a/n: ...final three TVD chapters y'all...
This is a convo heavy chapter but it's needed before the main plot (if you can pretend the TVD finale had a sensical plot lmao)
Remember to comment and vote xx
- Bea

MARCH 2014

Nadia Petrova shoved up in her bed as the coughing became too loud to ignore. Blood was splattered across the floor of a neighbouring room; Katherine Pierce, hunched over the kitchen sink, elbows shaking, the rising sun just behind the closed curtains. The pair were thousands of miles away from whatever was causing her body to shut down, clenching in her heart, then splitting through her lungs, cracking like each bone was a twig, desperate to snap.

"Maminka," Her voice was weak as she watched flesh turn frail, "Katerina."

"Leave."

"I – "

"LEAVE," She screeched as she sunk to the floor, unable to stop her head from rocking back, "I – We – "

The deep crimson of her tank top only made her skin look paler, lips stained with blood for the first time in what felt like forever, dripping onto the cream tiled floor. The apartment was decently sized, made for temporary occupation, the pair on a tour of places they'd both once lived. Seeing what it was like to live without the fear of the hunt.

"This happened the last time!" Nadia appeared by her side, "You woke up."

The phrase was spoken like a prayer to the universe.

"The magic calmed, and you woke."

Each second let another spill of blood paint the floor, the tap overhead twisted, spraying, creating a tiny tornado behind them. Water – turning, and turning – and –

"Phone her," Katherine choked, "Phone him."

"But – "

"Now."

Nadia could barely move, her night shirt slowly soaked as she desperately tried to hold her mother. As she tried to ease the shivers, and the pulsing muscles, body unable to do anything but bleed.

"We – we – "

She shoved out of Nadia's hold, elbows pressed into the freezing floor as sweat covered her forehead, something pouring fire across her skin –

"Mira," Katherine knew it had to be about her, "MJ – what have you – "

Something stabbed into her forehead, like it was carving a shape, her scream about to wake any neighbour still residing around them, flashes of white, and yellow, and blue –

Power.

The world in front of Katherine splintered, leaving Nadia's face in one sector, a casing of blue over the door to their living room, and a blasting of white, absorbing into a brown iris, suddenly blue, then white again, and screaming, and red –

"Please," Katherine didn't beg often.

Her scream only grew, back ripping up, like whatever jewel had hit her face was now being scraped down her spin, the images replaced. A woman was drowning – a baby was drowning – Klaus was holding up the head of a child – but then that child was a different one – her body cut in four –

"PLEASE."

"Mother," Nadia grabbed her back, "Let me help."

Every nerve was burning, body falling entirely forward, just caught from slamming face first into tiles by Nadia's arms.

Clutching her back.

Trying to rock her into ease. Into sleep. The last time this happened, Katherine fell into a coma, awoken a few months later – Nadia could last a few months. She had forever. She just needed the universe's foreplay to come to an end – she needed whatever was happening –

"I..."

Suddenly, Katherine's voice was quiet.

Her head swayed back, caving to her daughters cradle, "...You..."

"Mother?"

No words left the parting mouth, eyes still as she gazed up.

Her world was officially coming to an end.

That tornado became real.

Katherine Pierce sat up, in her daughter's arms, able to watch as she shrieked, vamping to the nearest mobile and ringing.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

The air snapped across Katherine's arms as she screamed, listening to the dial tone echo across the floor, bouncing on the walls – an endless call, to a device tucked into a body, trapped inside of a barrier, it's owner being burnt alive.

The black abyss was almost familiar.

"No!"

Katherine had never seen it herself, but she'd heard MJ describe The Other Side – but The Other Side was gone, so what was waiting for her? What was shredding her skin to pieces, tearing her pyjama shorts from her body – her preserved hair from her skull –

"No, no – NO!"

Her entire body began to fly, no amount of kicking able to keep her down, or swim her to safety.

"MIRA."

THE GUARDIAN ANGEL
The Ghosts We Carry Were Once People

MARCH 2018

MJ sat on the coffee table in the Salvatore living room and tried not to feel too out of place. She still had Caroline's phone, the woman trying to seem okay with it, and, honestly, she really didn't need it that day. MJ, seemingly, did. She kept pressing redial on Kol's contact, the device sitting next to a notebook as she carefully jotted things down.

She hadn't made the mistake of leaving any more voice mails – she didn't want to seem too tragic, or freak him out, but...She'd even opted to texting!

She'd texted her dad too.

At some point, someone would have to answer, right? Like – they had to care? Even if they'd moved on with their lives, if a dead loved one started dialling, you answered! Right? Or was MJ the screwed up one? She always knew her relationship with the dead was slightly atypical, but she also thought she just expressed herself while others tried to seem normal.

And! She'd become more normal!

Jackson had died and she hadn't been a complete insane person about it.

Aidan had too.

She'd made some level of peace with Ryos's spirit, even if she wasn't quite sure how to feel about him, or what had happened, or that he'd actually seemingly helped her with Lucien's bite –

Kol would call her back.

For all she knew, he was on a plane, flying into her arms.

Everything was fine.

Well, no, everything was not fine. MJ was being smacked in the face by the fact Katherine had actually died with her, and was now the Queen of Hell. Cade's hint wasn't their only one. Bonnie had locked Kai up, and he'd flat out told her the pair had been working together!

"All right, professor," Damon stood by the bourbon cabinet, his phone on speaker, "How do we get rid of The Queen Of Hell?"

"Are you sure Katherine's in our world?" Ric was in The Armory.

"When Cade crossed planes after the eleventh ring of the bell," Bonnie answered from the sofa, oddly quiet, "Other souls could step through, too."

Her hair was in neat heat-made waves, wearing a tight long-sleeved red top and blue jeans, legs curled on the nearest sofa to Damon, leaving Caroline and Stefan to sit on the other one. Bonnie had asked to speak to Caroline alone while MJ had caught Stefan up, but the couple, apparently back together, hadn't been able to look Bonnie in the eye, leaving MJ to sit, cross-legged, on the table between them, pressing Caroline's phone against her leg to try and pay attention.

Stefan had killed Enzo.

...

Caroline and Stefan were engaged again?

At least, how they were sitting seemed to imply that, but, again, MJ had been out-of-commission when it came to 'friend-reading,' so maybe -

"Same way Kai did," Bonnie finished, looking at her, "Same way you?"

"Kai summoned me," MJ reminded her, "I'm not in hell."

Bonnie and she still hadn't had a chance to have their private chat.

MJ would find time for it!

She had to – they'd gotten too close to suddenly be as awkward as the rest of the room. Especially if Bonnie was upset over Enzo! Damon had been a crappy friend to the guy, but MJ and him? While their time together had been short, they'd actually had a ridiculously positive time, and now he was just gone? MJ had seen him! Because he had died! And, she'd been too dead to do anything?

But she'd saved –

No, MJ.

Behave.

Death happened.

People died.

You couldn't save everyone.

But! If MJ was forcing herself to be mature about, then, she should let herself die to! She should tell everyone to stop trying, and tell Kol to move on, and tell her father she was experiencing nothing but peace. And, MJ really didn't want to do that. She wanted to scream –

...

Oh, New Orleans Ancestors, if this was the point they'd wanted her to learn?

"And," Bonnie reached her hand towards her, "I'm so sorry for ever thinking you might've been."

"Fair enough assumption," MJ squeezed the hand back, "I've killed a lot of people."

Bonnie didn't hate her. Bonnie wasn't mad at her for not being mad at Stefan, or for not hunting her down to talk about Enzo yet. God, of course Bonnie wasn't mad! They were friends!

Friends loved each other, and potentially brought each other back from the dead –

If Bonnie couldn't bring Enzo back, why would she bring MJ? How could MJ even ask her to do that if she couldn't save Enzo too? Like?

Oh.

Wait.

MJ had literally done that when she'd resurrected Bonnie, unable to save Kol because he was a vampire – but! MJ had then gotten Kol back! It still felt unfair. So, why wasn't Bonnie mad at her? Or, maybe Bonnie didn't want to talk to her, because talking to her would involve discussing how she didn't feel like bringing MJ back anymore –

SHE COULDN'T VIEW HER FRIENDS THAT WAY.

They were not means to an end.

"And, so has Katherine," Bonnie's tone faltered as she looked at MJ, like she could sense something was up in her head, "She would have jumped at that chance to come back."

"Then," Caroline's hands hit her leg, "Why haven't we seen her yet?"

Cade and Kai had made pointed comments about her.

Kai had pulled MJ out of oblivion with a fake cover story for Kat?

If that were true, why wasn't Kat there for it?

"I thought, by now, she'd be strutting around, making demands," Caroline's neatly curled hair framed the anger on her face cutely as she looked to Stefan, "Or trying to get us all killed."

"Maybe," He was perched behind her, "She's biding her time."

"Or," Damon countered, "Putting her own plan together."

"Either way," A voice MJ didn't know spoke, "You're gonna need a new weapon."

Stefan leant towards the device, "Is that Dorian?"

"Yeah," Ric cleared his throat, "I've asked Dorian to take point on our research front."

"That doesn't mean you and I are cool," This Dorian's voice was firm, "I still have those files on you, so I'm here to hold you accountable. For the rest of your God-given life."

Stefan almost seemed to perk up, "I hope that you do."

Bonnie turned slightly, hair flipping carefully over her shoulder as she stared at the wall.

"Okay," MJ put her hand's up, "What have I missed?"

"Dorian, meet MJ. Ish?" Ric answered, "Floare Heretic, that's a type of witch, I can explain at a later date."

"I'm typically dead, but got summoned by a different dead person."

"...Good for you?"

"MJ, meet Dorian," Ric continued, "He's an Armory research assistant."

"Whose family I murdered," Stefan finished, "While hunting hybrids with Klaus."

"Oh," MJ shifted, "So, not your fault."

The silence was deafening as Caroline desperately shook her head at her.

"Or, like, I guess I'm sorry too?"

Dorian stuttered, "You're sorry too?"

"Well, like, Klaus was forcing him to do it," MJ pulled a face, turning towards Damon's phone, "Sorry, you've probably never met Klaus. Often the worse person alive. Currently, not so much? Also, currently imprisoned in a basement with a torture device in his chest."

Damon was trying not to laugh as Stefan replaced his girlfriend in trying to non-verbally tell MJ to shut up, Caroline occupied, sending her fiancé an incredibly confused look, wanting an explanation.

"He was using Stefan as leverage to get me to track wolf packs, and witches, and people associated with them – assuming you're not a werewolf?"

"I'm not."

"You know a Ray Sutton?"

Stefan seemed to connect that dot to.

"I gave Klaus the location of some of the friends he stayed with that summer," She winced, "You were probably on the list. So..."

"You mean to tell me," His calm volume went up slightly, "I nearly killed a man, and it was your fault."

"I was seventeen and a psychopath thousand-year-old vampire was threatening to kill everyone I knew," MJ defended, "I'm sorry for your loss! But, it's not my fault either."

Her point was that it wasn't Stefan's.

"Nu-uh. The witches have tried to put me on trial for Klaus's sins too many times."

She'd been a kid.

"I refuse to punished for them any longer."

A second silence.

MJ's eyes were slightly bugged, and everyone knew she hadn't exactly gone to bed the night before. Could ghosts even go to sleep? Kol had implied he'd been able to when they'd been wrapped up together, but, like...with the twin's controlling MJ's foothold, she'd spent the night doting on them. Pressing carefully drenched clothes that encouraged sleep and power.

If Katherine was about, she couldn't risk fading.

Now she'd called Kol, she couldn't risk fading.

While everyone else had showered and changed, they all started to realise that MJ was still in the bloody top, flared jeans, and waistcoat.

"Sorry," MJ forced herself to say it, "I'm a bit tense at the moment."

"And, you're right," Stefan nodded at her, "Nothing Klaus did back then was your fault."

"If it's not mine, it's not yours."

"I actually killed them."

"I gave you the house. Knowing they were human," She reasoned, "They were meant to be an intel stop."

"Klaus made you do that."

