a/n: Let the games begin...

(Next update will take at least two weeks, cos of Uni. Also, lmao these episodes are three chapters. This is the lead into the chaos, I promise it'll get more interesting xx)

Comment and vote - Bea

23rd JUNE 2013

"So," MJ and Cami were walking through Mystic Falls, "Today is gonna be filled with drama. A fight will probably start. And I just want to stay out of it and have a good time."

Cami nodded, "And I will make sure you do."

MJ grinned.

"Though, I thought you said things had been peaceful since this Kai-guy got locked up."

"Ty's ex is here; she went a little suicidal too," MJ was scared to see Liv, "So he's gonna be jumpy. Caroline has her own romantic problems, who will be there to set her off. And, well, you'll meet Damon and Elena – they always have something going on."

"And we'll be drinking and partying."

"Exactly."

They'd arrived in the morning, MJ giving her a brief tour while checking in on a few things. They'd passed through town hall so MJ could visit the make-shift Founder's Council, checking that the event calendar for Victoria's Voices had been drafted. Then she'd taken Cami to Ric's apartment to pick up some hunter gear she wanted to take back to New Orleans, allowing her friend to gawk at the weird among of weaponry she owned.

During those stops, Kol had phoned twice, looking for an excuse to vamp-speed over and join them, MJ only teasing lightly about the situation and initiating a very sexual conversation to get him to stop.

He'd get pouty about her doing it from afar.

Then, she and Cami momentarily stopped by the Salvatore House, Cami freaking out about how beautiful it was, MJ wanting to see Jo. She was pouring orange juice into glasses in the living room, her dress on a bodice in the main windows.

"I'm so happy you came!" Jo's tight hug surprised her, MJ glancing back to Cami in the foyer.

Jo noticed her too.

She put on a warm smile, "You're plus one."

"Hi," Cami came into the room, "The bride, I assume."

"Jo Laughlin," She confirmed, "Thank you for coming."

Cami laughed nervously, "Thank you for letting a stranger crash your wedding."

"Eh," Jo rubbed her arms, "All of the coven is here, and I don't know most of them either – at least you're actually friends with someone important to the wedding."

MJ felt her stomach turn.

She was so nervous about seeing Ric again.

So much that she hadn't even thought about the coven post-Kol pointing it out.

"And I wouldn't want today to happen without you here," Jo squeezed her hand encouragingly, "You hear me?"

MJ managed a smile and nodded, "I'm so happy for you."

The forced expression had nothing to do with Jo.

"Both of you," She hugged her again, "And I would happily stay to help you get dressed except..."

"Ric," Jo nodded in understanding, "He's at the apartment in Whitmore."

"I figured."

"I'll see you later," She let go of MJ's hand.

"You're going to look beautiful," MJ took the outfit in, "God, wedding dresses are gorgeous."

Jo smiled a little, "You don't read as a wedding person."

"Oh," MJ grinned, "I love them."

They were massive parties filled with pretty clothes and family, and they celebrated love, and some of them could be designed to look so beautiful.

"And I'm so excited to see the barn."

"I hope you like it," Jo then patted her arm, "Now, stop stalling – go see Ric."

"Don't let yourself stress too much!"

"Ha, ha," Her voice automatically went up, ferrying MJ away, "Don't say that to a bride."

The stop after the Salvatore House was the Lockwood Mansion, MJ nosing about in case Tyler was there. He wasn't. And talking Cami through stories from her time living there – the positive High School stuff, was something she'd needed to do. Then, because it was MJ, she had to point out the slight scorch mark on the front steps from Mikael's first death and where she'd met Hayley.

Lastly, they drove to Whitmore.

Matt and Tyler were with Ric, helping him get ready.

Well, ish.

They were sitting around his coffee table, a bottle of bourbon in the centre, shot glasses out.

"Nope to the no, no, no!" She announced her presence, a cheeky grin on her face as Ty shot to his feet, "You are not getting day drunk for your wedding."

Tyler hopped over the sofa to tackle her in a hug, "Stop deliberately not texting when you get back into town!"

"Miss me?"

"Always."

When she was put down, he looked to her guest, "Hey Cami."

"Nice to see you again," Cami pulled a face, "In way better circumstances."

"Definitely."

