her food down before giving Elena a look.

"What?" Elena asked.

"Eat. You need it," Audrey said with a mouthful.

"I'm not that hungry anymore," Elena sighed. "All I do nowadays is worry,"

"Same," Audrey said.

"I feel like every time someone walks out of this house, there's a chance they may not make it back home," Elena said standing up and walking up to her room. Stefan quickly followed her, leaving Audrey and Matt alone together.

"I wish things were different. I just want to go back to when my parents were still alive and everything made sense," Audrey said sadly. Matt nodded in agreement. After Stefan had left Audrey went upstairs to check on Elena. "How you doing?"

"Other than constantly worrying? Oh just fine," Elena sighed. Audrey smiled and sat beside her sister in the window seat. "How about you? Damon told me about his and Klaus's plan and I thought it was completely idiotic,"

"Thank you! Those two should never become friends. They'd do the dumbest shit together," Audrey said shaking her head. Elena laughed in agreement. "On the bright side, they are working together for once."

"Let's see how long that lasts," Elena said. Both sisters smiled at one another and said nothing until Matt walked into the room to hand them cups of hot tea. "Mm, thank you," Elena took one sip and scrunched her face in disgust.

"Sorry, I over-honeyed it. I suck at tea," Matt apologized causing both girls to laugh. Audrey slowly sipped hers but cringed as well.

"So, Stefan?" Matt asked Elena.

"He saved my life, you know. I never told you that. The night my parents' car went off the bridge, Stefan was the one that saved me," Elena said casting her eyes to the window.

"So, do you feel like you owe him or something?" Matt asked curiously.

"No, it's not that. It's-after the accident, I kind of felt like I didn't know how to live anymore, like I didn't want to, but then being with Stefan...it's just...somehow I figured it out. And that's what love should be. You should love the person that makes you glad you're alive," Elena explained.

"So then, what's the problem?" Matt questioned.

"The problem is Damon. When I'm with him, he just consumes me. And I know that I can't love them both, I know that it's wrong , but I - when I choose one then I'll lose the other. And I don't want to lose anyone else. I-I-just- I wish that I had my mom here to give me some advice," Elena stuttered. Audrey rubbed her back comfortingly and nodded.

"Mom would give you some inspirational speech on how both of them are perfect for you and how this was your decision to make and no one else's," Audrey said with a grin. Elena nodded tiredly but couldn't produce any words before slowly blacking out. It didn't take too long for Audrey to do the same.

-

When Audrey awoke she was between Elena and Matt in Matt's pickup truck. She looked around with confusion and finally looked at Matt. "What's going on?"

"It's the only way I was going to get you and Elena in this truck," Matt said calmly. Elena stirred awake and looked around tiredly.

"You drugged our tea?" Audrey asked, fully waking up.

"I'm sorry, guys, but you're right, okay. You don't have any parents to tell you what's right or wrong, you've got me and Jeremy and a bunch of vampires fighting a war you two shouldn't be in the middle of," Matt explained.

"What the hell is going on, Matt?" Elena asked frantically.

"I'm getting you guys out of town, Elena. It's the only way to keep you safe," Matt said as he continued to drive. The two sisters angrily looked out the window in silence. "Please don't be mad,"

"My soulmate and all of my friends could die tonight, Matt. I could die tonight! Of course, I'm freaking mad! This whole mess is exhausting and I want to do is go home and lay in my bed," Audrey complained, crossing her arms over her chest stubbornly. Matt didn't reply to her and just kept driving. They drove for a long time in silence, until Audrey gasping for air cut that off. She clutched her chest as excruciating pain coursed through her body.

"What's happening?!" Matt asked worriedly.

"I don't know!" Elena replied. Audrey continued to gasp for air until she finally managed to struggle out "Klaus". Elena was whipping out her phone, ready to call Damon but he was already calling Audrey's phone. Matt's phone went off too causing the chaos to worsen. When the pain seemed to fade and she was no longer struggling to breath, she answered her phone.

"Hello?" She choked out.

"Little bird, I'm-I'm so sorry," Damon said instantly. "I...I-,"

"What happened, Damon? Is Klaus alright?!" When he didn't reply she gripped the phone tightly and felt tears form in her eyes. "Don't tell me...he...he's-,"

"I tried to stop him, Audrey, I really did. Alaric was too strong for us," Damon choked out. "I love you so much, little bird,"

"Damon...I don't-I-," She begins to cry and Elena looks at her sister with confusion. "So this is our epic goodbye, evil spawn?"

"I'm afraid so," Damon said. "We had a hell of a run,"

"I love you too, Damon. I always have," Audrey sniffled.

"I'll see you on the other side, babe," Damon smiled softly.

"Yeah," Audrey said before hanging up the phone. She looked at Elena who was now beginning to cry too. "I'm sorry, Elena,"

"Got it, Jer," Matt said, ending his call.

"We have to go back. Listen to me, Matt, if Klaus really is the one that turned their bloodline, then they're all gonna die," Elena cried. "We have to go back, Matt!"

"Damon's not with them," Matt said.

"What-?"

"He's a hundred miles out of town, I can keep driving to him or I can turn around and go back to Stefan. It's your choice," Matt said, continuing to drive. Audrey looked at her sister through tears and nodded. Elena brought her younger sister into her arms and looked back at Matt.

"Stefan. Go back to, Stefan," Elena sniffled. Matt nodded and turned his truck around.

"I don't know how much time I'll have left, but I want you two to know how much I love you. I wouldn't have become the person I am today, without all of you," Audrey said softly.

"I love you too, Aud," Elena said, trying to remain as calm as possible. Matt was staying quiet, he wouldn't be able to talk anyways, not while crying.

"Maybe I'll see mom and dad again," Audrey smiled. "Aunt Jenna too,"

"Yeah," Elena smiled, kissing her sister's forehead. "Maybe you will," Audrey looked at the stars outside the window and thought back to the night her parents died.

-

"I know," Audrey laughed. "No, mom. I didn't kiss anyone,"

"Really? Isn't that the point of those stupid bonfires?" Jenna teased through the phone.

"Even if it was, there's no one here worth kissing," Audrey said glancing back at the party.

"Good for you, sweetie. She's already learning well," Miranda Gilbert chuckled. "Well, Elena called not too long ago, so your father and I will be there to pick you both up shortly,"

"Actually, I'm staying at Caroline's tonight," Audrey said looking up at the sky. Stars littered the sky beautifully.

"Okay," Miranda smiled. "I love you sweetheart,"

"I love you too, mom. See you tomorrow," Audrey said before hanging up the phone. She continued to search the sky until she heard Caroline's voice yelling for her.

-

"Damn it!" Matt screamed hitting the steering wheel. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Audrey stirred awake at his angry voice and looked around to see they were still in the car and she was still alive.

"Matt! Matt, stop it!" Elena shouted trying to get him to listen.

"This isn't how our lives were supposed to be, Elena," Matt cried with frustration .

"What...What happened?" Audrey yawned.

"Tyler...he um died," Elena said sadly. Audrey furrowed her brows with confusion.

"How am I still alive then?" She wondered aloud.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out too," Elena said. "Maybe, Esther was lying,"

"No, she knew I would die if Klaus died. She always talked about how she didn't care about me dying," Audrey explained.

"I don't know then, but I need to call Stefan," Elena sighed. She looked down at her phone and groaned. "My battery's almost dead,"

"Here, use mine," Audrey said handing over her phone to her sister.