"Klaus made you too," MJ was locked in a stare-off with him, "Yeah, it's still murder, but let's not pretend you're Cade's new Devil."

"Does anyone here remember when our lives were easy?" Bonnie sighed back.

Had MJ's ever been?

She saw how Bonnie was looking at Stefan. How Stefan was still focused on MJ. And, MJ pulled into herself a little. She was incredibly sensitive to everything, and scared of fading, and scared of staying too long and hurting the girls, and just...

"I'm sorry your family got hurt, Dorian," MJ forced herself to seem normal, "Stefan did everything in his power to get Klaus back for that summer, while I moved in with him. So..."

"She has a lot of context," Ric tried to wrap them up, "And she's been punished for things she wasn't responsible for enough already."

MJ grimaced.

"While Katherine is actually responsible for a lot of it."

She shuffled away, eyes not wanting to look at the phone.

"So," Caroline tired, "What have you guys come up with?"

"Cade was killed with a dagger made from his bones," Dorian sounded slightly confused, "It was fused into glass by a white-hot flame."

MJ did like old-timey weapons creation.

"First things first," The human's confidence reappeared, "I don't suppose you know where Katherine's bones are?"

"Oh!" Damon laughed, "Who'd have ever thought she'd have done us a favour?"

MJ winced again.

"We've got every last one of Katherine's bones!" He pointed to Stefan, "In the cave, underneath the old church, left over from a traveller barbecue she had when she tried to possess Elena."

"Not exactly," MJ shut her eyes as everyone stared at her.

She closed her notebook.

"So, surprise!" She did jazz hands, "Katherine didn't die that day."

MJ swore she could hear crickets.

"I, uh," Her hands dropped to her sides, "I may have saved her."

"What do you mean," Damon stepped forward, drink in hand, "You 'may' have saved her?"

"That I actually, did, in fact, save her," MJ forced herself to look at him, "I cast a reformation spell on her body, then I froze the body so that it couldn't age, and the I captured her spirit when we stabbed her with the knife."

Stefan rubbed his eyes.

"And I jumped her back to her preserved body."

Caroline's mouth opened.

"She technically still died," MJ justified, "Like, she was basically a zombie, or, like, a spirit possessing a random dead person, except, it wasn't a random body. It was her's. And, she could be kicked from it at any second, she just never ran into a witch stupid enough to try."

"But," Bonnie was shaking her head, "The Traveller spell needed – "

"Because the body was dead, the Traveller spell still worked," MJ's hands came up, "I didn't resurrect her! I relocated her spirit after the body had died."

Damon's grip on his glass tightened.

"It's weird logic! Just trust me on it," She sighed, "She couldn't age, her heart didn't beat, a bunch of stuff like that."

He loomed over the back of the sofa.

"It was practically the anniversary of Elena killing Kol!" MJ looked to the ceiling, "And, she gave a shit about me – she gave more than most of you did back then! Like – she was the only one who noticed I was talking to a ghost!"

Caroline's eyes dropped.

"She was in the room with me for five minutes, and she noticed I was literally dating a spirit and on the brink of off-ing myself, while you guys all thought I was tip-toe-a-okay!" MJ whined, "Of course, I saved her!"

Quiet.

There was some movement on Ric's side of the call.

"I mean," Stefan let his hands drop back to the sofa, "That's better than your plan to make her an Original."

MJ actually snorted as Damon pointed his glass at her, "Are you kidding me?"

"She left!" MJ defended, "Nadia and her went to Europe, sent me disposable camera pics every few months, and she still ended up dying! So you still won, gloater!"

Bonnie tilted her head, "How did she die, then?"

"It's was my first time doing a spell like that," MJ shrugged, "I tied it to me..."

"MJ," Ric's voice went up a little, "You tied Katherine Pierce's life to yours?"

"She cared about me!"

"She's a liar!" Damon reminded her, "And, she was using you!"

"We helped each other."

"She uses everyone!"

"We – "

"You gave her exactly what she wanted," He ranted, reaching the centre of the room, "And, she only had to send you some pictures in the mail to justify it?"

"Her life was hell, and she just wanted to live," MJ rose to stand on the coffee table, "What's so bad about that?"

"After everything she did to us?"

"After everything we've done to other people?"

"She's so evil," He stressed, "She literally became the Queen of Hell!"

"And I don't believe in good and evil anymore!" Her arms swung out, "You're just jealous she ended up loving me more than she loved you!"

The room went silent.

With the table, she was about his height, able to be locked in a moment.

But, just like everything else, MJ couldn't read what was going on behind Damon's eyes anymore. She just knew he was mad. She knew she was mad. She'd known this argument would come if her 'switch' plan was ever discovered, she'd just hoped Katherine would've been far away, having left them alone for a decade, to prove it had been the right call to make.

"Sorry," MJ murmured, "Not sure I can actually make that claim."

Love was slightly too strong of a word.

"But," She stepped back on the table, "Elena was fine, Katherine stayed away, and she's also, seemingly, the only reason you can all see me right now."

She'd told Kai and Cade to get her?

"So, the fact you're this mad about it?"

"You can have her," Damon shook his head, "Means she's your pest to get rid of."

"And it means we don't know where her body is," Bonnie pointed out the problem, "Unless you can sense it?"

"I can try calling Nadia?" MJ reasoned, sitting back on the table, "Claim that I'm alive, and feel guilty. Wanna visit?"

"No chance. Nada," Damon pointed at her, "You'll trick us again."

"I swear to Gods, Damon – "

"Slightly joking," He stood down, "But you'll tell me the address you get."

"And Nadia will be guarding it," MJ rebutted, "If you won't let me go, the only person who might be able to..."

People leant up as her voice trailed off.

MJ's eyes danced to the device, "Kol knows."

No one seemed surprised by that reveal.

"He could grab it, if you're all so sure he's somewhere in Europe at the moment," She felt her voice go tired, "I mean, logically, Nadia will have either kept the body, waiting for it to wake up."

"Why would she do that?"

"Katherine dropped when I killed myself," MJ revealed, "But, obviously, when we got to the Prison World, she woke up. Or, like, after I escaped the prison world?"

There was a level of awkwardness with that reveal.

"She might be waiting for that to happen again? Or, she's called Kol, he's told her what happened, and Nadia's either helping him bring me back, thinking it'll save her, or, thought he was insane, and buried Katherine with her family in Bulgaria."

Damon tilted his head in consideration.

"Katherine just entered a coma the last time, so if Nadia is working with him, it won't be worth it," She felt the need to add, "She won't be resurrected with me again."

"You have any contacts in Bulgaria?" He pitched, "Can ship it to us ASAP?"

"I'm dead, Damon."

"You're also MiMi Pasare," He reasoned, "The site's still updating. People will help you."

"Damon," Stefan was watching MJ carefully, "We won't have time to get a body shipped over from Bulgaria."

"We might."

"We won't."

"God, Sabrina," Damon sighed back, "I can't believe you saved her."

MJ shoved off the coffee table, itching at her wrist.

As she turned to face them, Bonnie was staring towards the window behind the alcohol cabinet, Stefan and Caroline exchanging a look on the couch.

"I can find her," She started, "I'll talk to her. See what's going on."

"No chance."

"Cade told me that Kai brought me back because Katherine wanted it."

Bonnie shot up, "You spoke to Cade?"

MJ let herself nod.

"Like? After we killed him?"

"Yeah," MJ was on a roll of reveals, "I used the Floare charms – "

"He was a Floare?" Bonnie's eyebrows lifted.

"In a way," MJ focused on that story, "He's from a time before Floare were a thing. A time from before any modern definition of a witch was either. But, it seems to be, that the people he was from, or, the people like him to then form, developed into the Floare."

Bonnie let herself slowly nod.

"There's a tiny little incredibly distant thread."

"Like the one between us."

"Well, no," MJ tried for a smile, "We have proof our relatives are related."

Bonnie finally managed a smile too.

"Cade isn't necessarily related, just..."

Was there an easy comparison.

"You know how people say Dodo birds were dinosaurs?"

"Sure?"

"They're not, it's a common misconception, but we're committing to it for the explanation," MJ wafted a hand, "Floare are the Dodo birds, Cade is the dinosaur."

"Oh," Damon gleamed, "You are my Dodo bird from now on."

"I will castrate you."

He batted his eyes, "For your sweet Katerina?"

"She'd castrate you for me."

"Probably true," He pointed the glass at her, "You got any more ideas on how to kill her since you cost us the body?"

MJ straightened up.

"You do?"

"I have a massive leap," She prefaced, "Like, we may not have Katherine's body, but we do have someone else's."

"If you suggest using Elena – "

"Amara."

Damon perked up.

"Like, if we really went for it, Tatia's body will be buried somewhere here," MJ had no Elijah guilt towards using it anymore either, "Amara and Silas's got chucked into the quarry, right?"

She looked at Stefan, "Yeah."

"We can try representational magic. Amara's body, some of Elena's blood, merge that in a hot flame? Logically, you got a tool to kill a doppelgänger."

"But fusing the bones into glass," Bonnie shook her head, "How do we make that kind of weapon?"

"Would putting the bone in a metal dagger do the trick?" Matt spoke from Bonnie's phone, having been at the Grill when they'd messaged him, "My parents are in town. I could ask my dad for help."

Something else MJ needed to get caught up on – was Matt's dad a metal guy?

"Parents?" Caroline shook her head slightly, "Plural?"

"Unexpected family reunion," His voice was less than enthusiastic, "So, now I've got two nightmares to deal with."

"Wait," MJ pointed her notebook, "As in your mum?"

"Yup."

"Kelly Donovan – "

"If you're like a reintroduction – "

"Gossip later, townies," Damon leaned over Caroline's shoulder, "Stefan and I will grab Dodo's back up plan."

"You're gotta admit that Sabrina sounds better," MJ reminded him.

"But you're a little Dodo for letting Katherine worm her way into your heart."

"She's hot, and a good kisser."

Damon's eyes widened, "You've kissed her – "

"Gossip later, townies," She mocked back, "Go fetch my panic body."

"Yeah," Ric's tone was difficult to decipher, "Go do that."

"Not even scolding her for it!"

"She's been dancing with the devil long before it became Katherine."

"All witches are," MJ's voice went up, "It's literally what got us prosecuted."

"And while you die on that hill," Ric tried to tease, "Dorian and I will research an alternative way to fight her."

"If Katherine's back," Dorian spoke carefully, "That means 'hell' still exists."

"Once again reminding the room," MJ didn't mean to keep clashing with Dorian, "It's not the real Hell."

"But it's keeping her alive," Dorian responded well to the point, "Meaning we need to figure out a way to break her link to it."

"If we can," Bonnie looked at her, "We might be able to free you to."

MJ stilled slightly.

"If you're in a psychic dimension," She reasoned, "That would explain why none of the Floare can find you in the gate."

MJ let herself nod.

"We free you from it, we can find you, and then we can bring you back."

MJ swallowed carefully, fingers twitching at the phrase.

"Brilliant," Damon smiled, "Motivation to keep you on side."

MJ rolled her eyes at him.

"These dimensions are tied to emotional trauma," Bonnie continued, "Cade created his when he was burned at the stake. I created mine...when I saw Enzo get murdered."

Caroline looked carefully at Stefan.

"I'm just saying," She tried to pick her pace back up, "Maybe there's a way to destroy the dimension itself. Destroying hell destroys her."

"Great!" Caroline burst.

"Volume," MJ murmured.

"Great," She repeated, "You guys are on Hail Mary miracle duty, so how do the rest of us get Katherine to show herself?"

"Easy," Damon patted MJ on the shoulder, "She's obsessed with Stefan."

MJ laughed at his attempt to goad her.

"And insanely jealous."

Stefan gave his brother a very pointed look.

"If she sees anyone making him happy, she won't be able to control herself," He took a long sip of the bourbon, "She'll have no choice but to come out of hiding."

Caroline crossed her arms, "Your point?"

"My point," Damon offered the glass to MJ, "We shove Stefan's happiness in her face."

"You do know that I'm incredibly okay with her being into Stefan, right?" MJ pushed the glass away, "That's what happens when you're actually happy in your own relationship."