Ric and Matt slowly stood up too.

Matt was smiling, which MJ was happy about, meaning that he couldn't hate the supernatural too much, and Ric seemed just as nervous as her.

"...Hi," She started.

He bobbed his head, "You seem good."

"I am good," She fiddled her fingers, then cleared her throat, "Meet Cami?"

Her friend put a reassuring hand on her shoulder to dispel the questioning tone of voice.

"Nice to meet you guys. I have been briefed," She did a half-wave to Matt and Ric, then started with Ty, "I already know Tyler, the blonde would be Matty 'Blue-Eyes.'"

He laughed and gave MJ a pointed look.

"And the groom is Alaric Saltzman."

Ric came forward to shake her hand, "Camille O'Connell."

"Cami, please," She shook it firmly, "So happy you're letting me be here on your special day."

"If you're not a Mikaelson, you're welcome," Ric said bluntly.

MJ bit her lip.

"And I'm human," Cami retorted with a careful smile, "So even better?"

Ric laughed, "Very true."

"Welcome," Matt shook her hand too, "Matt Donavon. Also human."

"If you're human," Ric returned to the sofa, leaning against its back, "How'd you get dragged into the know?"

"Bartender," Cami didn't miss a beat, "The vampires in New Orleans are fond of bourbon too."

"Also got a psyche degree," MJ added, "Gets to have a lot of fun managing us and our demons."

"It's interesting," She agreed, "But the fun bit is usually the nights out."

MJ smiled as Ric's face relaxed.

"You mean," Matt faltered, "You guys get nights off – Klaus Mikaelson takes nights off?"

"He has a baby," MJ wanted to laugh, "He's getting woken up at three a.m. by screams."

Not entirely true, but pretty close.

"He's too tired to go to war every day."

Cami snorted.

"I can't believe he's actually a dad," Tyler pulled a face, "How is Hayley?"

"She's making her situation work," MJ would give him the details when Ric wasn't there, "But enough about us. What do you need me to do?"

"Nothing," Tyler said proudly.

Matt pointed to black bags hanging on the wall, "We got suits."

"I got the rings!" Ty pulled the box out.

"And the vows," Ric nodded.

"So," Tyler looked around, "What do we do now?"

"I guess I take back my earlier comment," MJ picked up the bourbon to pour the shots, "We toast."

"If you guys want a personal moment," Cami motioned to the door.

"No, no," Ric beckoned her, "You're her guest. You need to be equally drunk...I probably shouldn't be encouraging that."

"Especially," Cami moved the glasses around as MJ poured, "Since we now have a rule back in the city about her drinking."

"A rule?" Matt raised an eyebrow, "Should we be concerned?"

"We have to take every given moment to remind her that she's still underage," Cami winked at her.

"A month and a half!" MJ protested, causing the guys to laugh.

"Awe," Ty teased, "Must suck not to be legal."

"Yeah," Matt took his drink, "Could not relate."

"You both only turned twenty-one in Feb!"

Tyler pinched her cheeks, "Is the August baby sad?"

"The August baby wants her drink."

Ric ruffled her hair, "And she can have some."

They all lifted a glass.

"To Alaric Saltzman," Tyler started, "Who, after today, will have sex with only one woman for the rest of his life."

They all were laughing again.

"Seriously," Matt continued the joke, "Just one! You can't even look after this."

"Because girls are throwing themselves at the Occult Studies professor?" MJ jabbed, "I say he locks this one down while he still can."

"Mean," Ric scolded, then turned to Tyler and Matt, "Yeah. You remember how great it was when you were fighting?"

"Sorry. Full moon tonight," Tyler shrugged simply, "Feeling extra dick-ish."

Ric looked to MJ and Matt, "Your excuses?"

Every phone except Ric's buzzed.

"What?" He automatically panicked, "What is it?"

Matt sighed, "Wedding day chores."

"Courtesy of Caroline," The three Mystic Falls-ers spoke together.

"Karma," Ric swished his shot, "Sweet, sweet karma."

MJ looked to Cami, "When did Care get your number?"

"When they came to announce your momentary passing."

"Even if we hadn't," Ty gave MJ a look, "It's Care."

The pair shared a smile.

"She would've found a way to contact an extra person to boss about."