"Now, now, Dodo," He patted her on the head, "Your arty skills are about to be very useful."

"Meaning?"

"We're gonna throw the one party Katherine would never miss," He looked Caroline in the eye, "Who doesn't love a wedding?"

The couple shared a clear 'what?' look before moving that expression to Damon.

Back to each other.

Back to Damon.

He didn't take the suggestion back.

Stefan put his hand up, "I get MJ!"

"Wait!" Caroline almost screeched, "What do you mean 'I get, MJ!'"

"Best man," Stefan grinned at Damon.

"Brother!"

"Best Man?" Caroline scoffed, "She's my best friend!"

"I said it first."

"MJ!" Caroline looked at her pleading.

For the first time that morning, MJ actually managed to breathe out.

"Bridesmaid duties?"

Her hands went up, "I can do both."

"Once," Damon pointed, "You've got us a spell to make Amara's body work as a weapon."

~***~

MJ found herself upstairs, her notebook open in a room that had once been hers. Well, never officially. How did one officially get a bedroom? She always slept in it, it was always made up for her; it had her shampoo and conditioner in the bathroom...

It still did.

The bottles were grotty, so clearly unusable; still, MJ stood in the doorway to the bathroom, staring at them lined up by the shower.

She carefully crept in, turning on the tap.

When she'd been seventeen-years-old, she'd woken up in that bed, stared at herself in the mirror, and realised the dark magic myth. Sure, it didn't sit well in her stomach, but the idea she was being corrupted? The idea her skin was turning white, and her veins had turned black? All an illusion to make it worse so the spirits could control her.

Yes, using dark magic had physical consequences, but the level she'd believed them?

Running her wrists under the tap felt fake, the cool water like an ice rush she'd been craving since her passing, allowing her to shove her face under it, coating her arms –

The shower was literally right there.

MJ carefully turned it on...

She jumped back as it started with a click, the head newer than the one she remembered, spraying water at the basin floor until she let herself just strip, rushing in –

MJ shoved herself back at the pressure.

It was nice – she'd liked strong showers – she did. She promised the universe that she did, but with it just raining down on her like that? What if it was so strong she was washed away?

MJ flicked her wrist to turn the tap off, staring at how the golden lines across her shoulders retreated towards her arms. A reminder that she couldn't just waste her power now she wasn't standing in The Armory. Sure, if MJ vanished, she might be able to find The Twins again, but she still wasn't quite sure how they'd seen, so...was it worth the risk?

The tap was safer than the shower.

She knew what she was getting from the tap. Nothing to fully coat her senses. No reminder of how close to life she was...a second in the shower had been intoxicating. Everything had hit her arms, and she might have just exploded from the rush. If she got in – was this how Kol had felt?

Not just when he came back, but after the dagger.

Had he sat in his bed, watched her fall asleep, buried in the puffing orange skirt of her dress, then racing to try everything his body had forgotten while asleep in that nightmare abyss. His hands had been pulled to the materials of her clothes every time they'd stood close enough to touch, running gently over her body, and MJ had always assumed it was his playfully forward way of flirting, but now?

No wonder he always went so crazy for blood.

Should she try drinking some?

Would that even work while dead?

God – MJ could do with the warmth of blood racing through her veins –

As she washed the water across her body, the blood from Kai's attack was finally gone.

She could use towels.

They were fluffy enough to keep her entertained, while not engulfing her enough to make her panic. Then, she moved to the closet, unable to stop herself from beaming at the sight inside.

Her Prison World Stefan shirt.

MJ pulled it on, tying the bottom in a knot, then pulled out some underwear Caroline must've left for her, followed by an old skirt she'd abandoned in the town when she'd moved to New Orleans. It wasn't deliberate. MJ had actually forgotten it was there, and now? Just waiting for her? She could look in the mirror, and, for once, she didn't look like a ghost.

"Demitte Moi."

MJ couldn't stop herself.

"Demitte Moi."

She might not have been able to bring herself to phone Hayley – and she might have been wasting part of her magic, but...

"Demitte Moi."

It wasn't like it was that hard of a spell.

"Demitte Moi."

The world around her dropped from a boarding house room, to the upstairs of somewhere far away, crayon drawings pinned to the wall, MJ's mouth opening as she started to recognise details. The waistcoat. The silly thing that made her feel oh-so-dead, yet kept Kol's eyes in her mind, was now littered throughout Hope's drawings.

"Demitte Moi."

Hope dropped a paintbrush, bouncing across the carpet, "You're here!"

"Hey, Lovely," MJ knew her voice sounded clearer, "It's been a minute."

Hope held her look for a moment.

Even if Hope was the one MJ had seen the most besides Klaus, it still felt like a trip every time they checked in. Her hair seemed to turn more auburn, a careful plait down one side of her face, the rest carefully brushed straight. It felt wrong to see her skin so pale, freckles like little stars MJ wanted to hold...

She couldn't hold her.

There was a spell that could've allowed it, but given the lines of gold racing towards MJ's elbows...

"You're here?" Hope stood up straight, "You're – you're in different clothes – are you alive?"

MJ hated that Hope knew she was a ghost.

"If you're okay – is my dad okay?"

And her stomach lurched.

"If you're back," Hope raced towards her, "Can you bring my dad – "

She fell through MJ's projection, freezing to stare at her own bed, having been drawing on the floor, a few paint smudges on her blue and white striped t-shirt.

Hope turned to face her, "You're not here?"

"Some other kids needed my help," MJ spoke gently, shrinking to her knees, "But, I had to see you."

Of course Hope had assumed that MJ's sudden arrival meant something about Klaus.

MJ always told her stories about her father.

She liked to think that wasn't the only reason Hope liked having her around, the magic lessons were clearly a benefit she wasn't getting elsewhere, though, surely Finn could have? Then again, MJ had no idea how Finn had gotten along with his magic, and, if he was focused on saving his family, which was incredibly funny in retrospect, he might not be able to teach the basics.

"I can't stay long."

"If you're not a ghost anymore – "

"I am a ghost," MJ let her voice crack, "I've just been given a very special chance to walk among the living for a day."

Hope's eyes turned big, "And you wanted to see me?"

"I'll always see you," MJ let her hands drift up, even if they couldn't make real contact, "I'm always with you."

"My guardian angel," Hope beamed, and MJ's heart sank, "The best in the business."

MJ was such an awful liar.

How could she look that innocent child in the eye, knowing she had Klaus's location? She could explain the lock on the door – she could wake Rebekah up!

And Hope just looked at her with adoration?

"Are you okay?" The young girl tilted her head, "You look sad."

"I'm just..." MJ couldn't unload on her, "...It's been a long night."

Hope hovered her own hands over MJ's as they brushed her cheeks.

"You're an incredible young girl," She had to tell her that, "And seeing you grow up makes me really happy."

But she didn't always get to see it.

Honestly, MJ mainly saw the bad days, when Hope was struggling, or needed her, or was being hunted – or sick! And sure, MJ loved helping her through the bad days, but sometimes she just wanted to see the girl smile. But, obviously MJ only saw the bad days.

Hope's family was in pieces.

"You make me happy too," Hope pushed into her hands, only to push through them, "I wish you could visit more."

"Me too, lovely."

"Maybe I can do this," Hope gestured, "How did you get here today?"

"Normally, this spell wouldn't work," MJ admitted, deliberately feeding her incorrect information, "It's an astral projection."

"How do you do it?"

"Typically, you draw a very specific enchanted circle on the floor," MJ had been in a rush, "Then, you can say a few different charms, but my preferred has turned out to be 'Demitte Moi.'"

"What's the magic circle?" Hope was grabbing her paintbrush, "Can you show me – "

"I'll send it to your mum."

Hope froze.

"Tell her to expect a call from Caroline Forbes sometime in the next few days," MJ breathed out, "It'll have your circle."

Her eyes were practically glowing with excitement.

"And, if she doesn't give it to you, let me know."

"And you'll send another?"

"I'll find a way to get you another," MJ would live again, "Promise."

"MJ?" A male voice snapped her out of the trance, slipping away from Hope, just as she went to say –

"Thank you!"

Stefan just about caught the tiny child's voice, raising an eyebrow at MJ's torn expression, sitting on her bed, in his house, in his old shirt.

He smiled slightly, "You okay?"

MJ looked at her arms, the lines officially just covering her forearms.

"Oh," He realised, "Can I get you something?"

"Come here," MJ spoke softly, "Sit."

He did, in his light blue shirt, trying not to pretend he wasn't worried about her constant flip-flopping between rushed words and internalised stress. Especially when MJ ran a hand up his forearm, nail gentle, suddenly incredibly tuned in to his face.

"Do you mind?"

"MJ," Stefan shook his head, "I'm not a – "

As her grip tightened, the feintest red appeared beneath her fingers.

Just enough to get it back to the elbows.

"Come on now, Salvatore," She grinned up at him, "Thought you'd learnt not to doubt me by now."

He leant into her hold, "It doesn't hurt as much."

"It won't," She carefully let go, his arm dropping to his lap, "There's not enough to make it hurt."

But there was something.

"I'll always find it funny what stuff Kai speedruns, and what stuff I do."

Kai's style of magic was about mass consumption and fast consumption, so of course he wasn't the type to look at subtle magic he couldn't just chomp up.

"Gotta be careful though," She shifted closer to him, "If I take too much you might just start to wrinkle up."

"Not the best look for a wedding."

"Definitely not."

There they were. Planning his wedding. In her room, in his house, wearing his old shirt...was that wrong? MJ hadn't actually thought about the connotations of it when she'd gotten changed, she'd just been so desperate to wear something else, and she'd just...

Stefan's arm moved back, behind her, resting on the bed, allowing them to just fit together.

MJ leant closer, brushing her shoulder against his, seeing how his eyes shut.

"How you doing, humanity?"

"Honestly?" He shook his head, "Not good."

"But you re-proposed?" MJ checked, "Like, please tell me you did, because if Damon announced that without a proposal – "

"I did," His eyes opened, pale blue clear, "I've spent a lot of the past few days trying to work out what I'm meant to do now – "

"Can I be mean?" MJ held a hand out, "And, you know I say it with love?"

He sat up slightly, "Sure."

"You've been doing that for how many decades now?" She tugged on the skirt, "Like, when I was last alive, you were going off with Valerie because your life was tied to Rayna's, so you thought you'd die in seventy years, and you needed to figure out what you wanted to do with a limited life time."

Stefan shifted slightly.

"You still haven't?"

He barked a laugh.

"No offense, but I don't think I can let you marry Caroline if you're still that baffled by it all."

"I've been human for about a week," Stefan reasoned.

"Yeah," MJ nodded, "But again, is it really any different?"

He bit his lip.

"Every time you turn your humanity on after a ripper bender, you're hit with the exact same guilt – nothing that you're now thinking about is a new realisation," She reminded him, "By now, you know, the only thing you can do is focus on living."

"Even when it hurts Bonnie?"

Quiet.

"Everything's eating me alive," Stefan admitted, "But, you're right. Running from Caroline because of people like Dorian is a waste of time. I've learnt to live with myself before."

"Then," MJ's voice was became distant, "You're smacked with the reminder that the way we act ruins lives, because it suddenly happens to someone we love."

"The way I act," Stefan corrected, "You don't – "

"Can we stop the hero narrative?" MJ met his look, "Even if I once found it flattering, it's not really true, and this isn't about me. It's about you, and it's about Bonnie."

"It's about, how, you know, that if I feel this bad about Enzo, I should feel it about everyone."

"And you do," MJ reminded him, "You have always felt guilt Stefan."

The way they both blamed themselves was part of how they managed to understand each other, even when other's didn't. It was why MJ had been so defensive of him surrounding Damon's whole 'my actions are your fault' bullshit surrounding Katherine. In a way, it might have been a sign that a little part of her had already starting to fight back against the thoughts the ancestors had whacked into her. The things Ryos had made her feel.

"Don't let anyone trick you into thinking you didn't."

He let his hand find hers.

"You were at your lowest after that summer, I mean – you literally tried to drive Elena off Wickery Bridge, that was how bad you got."

"But is 'guilt' really enough?"

She'd told Hope that Caroline would have something for Hayley.

"People died MJ – people have lost their jobs, destroyed their own families..." Stefan shook his head, "Even cleaning up the mess now? That doesn't give them the time back."

"We can only ever try to do better."

Caroline could leave Hayley nothing but the astral projection circle, and Hope would know no better, but Hayley...but MJ. Guilt was not the thing she wanted on her mind right now. She had to give Caroline something. She'd played herself into handing something over!

"Bonnie never has to forgive you," MJ's main stance, "And if Caroline's okay with that, then that's Caroline's choice to make."

"Do you forgive me?"

Quiet.

"Enzo never gave up on you," Stefan reminded her, "You died to save us, and I created a new identity while he searched every coven – "

"You searched – "

"I stopped," Stefan stressed, "Him and Bonnie spent the past few years searching for a way to find you again."

"And, I'm going to be incredibly sad," MJ bobbed her head, "And, part of me is going to have an incredibly hard time processing the fact I managed to save Tyler, but didn't even take the obvious hint that seeing Enzo meant I didn't save him."

But, was the guilt really hers to bare?

"Stefan," MJ put a hand on his face, "We do bad things. We do good things. And, at the end of the day, I'm dead, so does it matter if I forgive you? Or comfort you? Or blame you?"

But if he cared for her opinion, at least it meant she had a tether to the world.

Her footprint still mattered.

"Nothing will screw with my emotions more than Jeremy staking Kol, then immediately being murdered by Katherine and Silas," She reminded him, "Things suck, but if I'm only here for a day, I'm not wasting it on making you feel any worse than I know you do."

That side of Enzo's death was reserved for her conversation with Bonnie.

"And, if it brings you any peace?" She pulled back to ruffle her own hair slightly, "Honestly, it's nicer to be remembered in full, than memorialised as one aspect."

Stefan raised an eyebrow.

"I'd much rather look at you, and see my Stefan Salvatore," She held his blue eyes, "For all of you."

The colour didn't match Klaus's, they didn't carry the same edge of green, but...

"Bloody past, complicated present, and always so incredibly human."

Her alternate paths were so tinted in blue.

"I got to know all three, rather than hide in the idea you were just one."

Just like the shades of the afterlives.

His voice was low, "I don't think you'll get away with calling me Hero-Hair again."

"Enzo stole it from you," MJ admitted, "So thoroughly."

He winced; too soon for that joke.

"But, he's also murdered a tonne of people, and made terrible decisions of his own," She reminded him, "And, I loved him for all of that too."

Would Hope ever forgive her for not explaining where Klaus was?

"Because heroes and villains do not exist."

"Once again," Stefan let himself lighten up, "Katherine is the Queen of Hell. Pretty sure that's villain territory."

"It's not the real hell!"

He finally managed a laugh, "I guess you would know."

"I'm not in hell either," MJ sighed, "Who knows where I am."

"You know what, if I do die a mortal death," Stefan smiled, "At least I know you'll be there."

"You'll find peace," MJ shut down, "If you're truly choosing happiness today? Marrying your girl? Facing your past instead of running?"

...She'd turned her back on peace...

"You'll find peace."

"How do you know you're not in peace?"

"It's too miserable."

He rubbed her knuckles carefully.

"You know something ironic about it all," MJ shook her head, "I technically died performing Expression."

It felt weird to admit, given how Lucien, Freya, and Elijah technically got the credit.

"My death completed the triangle."

Even if she'd originally planned to use Lucien's.

"And, I took the power to destroy an ancestral realm, freeing the living witches from dead, which, is also, pretty much what the Floare did to create our separate after life," MJ paused, "It's like...well, like, actually, I guess we didn't do Expression?"

Stefan had straightened up, "You were using Expression?"

"All the other hybrids were consecrated on Elysian Avenue, but I wasn't," She looked at him, "That might've been why the spell didn't work properly."

If Cade was right, and the ancestors weren't gone, they were just trapped in her walls?

"I'll, uh, I'll tell Caroline to tell someone to re-consecrate me there."

"If it turns out," Stefan was shaking his head, "Something as simple as that brings you back?"

"Worth a try," MJ didn't think it would.

It might send her to the Floare Gate though.

"I can't believe I was stupid enough not to transport Lucien and me there," She was shaking her head, "Like..."

"Elysian Avenue," Stefan gave her a pointed look, "And you wanna talk about how there aren't heroes and villains?"

MJ bit her lip.

"MJ."

"I know!" Her hands went up, "The Greek paradise for the good."

The irony was not lost on her.

"Yeah-yeah, I didn't end up there, remember."

Instead, she was pretending to be Hope's best friend, while literally doing anything but the thing that would truly make her happy, and safe, and whole.

"And, you won't be going to Tartarus either," MJ continued what should've been their main point, "You're gonna marry Caroline, and while Enzo may haunt you for a very long time, Ripper Stefan did it."

"So," Stefan pointed, "Evil me?"

"You know what," MJ pushed to her feet to face him on the bed, "You did do it."

He paused.

"No-Humanity is still you. Your hand. You did that, Stefan," She stood directly in front of him, "Do you remember how I made a great big speech about finally addressing all my ghosts?"

She was referencing her plan to leave after graduation.

"Something I've learnt?" She knew she sounded old, "Sometimes our biggest ghosts are ourselves."

It was funny how quick death aged you.

"Now, is that person gonna get to define the rest of your life?" She didn't want to run from her past, but maybe that wasn't the only option; maybe, she wasn't just the bad habits of her history – maybe, they had good ghosts too, "Or, are you gonna learn from it? And, let the amount of love you've always carried, win?"

He found his smile, staring up at her in the long but springy skirt, and his twisted Bon Jovi shirt.

"Because if we're telling silly stories about good versus evil?"

Everyone had decided who she was in her last life, but who was she gonna be in the next one?

"Love always finding a way to win is the only part of that I support."

"Perfect," Damon sauntered into the room, "Because, guess who just got ordained!"

He did a little spin.

"Hint," He whispered, "It was me."

MJ grinned, "Surprised you didn't burst into flames."

"That happened fast," Stefan pointed out, rising to his feet too.

"Did it online," Damon nodded proudly, "You are looking at a bona fide peace of justice."

"That mean you're ready to go?" Stefan glanced at MJ, "If you wanna help us grab Amara's body?"

"I think I'm good," MJ itched her neck, "Have fun."

"No big spells," Stefan pointed at her, "Whatever projection magic – "

"It won't be happening again," She promised, "My conscious won't survive it."

The brother's shared a look.

"It's Klaus's daughter," She clarified, "I needed to see her."

The words had fallen out of her mouth.

"But, it also reminded me that if I make her life better, I am effectively undoing all of Kol's revenge."

"Ah," Stefan nodded, "The real agenda you have towards people not letting guilt win."

"They..." MJ pushed her shoulders up, "I'm glad Elijah's suffering."

But it wasn't just about Elijah.

"I have no clue what Kol did to Freya, because someone would've said something if she'd died, but there's not a trace of her anywhere."

"She vanished before we got involved," Stefan admitted, "No one found her."

MJ bit her cheek, trying to work out what that meant.

"We did it for you – "

"No, you didn't," MJ called out, "Everyone can claim it was about me, but if it was about me, you all would've left the minute Elijah went down. Everyone just wanted an excuse to kick Klaus."

Damon perked up a little.

"Which, fair enough, but stop using my name as an excuse," She put her hands on her hips, "Cade said that someone always has to play the role of The Devil, and if you guys are so set on making me into this martyr justification, I'm going to nominate myself to become the opposite."

"You'll be the Devil?" Damon teased, "I'd like to see you try."

"I can literally melt you into bones with my mind"

"I know," His hands went up, "But you're like the definition of morally grey. You can't be either side of the spectrum. That's like, the opposite of your rep."

"Why is the person talking the most sense about my legacy, this guy?" MJ was exasperated.

"I have to listen to what you say," He bowed dramatically, "How else can I then choose to ignore you?"

MJ flicked her fingers at him.

"Now, now, claws in," He shook his head at her, "You gonna be able to keep yourself together?"

"Around Katherine," MJ pulled a face, "Are you?"

"Yes," He pressed hands to his chest, "Because I know she's a bitch that will destroy our lives for all eternity if given the chance."

"I gave her the chance, and she went on a holiday to Europe," MJ countered, "She's just mad, because she finally, actually, died."

"And," Damon pointed, "Instead of running to you, she's run to mess with us."

"And got Kai to summon me."

"Something, she'd know, you'd hate," Damon defended, "If she cared about you, she'd never force you to be around him."

MJ rolled her eyes.

"We are taking her down."

"You've got to admit that it's sort of satisfying that she's back," MJ rebutted, deliberately speaking over dramatically, "The woman who started your mess is back to end it."

Stefan looked between them, "I wouldn't say it was all a mess."

"Look at the path that she sent us down," Damon was trying to keep them all on the same page, "Ripper sprees, The Originals, the cure, Silas – "

"Still never getting over that you told Kol that Silas wasn't our problem."

"The Other Side," Damon finished, "Prison worlds, Gemini twins, Heretics, and don't get me started on doppelgangers!"

MJ actually laughed, "Can you spell it yet?"

"Sure, that all happened," Stefan responded contently, "But good things happened to us to."

"Very glass-half-full of you, brother."

"Perfect for humanity," MJ patted Stefan's shoulder.

"You know what else is human?" Damon looked at MJ, "A bachelor party."

"You stealing the Best Man title back."

"MJ," Stefan complained, "I don't trust him – "

"You two get the body," MJ wafted at them, "I'll have a spell ready to use on it. Then, we drink."

Stefan gave her a look, "You're pregnant."

Damon shot up.

"Technically," MJ pointed at him, "This body isn't real. It's a projection of my spirit."

"You're pregnant?"

"Meaning," MJ needed it, "I can drink all I like!"

"Back-Up!" Damon waved his hands, "How are you pregnant?"

~***~

MJ and Damon were carrying Stefan between them, both holding a bottle, laughing up the stairs of The Salvatore House. They'd grabbed the body, she'd used representational magic on the bones, and then they'd started chugging, the brother's mainly reminiscing on their past, while MJ finally got to poke for stories about certain time periods she was nosy about.

Only, for part of that to get flipped back on her.

"What do you mean the Austrian Church thought he was the literal Devil?"

"You can look it up online!" MJ defended, hauling Stefan up the final step, "There's a digital version of the portrait in a public archive."

"Vampires are – " Stefan hiccupped, "They – "

"People thought we came from The Devil," Damon finished what he assumed his brother meant, "That doesn't mean they thought we were The Devil."

"They thought Kol was the literal Devil!"

Damon cackled as he let go, Stefan's right side slumping down as MJ yanked up, opening the front door to their house.

"Picture this – 1400s Austria," MJ waited for him to retake Stefan's other side before moving, "Demonology is a thing being peddled by certain sides of the church, and a quick way to rise ranks in the 'eyes of the 'Lord''. You're an Inquisitor, who doesn't understand women, is repulsed by them, we'll come back to that, and thinks they're gifted magic by sleeping with The Devil."

They dragged Stefan through the door.

"Suddenly, you notice that these woman you're sending to the pyre - "

Cade being burnt at the stake had left this story at the top of her mind.

" - have all been seen with this one man," MJ knew she was kinda yelling, taking a quick chug of the bourbon, "He pops from home to home, charming his way inside, leaving bloody bedrooms behind him."

Kol's whole thing was that he never stayed the night unless they were going to end up dead, that didn't mean every single one of them was murdered the minute they slept with him.

"You start stalking the man – you paint pictures of the man, claiming it's to aid your quest, so more are aware of the threat – you watch him compel people to do his bidding - "

"An Inquisitor painted Kol's picture?" Damon was baffled.

"Multiple of them!" MJ called to the ceiling of the lobby, "Kol ended up seducing one of them, hence the 'Inquisitor repulsed by women thing' – then murdered the guy post-'victory' – which did not help his case. Meaning the Austrian church temporarily thought he was, in fact, Satan."