"True."

"Though," Matt quickly scanned the list, "None of these chores need to start happening for at least another hour."

Ric pointed to Cami, "And I wanna know your friend while you guys are in town."

MJ had made it clear she was coming back for the wedding, then getting out before she could get dragged back into the next supernatural crisis, and when she left, she was probably gonna drag Tyler with her, so he didn't just sit around in Mystic Falls to get hurt himself.

They all clicked the shots to finish the toast and then started pouring the second round.

Half an hour passed, Cami answering questions and asking a few of her own, on her best behaviour, even when the conversation was pointing in a certain way.

"You get magic objects?" Matt was pouring them all a shot, "Can I have magic objects?"

MJ laughed, "You have a resurrection ring."

"Which is great and all," He lifted it up, "Doesn't really protect me though."

Cami smiled, "You're not getting any off me, sorry. Family legacy and all."

"Give me a list of pitches, and I'll consider making some for you, Matty-Blue," MJ downed her shot, feeling herself relax.

"How fantasy movie can I get?"

"Considering her current to-do list," Cami's only slip-up, "Maybe don't go too 'out' there."

"Current list?" Ric latched on, "What's Klaus ordering you to do now?"

"Nothing," MJ topped her glass up, tone flat, "I've got things going on for Hayley and my friend Sam. Then I'm helping the vampires with some stuff, and I'm a witch elder – plus I have a job."

To-Do list for all her lives.

"I'm busy."

"Defensive."

"Not – "

"Where's Kol on that list?" He sat further forward on his chair, "Is helping out the vampires code for helping him out?"

Silence.

"Ric," Tyler spoke carefully, "Really wanna talk about this today?"

"It's the only chance I'm gonna get."

"I love him, Ric," MJ said dryly, "If you can't deal with that, I'm sorry, but I do. And I don't wanna fight – "

"You're dating a serial killer," Ric shook his head, "Who is a thousand years old. Went after you, a High School senior, and he can't even keep himself safe. You had to save him from death - a responsibility which broke you all over again – "

"Because it's a traumatising experience!" MJ sounded exasperated, "Not because he's using me to stay alive!"

Silence.

"Kol was dying in my arms, and he told me not to save him."

Ric tried not to still, too obviously.

"He spent his last day alive, telling me to let him die. To move on," She counted the things on her hand, "Have a family, marry someone, do anything as long as I was living and happy, and not wasting my life on him."

MJ forced herself to stay poised.

"I chose to use everything I had to save him – and I don't wanna fight with you on your wedding day. I want to celebrate the fact that you love somebody."

The bombshell she'd only recently been told.

"That you're having twins."

Not just one 'real' child, but two.

"Information I only found out about through Caroline."

He looked away.

"I don't want to be the person who ruins your wedding," She stood up, "So if we're only gonna have this fight again. I'm not gonna be there."

He let her leave.

Cami stood up carefully, "She's happy."

Silence.

"I mean, not happy-happy," She clarified, "She's actually really struggling."

Context mattered.

"But she's trying really hard. And the works paying off."

MJ bringing Cami wasn't just about the woman offering to come.

It was because she could trust Cami to keep it together and real.

Josh would've been too calm and in agreement with the Mikaelson shade, even if he didn't have anything against Kol. Marcel was just a massive no. Kol and Klaus were too. And her other close friends were wolves. They'd turn back that night, but still. She couldn't exactly bring a dog to a daytime wedding.

"She's feeling happy again."

"And what's Klaus doing to help that?"

"It's his money paying for everything," Cami crossed her arms, "She can skip work because it's a low day without working herself into a state over bills."

Mikaelson Money.

"And it's his money paying for private healthcare and weekly therapy."

Ric's eyes went soft, "She's seeing a therapist?"

"A therapist. And anti-depressants. And sleep meds," Cami listed, "Then there's the yoga and the spending time with friends, and helping people, and all the non-chemical based ways to try and be happy."

Silence.

"And, Kol?" Cami had promised to put a good word in, "She broke up with him after saving him."

He and Matt hadn't known that.

"Because you all got in her head and made her think her relationship was co-dependent."

Maybe it had tettered into that territory, but?

"When he's probably the healthiest relationship in her life."

"He's – "

"He listens to everything she says," Cami listed, "He never expects anything from her. He never encourages her using herself to help people the way the rest of us ask her to. And he lets her consistently hang out with you people, with practically no protest!"

"We're her family!"

"Two of you murdered him!"

There was no response to that.

"If someone murdered me, and the person I was in love with spent every other month with them, I'd be furious!"

Ric looked like he wanted to say something, but Cami kept going.

"I know it's complicated; MJ's told me what happened."

And Tyler and Caroline had given her some other details when they'd visited post-her-death.

"Kol told me what happened too – and, funnily enough, his version actually had more nuance in it."

A long breath in.

"He's the one who points out it was an act of self-defence."

Jeremy had earned him points by arguing his case to Bonnie.

"MJ's summary is 'selfish people were unsurprisingly selfish,' stressing the two alternate options."

They all kinda knew MJ would describe it bluntly.

Especially post-Prison World.

Her hospital chat with Elena had shown that. Even if she and Elena had reached a level of peace since then.

"He just wants MJ to be happy, and he knows that means letting her co-exist," Cami spelt it out, "Without making her feel like shit for having feelings."

Tyler spoke up too, "I know she's reunited with her dad."

Ric's blood ran cold.

"He explained some stuff – like," He wasn't a science guy, "Low blood?"

"She's anaemic," Cami specified.

"And meeting him's given her a buttload of motivation," Tyler added, "She doesn't wanna be why her half-siblings know about depression when they're both under five."

"She – " Ric was panicking, "Her real dad? He's back in her life?"

Ty and Cami shared a look.

"As in, with memories?"

Cami nodded weakly, "But that doesn't make this okay."

Ric was fixed on her.

"As someone who cares about her a lot? Me, talking to you? Who also claims to care about her a lot?"

"It's not a – "

"This cycle you've started needs to end," She wasn't listening to a defence, "She's given me the context. She told me all the bloody details of Klaus's role in your life. And you don't need to forgive him or his family, but you need to forgive her."

"I don't blame her!"

"You're starting too," She held her stance, "She has her dad back, but she still loves you, and as someone trying to keep her happy and in a good place?"

The mutual thing they should've all been agreeing on.

"As someone who is a licensed therapist?"

The firmness didn't falter.

"I am telling you now – if you're gonna turn into the figure of negativity in her life, MJ won't be the one walking out the door," Cami promised, "I'll be pulling her out and making damn sure you can't come through after."

Ric's body went tense.

"She's working so hard to keep her mental health in check, and I'm not going to let you ruin that by making her hate herself for loving someone who has done nothing but care for her," Her words, not Kol's, "Especially when none of this is really about him. Or MJ. It's about Klaus."

Cami's head tilted towards Tyler.

"Klaus kept him as a slave, killed his mum, then slept with the girlfriend who'd just broken up with him."

A very 'fun' list.

"If he can accept that his friend is better off, you, a grown adult, should be able to."

Cami exited the apartment, finding MJ waiting in the car.

"Sorry," She murmured lowly, "I shouldn't have left you up there."

"It's okay," Cami assured her, "Let's go help Caroline."

MJ shook her head, "I'm not going."

"Yes, you are."

"Not after that."

The back door of MJ's Blue Bug opened, Tyler climbing in, "You're going."

"Thank you," Cami pointed at him, "Going is the right thing to do."

"You'll never forgive yourself for not being there."

"You know it to be true."

MJ shook her head at them, "Can you two not tag-team this?"

"Just wait till we bring Caroline in," Tyler shrugged innocently, "She will tie you to your seat and force-feed you wedding cake."

"She'd probably enjoy that," Cami jested.

Tyler smiled, "MJ does like it rough."

"TY!"

"You broke a bed."

"You kissed Matt's mum."

"Low blow!"

MJ was the only person allowed to make a joke about that situation.

Benefits about being the only person to point out how Ms Donoavon had been at fault at the time.

Benefits of being best friends.

Cami had started to laugh, "See, better mood already."

"Ha, ha," MJ rolled her eyes, starting the engine, "I'll go to set up, but I won't stay for the actual wedding."

"Caroline won't let you leave," Tyler reminded her.

"And, that's a good thing," Cami turned on the radio, "Because you're going to have a good day with your friends."