"And," He teased, "You willingly date him!"

She put on a possessed voice, "Why do you think my demonic abilities increased, youngling?"

Damon burst out laughing.

"Remember Caroline's whole crisis about Stefan's first time?"

The sound got louder.

"My boyfriend's list is literally historical evidence. He only revealed this information to me, because he was trying to prove he could actually remember any names from his body count, and he whipped out a research paper's appendix with the log of women put on trial and burnt!"

He hadn't ended up needing to kill many people in Austria, the church had done it for him.

"That said, Austria actually ended up turning on a few of these Inquisitor's anyway - the land owners didn't like the church trying to play law-makers and pressured them out, so," She waved a hand, "What matters, is, I adore him, and I miss him, and – "

"Oh my god!" Caroline was standing in the living room, a card in her hand, staring at them as Stefan tried to look up, only to almost throw up, "What's happened?"

"Human Stefan is a lightweight," Damon dumped the body onto the sofa, MJ's turn to laugh.

"Damon!"

"This is not my fault, Caroline," His hands went up, then at MJ, "She possessed me with the spirit of The Devil!"

"Come on," MJ grinned, "Impromptu weddings call for impromptu bachelor parties."

She moved to take her friends hand, forcing Caroline to spin with her.

"Bachelorette Brunch?" She pitched, "Mimosa's, and mani-pedis, and gossiping – "

"MJ – "

" - I can curl your hair while we do shots – "

"MJ."

"Then, I sober us all up to walk down the aisle!"

"MJ!"

The ghost paused, really looking at the exhaustion on her female best friend's face.

"I don't want anything," Caroline shook her head.

MJ frowned, forcing herself to sober up slightly, despite the fact that getting drunk was possibly the first time she hadn't been in a spiral about death since Kai summoned her. For a minute, MJ had actually been floating on air, now, crashing back down to earth. The day wasn't meant to be about her. It was Caroline and Stefan's wedding, and Caroline seemed miserable.

Four years didn't alter her ability to read that.

"Care-bear," MJ squeezed her hands, "No shots, fine! But massages? Fancy breakfast bites?"

"With who?"

MJ glanced at Damon's guilty expression.

"Like," Caroline sighed, "I just want time with you."

MJ forced herself to nod.

"I don't need a song and dance for a party that literally no one wants to attend."

"I wanna attend," MJ pushed up on her feet, "I'm kinda over the moon that I can attend."

"And that's why I just want you," Caroline tried for a smile, "Us, and dresses, and make up."

"Sounds perfect," MJ lied.

Well, not entirely a lie.

It did sound perfect.

It just clearly wasn't perfect for Caroline.

"For tomorrow," She pushed Caroline towards Damon, "For now? Drink."

Caroline actually almost laughed, looking down at Stefan on the couch, a second moan falling from his lip as he grabbed a pillow and shoved it into his stomach.

"Please don't be mad at me, Caroline," He whined, "I – "

"I'm not mad at you," She pecked his temple, "Thank you for my present, by the way."

Stefan drooled into the sofa as the moan turned into a groan.

"And we," Damon motioned the bottle between them, "Officially need a new drinking buddy."

"It's your last night as a single gal," MJ reminded her, "It's the last night before forever."

Caroline's expression broke, finally, "You guys are so annoying."

Stefan managed to shove his head off the sofa.

"Don't do that!" Damon pointed aggressively, "That's a ten thousand dollar rug."

"Please throw up on it!" MJ countered, "I wanna watch him clean."

"Come on," Caroline grabbed both of their arms, "Get me drunk before I change my mind."

"Uno momento," MJ unlinked them, "I'll be with you shortly, I'm just gonna try calling Kol one last time."

Damon rolled his eyes, but Caroline rubbed her arm sympathetically, exactly as MJ knew she would, following Damon out the door.

MJ let her eyes scan the living room.

Where would Caroline have left her dress?

~***~

The next morning, MJ, once again, hadn't slept, desperately siphoning the first bit of magic she found in any room while following an incredibly tight schedule. She'd found Caroline's dress. She'd also found The Twin's flower girl outfits. And then, she'd found pictures from the shopping sessions, helping her work out what the bridesmaid colour scheme was, and the style bias's Caroline had developed. Then, she'd started her next mission.

MJ stood outside a carefully designed house, the mix of red brick and warm wood incredibly homely, the magic on the walls showing that it was heavily protected.

As she pushed open the door, she let her hand glow slightly red, the lines up her arms back to her shoulders.

"Perhaps you should consider a less melancholy playlist," A male voice sent shivers down MJ's back as she walked through the foyer.

"Helps me stay connected to you."

"You don't need pain to keep our connection alive," Enzo was standing in the living room, "You are a witch, after all."

"A witch who can't do magic."

"I'd say this is magic," MJ made them both jump.

Her eyes locked with the other spirit, Enzo's brown irises growing in confusion as his lips formed a very clear smile. Bonnie, however, was curled up, on the floor, in front of the sofa, holding in a breath. Like she thought she should've been embarrassed, or that MJ would've been mad.

"It's too strong to just be a hallucination," She carefully came to Bonnie's side, unable to look away from the man, "And, even if it wasn't...grief isn't just pain, Bonnie."

Slowly, their eyes met.

"It's love."

Bonnie breathed in sharply.

"You can see me," Enzo's hand drifted forward, "I thought – "

"I thought you made it back to life," MJ let him grace her arm, "I didn't realise..."

"You're safe," He gripped onto her shoulder, "Cade didn't – "

"I'm fine," MJ assured him, "I'm somewhere complicated."

Bonnie looked up at them.

MJ stepped over her legs to find Enzo's side, arms wrapping around him. Taking in the contact. They were all staring at how easily MJ could make contact – because, of course she could. Were they not the same? Spirits held, protected from a true after life, by some power bigger than themselves, buried in the family bloodline.

"Mira," He breathed her in.

"I'm so sorry," She shut her eyes, shaking into his neck, "I – I – "

"I'm fine."

"Enzo – "

"Come on, now, sunshine, don't give her a reason to indulge this behaviour," He teased back, eyes on Bonnie, "Is she not the exact reminder why you shouldn't lock yourself up with ghosts."

MJ barked a laugh, trying not to bawl her eyes out.

"You need to go to the wedding."

"Stefan murdered you," Bonnie gave him a stern look.

"That version of Stefan died when you gave him the cure," Enzo sunk to kneel before her, "The real one is back, and he's getting married today."

"Maybe, when I'm dead," Bonnie just shook her head, "I'll be as evolved as you."

"You won't," MJ let herself sit on the sofa, "I honestly think death has made me less evolved."

Hayley was yet to call Caroline about Hope's message, but it was only a matter of time as the device hung in MJ's pocket, another careful message slipped to Kol.

- It's Caroline's wedding if you'd like to see me in a pretty dress.

But, maybe, she was also just like Enzo, contemplating giving her murderers a way out.

"And, not to disagree with a dead man," MJ shook her head, "That same Stefan is getting married."

Bonnie pointed, "See – "

"But this isn't about Stefan," MJ looked at her friend, "It's about you, and Caroline."

They'd been bridesmaid dress shopping that first time MJ had managed to see them.

"But, mainly you."

Bonnie's lips shut, watching MJ carefully.

"We've had this conversation before."

"You've just gotta keeping breathing," Bonnie recited quietly.

"You never have to forgive Stefan," MJ reminded her, "And, you can be as mad as you want at Caroline for still being with him."

She could still remember how much of a gut punch it was to realise that truly shunning Elena would've cost her all the friends she'd dedicated two years of her life to. And Bonnie had known them even longer. Honestly, the better comparison was if their entire friend group had ditched Elena for MJ, the new girl, after Jeremy had died.

Sure, there were flaws in that comparison.

Bonnie hadn't murdered anybody first to cause the potential shunning, but...It would've been like if they'd all ditched Elena for MJ after the hybrid curse, like Elena hadn't been the one to actually die during it.

"I'm not here to make you go to the wedding."

"Sunshine..."

"I just don't want you to miss out on moments that might remind you that happiness is out there."

"For people I hate?"

"For people who have suffered," MJ reframed, "I think that's a nicer way at looking at it when literal spirits from 'hell' are finding their way back to our realm."

"All may find peace," Enzo bobbed his head.

"In whatever form that takes."

"Will you?" Bonnie prompted, "Because Vincent thought we forced you out of it."

MJ let her shoulders drop, resting into the sofa.

"Do you think you created your realm, or did I?"

"I think we all did," MJ admitted, "I think an entire city was chanting, you were screaming, I was screaming...you pair that with whatever power is dormant in the cells that might become my child?"

"Cade thought I was a psychic," Bonnie pushed up slightly, "But I can't read minds, I just get...weird intuitions?"

"There's probably levels to it," MJ admitted, "All witchcraft has minor elements of psychic abilities, yours are higher than average, and Cade's were specialised."

Her voice dropped, "He told you that someone had to take his place?"

Enzo tensed.

"Do you think he meant me?" She stared across the living room, "The fact I created my own realm...the fact I can't find joy in anything – "

"Don't do that," MJ sunk from the sofa to the floor, an arm over Bonnie's shoulder, Enzo on her other side, "If we want history to stop repeating, we've got to stop letting it."

"Meaning?"

"You've lived through so many awful things, Bon," MJ held her tight, "Don't let the world demonise you for it – it doesn't get to decide who you are."

It felt wrong to think that Cade had literally just been hated into evil.

"Shouldn't The Devil be someone who enjoys it?" MJ pointed out, "Chaotic choices that could be argued as good – like, if we're committed to this bible mierda, The Devil talked Eve into eating from the Tree of Knowledge. Why is it bad to have knowledge?"

Bonnie almost laughed at her point.

"I nominate myself for the position actually! I'd love to have knowledge."

Enzo tensed, instantly eyeing up the walls like he expected a Grim Reaper to appear and hand her a contract.

"You are too bold," Bonnie was also shaking her head, "To make that declaration at a time like this."

MJ shrugged, "Damon thinks they'd reject my application anyway."

She tapped Bonnie on the nose.

"If I'm not evil enough, or depressed enough, you are also in the clear," She rubbed her shoulder, "Which gets me back to my main point. Death will catch up to everyone eventually. Do you want to die, screaming in betrayal, or do you want to have been seen smiling?"

MJ had died screaming.

"Because, Bon," She shook her head, "I'm not letting you recreate graduation here."

Giving them all an incredible day while hiding the fact she was already dead.

"There is not a second I will allow you think you shouldn't be alive."

Bonnie's eyes moved to Enzo, "Are you actually happy?"

"Certainly, love."

MJ carefully scanned their faces, a whole new wave of exhaustion washing over her at the reality she'd missed a seemingly loving relationship between two people she cared a lot about.

"I'm imagining us next to a little church I remember in the French countryside."

MJ's heart sunk, as she went over just how many times she and Kol had played that game of pretend.

"It's in the middle of a lavender field," He took Bonnie's hand gently, "And we would dance...and I'd tell you how much I loved you..."

Bonnie's expression broke as MJ looked away, her own eyes prickling with tears as the phone in her pocket seemed to double in weight.

"And, I'd tell you that I was the luckiest man on the face of the Earth."

As Bonnie began to cry, she sunk into MJ's side, her arms tight, holding her friend as she let it all out. Not in an explosion of power, or a retaliation attack. There was nothing to hide from, and no one to run from, nor anyone trying to kill her. Just the comforting arms of a friend who had carried her through grief once before.

MJ was a reminder that Bonnie could feeling it all.

That she didn't deserve to die for it the same way she once had.

Enzo's spirit breathed out, sending MJ a careful nod, before fading slightly. Leaving them to it. He wasn't gone, the power in the air made that clear, but, he was letting Bonnie feel the warm arms around her. It felt like a false victory – leaving her to cry with a different spirit, but, it was still something. A feeling she hadn't yet been allowed to feel with the rest of their friends.

MJ rubbed a hand up and down her back, rocking them back and forth.