August 2005

MJ was pacing around the backroom of Selene's apartment. She'd started on the floor, sitting on the unnaturally soft rug - cream and chocolate coloured, fluffy to touch, leaning back on a white poof seat, staring at the low-lying coffee table.

She'd considered bolting.

The vampires of 'night-duty' weren't about to let her.

Andrea had taken a position on a rosé coloured sofa, a glass of blood in one hand, a mobile phone in the other. MJ hadn't seen one so modern before, which felt weird. She was a teenager. The vampire shouldn't be more up to date than her.

Then again, the vampire had 'money' she didn't.

She noticed her staring.

"I actually paid for it too."

"So proud," MJ responded dryly, then tensed.

Luckily, Andrea didn't seem offended, laughing at the comment. MJ just looked back at her shoes, not really wanting any vampires to laugh with/at her.

Aaryan was a vampire now.

Her stupid fear needed to jump off a cliff so she could be there for her friend.

Andrea kept trying to get her order some kind of take-away, but MJ was somewhat scared. What if she broke the device? Would it result in her death?

What if she made a dumb order?

And, if she was being honest, she wasn't hungry.

She felt sick.

MJ was scared out of her mind, convinced the vampires would kill her, and desperately wanted her friend, who was now a vampire, to be okay.

That was when she'd started to pace.

Andrea was with her, but others were wandering around the penthouse, compelling the humans to forget the supernatural details, be extra cautious, come find them if they died, and then pay them.

Vampires who didn't kill their meal and paid them for it?

That was when Selene returned.

It had been about thirty minutes, and she was dragging an unconscious Aaryan out of the elevator.

"Someone move him to the cell while I talk to the witch!" She left an incapacitated body in the lobby of her home a little too easily, "And start draining him!"

Her dark and glossy hair was slightly out of place, wind-beaten, but she was clear of blood, tan skin shining - perfect eyebrows.

MJ looked at her and just thought *beautiful*

She was a vampire, and MJ was just staring at her and thinking about how pretty she was.

She felt a bit pathetic.

Vampires scared her, and she should not be in awe of how they looked.

"You," She pointed at MJ while walking into the room, "I need some help."

"I don't really know any spells."

"And I'm not asking you to do any magic," She responded simply, "I just need you to be brave."

MJ blinked.

"Your friend turned off his humanity - which is a massive problem, but," She spoke kindly, keeping space between them, "A fixable one."

"What do you mean he turned off his humanity?"

Silence.

MJ's head started to shake in confusion.

Selene shifted, "How much do you know about vampires?"

Not much.

MJ felt embarrassed to admit it, so she didn't, Selene filling in the blank.

"Basically," She sent a quick glance behind her.

Checking someone had taken Aaryan.

"Listen to me," She moved to take a seat on the same sofa as Andrea.

Her mouth opened.

Another pause.

Looking around the room.

"You didn't order anything," She frowned, "You really should eat."

"I had dinner."

"Never turn down food!"

The gobsmacked look on her face almost made MJ smile.

"And, you've been through a stressful evening. You need to keep your sugar levels up, especially since it's only gonna get worse."

MJ felt threatened despite the cheerful tone of voice, "Worse?"

"It has to get worse before it gets better," Selene added quickly, "Turning humanity on is not easy, and once you get it on, it's not exactly sunshine and rainbows either."

MJ loved the woman's voice.

Despite the topic and the message, it was hard not to get wrapped up and entranced. The English accent was like music, and the tuneful way she spoke only made it nicer.

She was scolding herself for getting drawn in.

Selene was the Queen of the city, and she'd snapped a guy's neck in front of her. If MJ let herself fall into the trap of a personality that was probably a persona to catch humans, she'd end up as dinner.

"Now, tell me what you want me to order."

MJ took a long breath in, determined to keep her voice firm, "Tell me how we're gonna help Aaryan."

Selene thought off a smile.

"I don't want to eat; I want to help my friend."

"You want to help your friends?" Selene kept it simple, "You'll need to tap into that magic again, my dear."

The term of endearment washed over her.

"Witches with guilt complexes do not last unless they practise."

MJ continued to feel slightly threatened.