Letting Bonnie just sob, no longer forced to face it alone, tear slowly turning to small sniffs, smiling up at her. She took in MJ's glowing arms, and neatly styled hair, all the blood finally washed off, a familiar bohemian skirt splayed out around them. Then, the shirt. The shirt from the prison world they'd managed to escape. A symbol of hope; a symbol of Stefan.

But, the pair of them, in each other's arms, mattered more than that.

"Okay," MJ kept Bonnie pulled into her shoulder as they sat in the floor, "Time for my second Kol apology?"

Bonnie laughed.

"Because, if you're mad at Stefan's no-humanity choices – "

"It's different," Bonnie waved a hand, "Kol didn't actually kill any of us."

"From the sounds of things, he came close."

"He just freaked me out," Bonnie sat up, "I didn't realise vampires could control people they'd compelled from afar, and Caroline started screaming."

MJ winced, "Yeah..."

She'd known about it in theory.

She'd seen Damon use the ability.

Hell, Kol and she had talked about how he'd explored the depth of their powers after Elijah discovered compulsion. For a minute, he'd thought he had a way back to magic, and when he'd realised it wasn't? Her boyfriend had so many factors behind his half-insanity.

"It was how he operated before he realised he could infiltrate covens."

"He was trying to get my magic to work," Bonnie added, "Which, I am still failing to do."

"It is working, Bonnie," MJ rebutted, "You wouldn't be able to do all this without magic."

"I've done every unblocking exercise in the book," She promised, "I've gone to other covens, and shamans, and everything in between. Vincent and I spent, like, a month in your grove to see if that would help, drinking special teas – "

"Phrase of the day," MJ put her hands out, "Your magic isn't about me."

Hearing how bent out of shape Bonnie was about not being able to bring her back was possibly the only reason MJ felt stable enough to say it.

"If you focus on getting it back just to save me, you're not gonna get it back."

Bonnie looked at her carefully.

"And that kind applies to saving Enzo too," She took Bonnie's hand, "It's about you. And your belief. And yeah, having motivations like Enzo and I are helpful, but they can never be your make or break in doing a spell."

She'd focused all her energy on a spell to save Elena from vampirism and it had literally cost Bonnie her magic once already. It that wasn't proof you couldn't force your magic for other people? But, Bonnie had always been one to try...just like MJ. Witches were often their own worst enemies, which, in a way, one of her brother's points.

"The power is inside of you Bonnie, you just need to remember you're worthy of it."

"Belief and worth," Bonnie sighed back, head resting into the sofa, "Sounds almost like a fairy tale."

"Mythology, if anything," MJ joked, "Our ancestors were ancient Greek."

Bonnie's lips almost smiled.

"Maybe that's the other reason I can't deal with all this Devil talk. There are so many religions out there, that 'the' hell feels weirdly small-minded. Like, every religion has a version of a pit for monsters, none of them should get the capital letter title because of that."

"Do The Floare have deities?" Bonnie wondered, "Or, like, things close to that?"

"I mean, Spanish Travelling communities had their own variations of the Voodoo Lwa," MJ admitted, "Haitian Vodou was combined with catholic saints during the slave trade as a way to seem like they'd conformed to their captors while still worshipping their true beliefs."

Bonnie actually perked up slightly.

"The slaves in Spain did the same. And, sometimes it's even been kinda accepted, like, one my friend's, Tia – "

"I've spoken to Tia a few times."

MJ smiled, "Yeah?"

"She's incredibly cool," Bonnie finally allowed herself to smile, "Also tried to help me figure out my magic."

MJ bobbed her head, "...My city is in good hands."

"Vincent misses you," She blurted out, "A lot."

MJ shifted.

"Like, so much, actually," She smiled slightly, "Considering you didn't actually know each other that long."

And, considering the bomb seemingly set off in their friendship just before her death.

"And, they're not necessarily doing amazing," She slowed her words, "From what he's told me, everything is incredibly complicated."

"Meaning?"

"Just...a lot of disagreements," Bonnie winced, "Everyone thinks they're doing right by you, but they're all doing different things – "

"Once again, I actually hate being dead," MJ whined, "I don't like being memorialised."

"Vincent took that church building back," She tried to lift her mood, "Made it a shelter for people. It's, like, their peace land. Anyone is welcome, but that also means no one group is in charge of it."

MJ tensed, "They've gone back to the single party system?"

Bonnie couldn't help but laugh at her phrasing.

"Oh, no, no, no – what else had Vincent told you?"

"Him and Marcel are incredibly tense, and Sam's staying out of it, with the wolves, rebuilding, kinda in the shadows?" Bonnie pulled a face, "Vincent's just been confused because, like, the wolves have relocated to the city but there's something going on in The Bayou, but every time he goes to look, it's like everything but your grove is abandoned."

MJ pulled a face.

"Apparently Sam's hiding something but they don't know what, which isn't exactly helping Marcel's attitude, and, a bunch of the vampires who showed up to take Klaus down decided to stay, which made the witches mad."

MJ shut her eyes, "They are all children."

Bonnie beamed.

"Is it really that hard to get along?"

"You tell me."

MJ's eyes opened, giving her a look, then letting herself smile at the very valid point. Not only because of Bonnie's current situation, but because of that phone in her pocket, forcing MJ to decide what an earth she would tell Hayley when the woman finally called.

"They need you," Bonnie reminded her.

"Now, who's trying to keep me from finding peace."

"I'm not good at letting go at the moment," Her eyes were still teary, "Pretty obvious I have an agenda."

MJ just held her closer.

They'd almost chirped up.

"The Floare might've had some variation of the Greek Gods as well," MJ pitched, "Since we seemed to originate in that area. Plus, Hinduism? It's so old, and there are a collection of Floare specifically in different areas of India. Then, uh, the Essí are based in Tibet, so that's Buddhism."

"But, they all still practise witchcraft."

"What is magic, if not belief?" MJ shrugged, "And, a want for a community?"

"That's probably the first pro-religion thing you've said recently," Bonnie teased.

"I'm not anti-religion, I just don't like the obsession with Christianity in America," MJ defended, "Especially since it's typically used to justify hating others, which, is like, the opposite of what The Bible actually teaches – not the point!"

She straightened up.

"Maybe that's my problem? I keep bitching about Gods, so the secret Floare ones who could save me from my woes are refusing to introduce themselves?"

Bonnie found herself laughing once more.

"Maybe I should try reaching Legba while I still have some magic," She pitched, "If he answered Ryos, he should answer me."

Bonnie's expression faltered.

"You good?"

"Tia's been having problems," She admitted, "The Lwa still aren't back...that's kinda why I went to her. We were both trying to make magic work, but something wasn't clicking."

MJ stilled, "What?"

"Yeah."

"But..." MJ tilted her head, "Samedi was chuffed – he was speaking like he'd won."

"...Who?"

"A Lwa I met," MJ frowned, "The destruction of the ancestral realm would've created the power boost needed to stabilise them for a good few decades. The Voodoo Queens should be able to do their regular ceremonies to draw them out."

"Their magic's fine," Bonnie shrugged, "They just haven't been able to make contact with anyone."

Which would make Cade's point seem true.

The ancestors weren't gone – the spell to blow them up hadn't actually worked, everything was just frozen, or, who knew, locked on MJ's spirit? Waiting for it to truly fade? For it to come back? For someone to consecrate her on the right street to actually complete the Expression Triangle?

"That is a problem for me to mull over," MJ let her eyebrows furrow, "The witches are fine?"

Bonnie shifted, "They're practising."

"That's not an enthusiastic response."

"The magic's there, that's all that matters," Bonnie reminded her, "Some people have been problem causers, pretending they've lost the ability since the destruction."

MJ felt her mind getting even more intrigued by that.

"But, it's just a learning curve that makes Vincent kinda stressed because he's technically still learning non-focused ancestral magic too."

MJ squeezed her arm, "Thanks for checking on them."

"It was partly intrigue," Bonnie reminded her, "Partly because they've been helping me too."

"They are a good bunch," MJ let herself wallow, "Everything got so messy that I think I made New Orleans out to be my new Mystic Falls hell, but...honestly?"

"They're nice people," Bonnie agreed, "Really nice people."

Her phone beeped, and MJ shoved it out of her pocket.

...

A ping, reminding her that Caorline was about to start getting changed.

"I, uh," MJ slowly pushed up, "I've gotta go."

Bonnie bobbed her head.

"I've seen the bridesmaid dresses," MJ made once last attempt, "The picture's made it look great on you."

"Caroline doesn't need me there," Bonnie shook her head, "She has you."

"Caroline always needed you, Bon."

Sometimes, she remembered their junior year too well. The era of pure friendship, where things had almost been easy. Where, actually, Caroline had been in the trenches. And, Bonnie's Grandma had died. Maybe, actually, it was only MJ who'd had things slightly easier before Klaus had wondered in. But, it was also the era of sleepovers, and Grill trips, and cute outfits, and love life talk, before everything got too messy to deal with.

"Take all the time you need," MJ stressed, "But, don't ever doubt that."

Bonnie stared at her carefully.

"And, I am aware it's incredibly hypocritical for me to talk about," She made sure to soften her voice, "But I'm gonna give you a version of the same advice I gave Stefan...and, honestly, a version of the same advice I gave you last time."

The world liked to repeat itself.

Maybe her teenaged-self had been on to something.

She'd claimed to not have a clue, but...

"Ghosts may offer comfort, but you can't let yourself become one by hiding in them."

Not just MJ's advice, but Katherine's.

And Kol's.

His determination that she couldn't stop existing just because she wanted to see him.

"Carry them with pride," MJ emphasized, "Make sure they know that they are never forgotten."

Stefan wanted to be held accountable.

"But, your life is worth more than just being a figurehead for the dead."

It was why she'd destroyed the ancestral plane.

"We learn from our ghosts, we don't serve them."

"You're a ghost MJ."

"And, if you decide to grieve me, and move on?" MJ forced herself to say it, knowing that deep down, she did mean it, she meant it with her whole heart, "I will be so proud of you."

Bonnie's lips parted.

"If that's what's best for you?"

At the end of the day, Bonnie was the living one.

"Maybe give me this last party to say goodbye?"

"I don't wanna say goodbye."

"I don't think a goodbye is something that just happens to the dead," MJ admitted, "I think we just slowly fade into a better place."

Where they could rest.

"And, I'd rather you thought I was doing that, than you spent your life locked in here, listening to sad songs, trying to reach me," She had to accept that, "And, I think you'd rather have the chance to say that goodbye, than just suddenly wake up, and find us gone."

Time may not apply to them, but it did affect them.

"Ghosts aren't the only people that sentence applies to."

~***~

MJ rushed into the prep room of the wedding venue, trying to get her thoughts in order. As much as it had been a joke, maybe MJ should've looked more into the idea of Floare Deities. Even before her lessons with Tia, she'd know the Spanish Travellers had worshipped some form of power that then turned Catholic, and there was something to think about in Ryos's ability to exist across all three Floare stones. However, as much as her interest was now piqued, she had a best friend to dress.

A best friend, whose phone she was still staring at.

MJ winced as she pressed Kol's contact one last time.

It had to be the last.

She needed to focus on Caroline, and the rest of the day, as she carried a long suit bag in her arm, hanger pointing out, just under her chin.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

MJ exhaled.

The venue was an old manor house, aisle seats set-up in the garden, creating a beautiful walk way, surrounded by flowers, all leading to a long staircase for Caroline to descend when the time came. Inside, staff were working away to prepare food, and drinks, MJ slipping past them all to the dressing room –

"Caroline!" She rushed into the room and froze, "Care!"

Her friend was in a white robe, hair already pinned back, the starting marks of makeup on her face, desperately pulling apart the wardrobe while pacing back and forth.

"Where have you been?" Caroline spun to face her, then paused, "Is that..."

"Sorry," MJ's lips twitched, "I may have stolen your dress."

Caroline's expression broke, "MJ!"

Her arms flew up.

"I thought I'd lost it!"

"I'm so sorry – "

"I thought we'd lost you."

"I lost track of time – "

"Are you kidding me?" She shrunk into the sofa at the back of the room, "You better have made contact with Kol, or I swear – "

"Care..." MJ crept towards her, shutting the door, "I didn't."

Her eyes shut.

The room was beautiful, a glass wall leading out to a balcony looking over the side of the estate. Luckily, no one was wondering past, or it would've killed the energy of the dainty and clean room, the light-coloured wood vanity covered in makeup and hair accessories.

"I've had to listen to Damon practise his speech, and then I got freaked about you, and I know that nobody actually wants this wedding – "

"Do you?"

Caroline's eyes opened, sitting up to stare at her friend as MJ swung the two bags from her arms down, hanging them on the mahogany wardrobe.

"Caroline," She stopped in front of the sofa, "If you don't want to get married today, do not let us force you to."

She blinked incredibly slowly.

"Your day should be about you – not whether I have a foothold, and certainly not about Katherine," MJ scoffed, "I'm sorry I vanished. I was trying to do a good thing."

Caroline raised an eyebrow, brushing at her eyes to try and avoid smudging that early make-up.

"I altered your dress."

Her eyes softened, "You altered my dress?"

"Quite a bit, actually," MJ winced, "I was originally just gonna add some detailing, so, like, it got to have as much personality as you do, but then I ended up loving the lace layering, and, I know you didn't want a super puffy skirt, but you picked a crazy tight shape, when you deserve to be seen as a princess – "

Caroline's arms swung around her.

"At least check you actually like it," MJ laughed, "I ended up starting from scratch because I didn't wanna completely destroy something you might've actually preferred – "

"It'll be perfect."

"And, it can be perfect another day," MJ forced them to pull away, cupping Caroline's face, "Do you want to get married today?"

"I do," Her face broke as tears hit her cheeks, "I really do."

MJ beamed back at her.

"I just wish everyone else – "

"This isn't about them," MJ repeated her main point of the day, "You've said 'I do!' Which I think means you've technically married me?"

Caroline laughed, then let her shoulder drop as a weight hit her, "Enzo would've loved that."

"Nu-uh, we're not doing that right now," MJ brushed their noses together, "With all the power invested in me."

Her friend smiled once more.

"Thanks to your tiny daughters giving me a foothold."

A full chest laugh.

"I will do everything in my power to make sure you get to say it again."

Caroline brushed her eyes, pushing the tears away, catching a glimpse of herself in the large vanity mirror and laughing even louder, "My make-ups ruined."

"Good," MJ pointed her nose up, "Means I get to fix it."

Caroline's arms were around her one last time.

Burying her lips against MJ's neck.

"I promise, I didn't mean to ditch you," MJ rubbed her back, "Just had to make the dress, then I needed to sort my bridesmaid dress out."

Caroline lurched back, "I forgot – "

"I have it handled," MJ assured her, "I also altered the flowers Damon ordered, and..."

The door pushed open, Caroline rushing to her feet in panic, grabbing a paper tissue to dab her cheeks.

"...Surprise?"

Ric was right on time, each of the girls holding one of his hands, dressed in their own cream outfits, slightly yellow belts leading to lace tops and long sleeves. MJ didn't love them, but if Ric and Caroline had picked them, she actually found that slightly more sacred than the wedding dress. She was not about to be the reason those girls thought they had to show skin.

"Mommy!" They rushed in.

"Oh!" Caroline gave MJ a big look, "Girls. You look amazing."

They tackled Caroline and her robe in the biggest hug, bouncing up and down in ballet-slipper style shoes, playing with the curls in her hair.

"But, but," She looked at Ric, "I thought we decided it wasn't safe."

"Yeah, well," Ric nodded to MJ, "Name somewhere safer."

"Katherine would smell a rat if they weren't there," MJ justified, "And, she'd throw something at any house we left them in."

The girl's just giggled, hopefully too young to truly take any of it in.

Or maybe they didn't think the mention of a bomb was that big of a deal after Kai.

They had willingly hugged her while she'd been covered in blood.

"MJ taught us another spell," Lizzie boasted, "We have magic 'coating' us?"

She looked up at the woman to check.

"Coating?"

"Coating!" Josie answered for her, "Or, a barrier?"

"We put a protection spell on them," MJ clarified, "One of my morning tasks."

Caroline's lips quivered.

"They'll be safe no matter what," MJ promised, "I mean, I could try and cast one on the whole wedding, but that'll drain a lot of power, and then – "

"We'll be fine," Caroline pulled her girl's into another hug, staring up at Ric, "Thank you for bringing them."

"Can he practise with us?" Josie asked her, "We're the flower girls!"

The announcement was for MJ.

"I think your dad should also be a flower girl," MJ suggested, Lizzie giggling.

"See dad!" She pointed, "MJ agrees."

"Oh, I'd love to," He put a hand to his heart, "But, I've got to go back to work."

MJ gave him a look.

"I said I'd bring the girls."

"There's no reason for you not to be here," MJ rebutted, "We both have our fair share of wedding trauma. Doesn't change the fact there's free cake – "

"MJ," Caroline's smile was tight, "...Ric."

MJ narrowed her eyes as her friend stood up, letting the twins run to the vanity, inspecting all the make-up.

Why was Caroline taking his hand so softly?

Why was Ric staring at the white robe, and the glittering jewellery with so much longing?

He'd done this part of the wedding.

He should've been upset, and thinking about Jo, and how she would've applied the make-up, but his expression wasn't pure upset, or grief, and –

"Thank you."

"You understand," He murmured, looking at their shared hand, "Right?"

"Of course."

"Can I wear this?" Josie's question broke into their bubble, MJ's stomach turning, "It's pretty!"

She was picking up a silver tiara.

"Um," Ric cleared his throat, "Pretty sure that's mummy's."

"That is my something new," Caroline confirmed, "Was? The dress might now count?"

MJ grinned.

"Do you want me to help put it on?" Lizzie pitched.

"In a moment girl's," MJ winked, "I need to fix the hair first."

"My hair is done!" Caroline defended, "My make-up needs fixing."

"Sweetie," MJ reached towards her, pulling her out of Ric's hold, "I say this with love."

Caroline couldn't stop her own laugh.

"Your hair needs fixing."

"I think mummy looks beautiful," Josie perked up, "Don't you think mummy looks beautiful?"

She was staring at her dad.

Who was staring at Caroline.

MJ felt rage fill her entire being as she watched how Ric's eyes seemed to sparkle, and not in the way one sparkled for the platonic mother of your children. MJ had seen that sparkle on Klaus's face. Sure, it had lost that sparkle during the Dahila Debacle, but he'd gotten it back when Hayley had helped him run from his sires. Ric's was not platonic!

Then again, MJ had always been pretty terrible at reading signals.

She'd failed to see Stefan's; twice!

And, well, Klaus was a whole other conversation MJ was not addressing until she saw Kol.

Then again, for her to have noticed, that meant they were being obvious.

And, well, she'd always noticed Elena's signals.

She was pretty decent at reading signals when it came to other people, but for their to be signals?

"Yes," Ric finally answered, "She does."

"What was that?"

The flat tone of MJ's voice was almost comically as she let one finger motion between them, entirely unblinking, other arm limp by her side.

"What just happened?"

The twins looked at her, confusion across their face.

"Why were there a pause for an audience to go 'awe.'"

"MJ," Caroline spoke first, "Why don't we go the bathroom – "

"No," MJ took a step back, pointing at them, "That's a trap."

Caroline and Ric shared a look.

"Tell me what's going on."

They both curled their lips in.

"I can handle it," Her words were sharp, "I promise, I'll have a totally reasonable and normal reaction to whatever you are about to say."

It was like she'd forgotten how to breathe.

"Because, you're going to say something totally normal. And totally not gross. And totally not entirely life changing to my paternal projections of you Alaric."

Each point came accompanied with a step backwards until she practically tripped into the sofa, hands shooting out like MJ thought she needed to defend herself from an attack rather than gravity and special awareness.

"Please tell me that my paternal attachment is not about to go up in smoke?"

"MJ," Caroline approached her, "We were trying to do what was best for the girls."

"Oh my god," She put her head in her hands, sinking into the pillows, "I think I'm gonna be sick."

"Our lives were really good," Ric tried, "For a good few years."

"Can ghosts even get sick?"

"We were in Dallas," Caroline joined her on the sofa, a hand floating towards her back, "We were trying to be normal."

"I haven't eaten in four years," She buried her head further down, "If I throw up right now, there are no promises that it won't be a spider, or, like, my spine?"

"We know it was a mistake," Ric promised her, "We're better off now."

"Why are you talking like you're telling a child you're getting a divorce? Oh god!" MJ's head shut up, "Please do not answer that question!"

She was staring up at Ric and Caroline, both a mixture of emotions.

"You know what!" She pushed back to her feet, "If I did not see it!"

MJ actually didn't want them to clarify a thing.

"It did not happen!"

Not when she was going to have to fade back to oblivion, with nothing to do but think about it.

"For the first time in my life, I'd actually like less knowledge!"

Focus on the fact that a whole load of deities might actually be out there.

Think about how fun that would be!

Think about how, if she could find Cade, through pure will power, she could probably find them!

"And to contribute to that lack of knowledge," MJ pointed at Ric, incredibly aggressively, "You are going to sit in the wedding of your! Former! History! Student! And spend time with me, and your daughters, and assure me that everything is perfectly normal!"

Ric couldn't help but snort.

"Or, I will make you pay for my therapy instead of Klaus!"

"Okay," Ric actually caved, "Purely because I am slightly concerned you're the one about to have a meltdown, not the four year olds."

"We're gonna be so well behaved!" Josie put her arms tightly behind her back, squishing her skirt, "We've been practising everything."

"I will not be well-behaved!" MJ declared, "I need permanent supervision from a responsible adult who did not date his former student."

"Your boyfriend is one thousand years older than you," Ric reminded her.

"He never taught me history!" MJ paused, "Well, I guess, he sometimes has – but that's beside the point! You don't get to use my relationship to justify something that I refuse to acknowledge ever happened, when you hate my relationship!"

Silence.

MJ looked around in confusion at the tense reaction to her point.

Ric cleared his throat, "I don't hate your relationship."

MJ shifted slightly.

"I love you very much," He let his head move, "I'll go sort out a suit."

"Ric," Caroline shook her head, "You don't have to."

"If you don't hate the idea of me being here," Ric rephrased, "I'd like to spend time with MJ."

MJ softened slightly, Caroline's lips also finding a smile, "I'd like you to stay."

"There's a suit in your size four doors down," MJ added, "I was never about to lose this argument. I refuse to let this day happen unless everyone is actually celebrating you."

Caroline let herself beam.

Only for a pair of hands to land on Ric's shoulder's causing him to jump as MJ's heart leapt.

"Am I included in 'everyone?'" Tyler Lockwood, in a slick black suit, a fancy enough light blue shirt, but no tie, "I think there's a rule about inviting exes to your wedding, but it's also been, like, half a decade?"

Caroline's expression lifted, "Ty!"

"Again," He put hands out, eyes jumping from Caroline, to the person by the sofa, "I can leave."

"Not a bloody chance," MJ flung herself at him, "You didn't call!"

"You never used to!" He jabbed her sides from the hug, "Surprise, I'm back in town, is entirely your move."

"Tyler."

As she tried to pull back, to stare at his face, perfectly alive, he just squeezed tighter, lifting her feet from the floor, spinning around until MJ was laughing, hiking herself up to press her arms into his shoulders, head tipping back at the reality he truly was alive.

"I..."

"How dare you save me from beyond the grave!" He put her down, "That's a waste of your magic!"

"How dare you almost get yourself killed!" She smacked his chest, "I heard your little hero ramble! Letting Damon Salvatore kill you to make a point is not the move you think it is!"

"Children!" Ric pointed to the girls, clearly listening, "In the room!"

"Someone tried to axe them, a day ago," MJ reminded him, "This conversation is the least of your worries."

He winced at the reality of that, though the girls seemed entirely unbothered by it all, turning now they'd been pointed at, to bow at each other, then pulling the skirts out to curtsey, Caroline officially unable to stop smiling.

MJ's eyes returned to her best friend.

She took his hands, letting him feel how her fingers were trembling.

"You actually came?"

"Why on earth would I miss a chance to see you?" His hand found the back of her neck, pulling her back in, fingers threaded into the roots of her hair as they hugged, "MJ."

"No one's called me back," She felt him freeze against her, "Everyone – "

"Your dad's flying to Australia."

She pulled back, as much as she could risk, his other arm snaking around her back, "What?"

"Yeah," He squeezed lightly, "Like, an eighteen-hour job."

MJ breathed out in relief, "He would've gone straight to bed when he landed."

"He won't be ignoring you," He nodded, "I've had to get weirdly used to his flight patterns – "

MJ shoved herself right back into Tyler's chest.

"And, he has Kol's phone at the moment," He revealed, "I was with them for New Year, you're New Year, not calendar New Year, and his phone literally flew into your dad's garden."

Caroline's turn to go, "What?"

Tyler finally let MJ fully step away, sending a polite nod to Ric.

"He doesn't have his phone right now?"

"Have you not been told about Whit?"

"We've been a bit busy," Caroline gestured out, "You know, with Hell?"

"Yeah," Tyler winced, "Kol came back for Chinese New Year, beat the shit out of Whit, almost set his office on fire, and completely fled the country after ditching his phone at your dads."

"Again," Ric closed his eyes, "Children present."

"I don't get what the bad word was," Lizzie whispered to her sister, "Ditch?"

"Ditch!" Josie said directly to their dad.

"Yeah," He nodded, "Let's go with ditch."

MJ snorted, "We can have this conversation later."

"You sure?" Caroline nodded at her, "If you want to catch up."

"I'm good," She promised her, "My rule was once wedding mode started, you were the only thing that mattered."

Her dad wasn't ignoring her.

Kol wasn't ignoring her. Kol didn't have a phone, so her only option was astral projection, and doing that was a risky move, because she knew he'd blame hallucinations.

She was willing to risk that.

Once the wedding was over! Caroline was the centre of attention – she deserved to be the centre of attention at her own wedding, even if Damon was using it as a ploy to get Katherine. Should MJ have gone looking for Katherine? Nope! Because then she'd miss Caroline's wedding, and considering this whole mess had started with listening to Bonnie and Caroline pick dresses, miserable that she couldn't attend?

"We can talk at the reception," She let Tyler's arm hang around her waist, leaning in to him all over again, smelling the fresh forest air in his cologne, "You pulled out a suit?"

"Have enough of them in my house."

Caroline let them just hold each other for a moment, MJ rocking slightly in his arms, as all her messy thoughts and complicated insecurities melted away. She was gonna be okay. Kol was out there, but she'd find him – or someone would find him, and she should probably phone Whit to work out what had happened to cause a fight, but that was a later problem. For now, it was just her, and her two best friends.

"I'll, uh," Ric nodded to the door, "I'll go get ready."

Tyler's hand rubbed her side as he slipped away.

Then, he looked at Caroline, curling his lips in and nodding slowly, MJ's body having a very different reaction to the sight of Tyler looking at Caroline in a robe.

"Wait until you see the dress," MJ mused, pulling away from him and towards the body bag of fashion, "Keep it in your pants, Lockwood, she's getting married!"

"You had to ruin the moment," He shook his head at her, "You're gonna look incredible Care."

"Do I not look incredible now?" She teased, motioning to her smudged make-up, "I think I should walk down the aisle just like this."

"A robe is one way to do it."

She laughed, slowly turning to a head shake, "I can't believe you're actually here."

"Hey," Ty sent MJ a soft look, "I didn't realise what I was walking into, but once I did?"

The once couple shared a look.

"I'd hate to miss out on you being happy."

He'd once made a very different choice, but, perhaps, it had been the best for both of them. And, who really knew what the future held now he'd learnt that lesson. Caroline's eyes instantly turning back to soft. At least someone other than MJ wanted to make this day about Caroline's happiness...

"Now that Damon's not trying to murder me," He quickly filled MJ in, "I haven't been back to town since then."

"You've been with my dad?"

"A bit," He admitted, "And some other stuff – later talk."

MJ tried not to let herself get emotional over the word 'later.'

"Are you, uh, back for good?"

"I'll be on my way tonight," MJ reminded them all, "Once Katherine's dealt with."

Tyler straightened up, "Katherine?"

"Maybe you need a catch up," MJ grinned, "We need to get ready, go talk to Ric."

"Understood," He brushed a hand over her shoulder, then paused, he grinned and stepped right back into her space, "Screw near touch intimacy."

It was a declaration followed by the tightest hug yet, MJ unable to do anything other than beam, letting go to watch his final nod to the bride, then winking to the twins, before stepping back into the corridor, shutting the door behind him. Oh, Tyler Lockwood. Slashing through all of MJ's nerves, not an inch of her skin overreacting to the pressure of contact.

"He just stole our moment!" Caroline flung her arms out, "Again!"

MJ laughed, "What moment?"

"Me being emotional because you'd done all these things for me," She waved her hands, "And then he crashed it! Like we were seventeen, at freaking Miss Mystic!"

"But," MJ pointed up, "Didn't you kinda adore him for doing it back then?"

Caroline's face flushed slightly, "I was with Matt."

"You were with Matt when he kissed you the first time too."

"I didn't have a crush that early!"

"I know," MJ winked, "Just teasing – you did have a crush on Stefan that early though."

"God, I am a terrible role model," She turned to her daughters, "Do not follow in my dating footsteps."

"Is anyone a good example for them?" MJ laughed.

"I mean," Caroline gave her a gentle look, "Ignoring Kol's recent choices, you picked your guy and you both stuck to each other. No silly break-ups, just..."

MJ let her fingers run over the dress bag, "We love each other."

"Girls," She spoke to her daughter's, "When you start to like guys."

"Or girls!"

"Or girls," Caroline nodded, "If you feel like you can't come to me, Auntie MJ is the advice board, okay?"

"Okay," They both answered cheerily.

"And, until then," MJ pointed at the chair in front of the vanity, "Wanna watch me do your mum's make up?"

Their faces lit up.

"Make-up is an artform!" MJ instructed, turning from the dress, "It is not something to hide insecurities, though it can be used that way, it should be treated with respect, and only used when you want it to be. Don't let anyone force you to wear it."

Caroline laughed at her, "Show me the dress first."

MJ paused her lesson.

"I wanna see it," She justified, "Before, I end up crying again."

"Can I film it?" MJ pulled Caroline's phone out, "I'm sure Damon's got a photographer down there, but, I wish we'd been able to video diary this."

"God, it edited next to the Miss Mystic 'get ready with us?'"

"I'll get some stuff," MJ winked, pressing record as she placed the phone against the mirror, "For now..."

She carefully unzipped the bag as it hung from the wardrobe, pulling the material out from under the grey cover to hold it forward like an offering. The dramatic part of her won, allowing MJ to take a singular knee as Caroline took it in.

The underneath was similar to her original, tight to fit around the body, white satin highlight curves before breaking out into a slightly puffier skirt, lace pressed over the bodice, creating patterns across her stomach and chest before breaking out into two specific pieces. Her straps were formed out of that lace. The design carefully tailored to come together into two thin lines, shaped almost like flower stems, arcing over her shoulders before turning back into the pattern on the back. MJ had used a mix of flower-print lace through the design, leaving it as the top layer of the skirt before allowing longer, more flowing pieces to fill it out.

Along the neckline was a slight sparkle, like jewels had been sewn precisely into the lace, because they had been. MJ was determined to ensure Caroline shined on each step as the sun graced over them.

"MJ," Her voice was barely there, "It's beautiful."

"You're beautiful."

"It's perfect."

"I did help make your updated wedding book," MJ reminded her, "Even if we were picturing a slightly different groom."

Caroline managed to laugh once more at that reminder.

"And, look!" MJ opened the back of the dress, showing a carefully placed piece of light blue satin in the bodice, white words sewn into it, "I can take it out, if it rubs, but..."

'to falling in love, without even realising.'

"MJ!" Caroline's face was covered in tears, "I – I – "

The girls were looking up at her, concern in their tiny eyes.

"I don't even know what to say."

"That you're about to get married?" MJ let her voice crack, "And, I'm so happy for you."

"I wish we'd done the drunk brunch now," She fanned her face, "Could at least blame this on alcohol."

"We'll find a way to do drunk brunch some other time," MJ was promising the universe, "Caroline."

Their hands found each other.

"You're getting married today!"

"I'm getting married!"

They both half-screamed, wiggling the hands and pressing up on their feet.

"I'm actually getting married!" She cheered, letting herself finally do a little dance.

"And, you are beautiful, and so deserving of the best love," MJ pulled her closer, "And you have an incredible family, and future, and I am so proud of you."

Caroline's lips curled.

"I hope you spend the rest of your life knowing you are not only one of my favourite pools to dive into," She guided her to the chair, "But, I would happily drown in the depth of it."

"Don't say that."

"Because, doing so would only fill me with warmth, and perfect rom-com binges," She swayed them gently by the vanity chair, "And matching flannel shirts – even if you'd never typically pull one on!"

Caroline tilted her head, letting her forehead rest on her shoulder.

"Every day you help me remember to be unapologetically myself."

"You're probably one of the only reasons I like being myself."

"Because you were funny, and supportive, and you see the best in people," MJ reminded her, "And you understand the importance of not wearing clashing patterns, even when I thought doing so was experimental and hipster."

She laughed, finally letting herself sit in the chair.

"And, you have always tried to put my best interests first, even when I wasn't ready to."

"I messed up a whole lot," Caroline reminded her.

"So did I," MJ leant over the back of the chair, letting her best friend rest as The Twins carefully moved closer to the mirror, staring as Caroline pulled out make up wipes, "Your mum would be so proud of you."

She sniffed, "You think?"

"I know," MJ kissed the top of her head, "Just like I know she'll be watching. From peace. They'll both be watching."

They'd known her dad liked to check in when The Other Side was still a thing.

"I love you."

Caroline held her look in the mirror, "I love you more."

"Can I walk you down the aisle?" MJ pitched, "I know it's not typically a maid of honour thing – "

Caroline's smile broke, "Someone needs to walk the girls."

"Or," Bonnie's voice appeared behind them, "I could walk the girls?"

Unlike them, Bonnie was actually dressed and ready to go, the shining silver dress appearing slightly brown in some lights, but glowing in the other, accenting just how long her legs were, even if she was small in height. The pinched side created a slight ruffle, like an elegant chess piece, her hair twisted into a low side bob, two strands framing her face, perfectly curled.

"You're here?" Caroline turned in her chair, the girls perking up at another arrival.

"Oh," Bonnie welled up while looking between her and MJ's dress, "I have a selfish reason."

MJ couldn't help but look up to Bonnie Bennett.

"I wanna be a part of your happiness."

"Please," Caroline was tearing up all over again, "Always."

"Always," Bonnie confirmed.

'Always and Forever,' MJ couldn't help but think, her heart cracking just a little bit more.

The broken vow, choked and buried, because Elijah and Freya had turned on her, and Kol deserved revenge – and MJ deserved revenge, but Klaus and Hope? Klaus had turned on her too...but he'd also fallen to his knees to apologise...and Hope...

MJ had spent so long, unintentionally wishing that she was one of them.

A familial love that would never quite let you go.

What better way to live like one than to be murdered and shoved out of time the way they'd all been daggered...and, as desperate as her stomach was for blood, the vampirism not something one could be as a witch spirit...Hope thought she was an angel?

MJ didn't want to be an angel, but she didn't want to be why Hope didn't know her father.

"Now, come on!" Bonnie wiped away her tears, setting spray keeping the make-up intact, "You two are so behind schedule!"

"I made two dresses!" MJ defended, "And I need to fix her hair."

"My hair is done," Caroline repeated.

"Is it really?" Bonnie couldn't help but comment, making MJ laugh.

"Fine!" Caroline shook out her entire body in her chair, "Fix me up!"

"It'll be my pleasure," MJ kissed her cheek, turning to Josie and Lizzie, "You two ready to be the best little helpers in all the land!"

"Yes!"