"And that's not me saying I'm going to kill you," Selene could hear her rapidly fluctuating heartbeat, "It's not me even saying that you're going to end up dead. It's me telling you that wanting to help people is a good quality, and if you want to carry it with you? If you want to truly make a difference? Well, magic is the best gift in this land."

MJ had never seen a vampire who liked witches before. New Orleans had the two species detesting each other, no vampires invited into the witch house, even if one or two occasionally tried to pop by.

"And, I believe I have a bit of a sixth sense," Selene lent forward in her seat, "I know when a person has fire in their soul – I can see it in their eyes."

So much confidence in one person.

"And fire is the best quality, especially as a young girl."

MJ's eyes stared at her fiddling fingers, oddly flattered.

"Don't put your own flames out."

The woman didn't know her.

The future fighter inside would've called her out on trying to comment on her.

But...it was complicated.

"The universe will try to. Don't make its job easier."

"Aaryan," MJ didn't want to talk about magic after an accidental siphon, "Tell me what's happening."

"It's a long story – "

"I want to hear it."

" – so take a seat."

MJ faltered.

She hadn't been so sharp-spoken to anyone in a long time, the fear coming out, yet Selene was still relaxed and welcoming. Too patient for a vampire.

"Your friend is what one would call a 'Ripper.'"

The start of a story MJ should've taken more note of.

"Vampires who cannot control the bloodlust. Whether that's because they've turned off their humanity. They no longer care to keep it in check. Or because the transition has amplified some other trait in them. The blood is too much."

"Like, if they had an eating disorder," MJ really wanted to understand, "That could be doubled."

If she could understand, she could help.

"In a way," Selene nodded, "Or like an addition – though, addicts can become vampires without becoming rippers...think...okay, this is going to sound like a weird example, but roll with it."

A phrasing MJ loved.

"I have a friend – Alexia. Who is not a ripper, but one of her best buds is."

MJ nodded weakly.

"From what I've heard, he's a very compassionate person."

"I'm sure," MJ murmured sarcastically.

Selene smiled, "That compassion? The empathy he feels for other people?"

MJ tried to imagine it.

"When heightened? It's overwhelming. It means he can't feed without feeling guilt. He's miserable - except drinking blood is a rush. All vampires struggle, but where others pull away, when he drinks? The rush allows him to hide from the guilt."

The brain was something that fascinated MJ, despite how much she disliked biology.

"He's left in a loop, feeding desperately to let the euphoric feeling beat the guilt down, but when he gives in to the feeling, he's murdered a town. A serial killed, known as the Ripper of Monterey...it just feels even worse."

As horrific as it was, MJ understood, "Like when you overeat because you're stressed. Then you get stressed about overeating."

"Perfect," Selene nodded, "Some people naturally have more bloodlust; control can take time. Some people are rippers, tearing bodies apart like it's nothing, putting them back together to try and trick their brains into not breaking at the sight of the destruction."

Like the bodies in the bar.

"And Aaryan?" MJ didn't want him to hate himself.

If he hated himself, he might stake himself, and if he did that, Pri would lose her brother.

"I can help him control it."

MJ bit her lip.

"You have a question?"

"No humanity?"

"Vampires have minor mental control," She started simply, "Compulsion."

"Yeah," She knew that much.

"That also means we have a solid grasp over our own minds...well, most of us do," She winced, "Ripper's struggle because of blood. And god knows I've met a lot of old bats who've gone insane."

MJ's eyes went wide.

"Not all minds were made to live forever."

Andrea laughed, reminding MJ that she was still there, "You thinking, Ms Porter?"

"You read my mind, Rea," She sighed, "Her or Rory."

"The name that vampire mentioned!" MJ shot up.

Selene just waved a hand, "I'll get to that. We were talking about mental things."

She moved her jaw about thinking through how best to phrase it.

"Imagine a light switch...no, no, no!" She backtracked, "People call it a switch, but I disagree."

MJ just waited for her to continue.

"There's a dial in your head, like, a heating dial," She gestured to the underfloor heating spinner in the room, "You can have it off, or at a low temperature, or at a high one, or somewhere in the middle."

MJ followed.

"Vampires have a switch like that for their emotions. Their humanity."

The young girl stilled.

"Somehow, without anyone telling him about it, your friend figured out how to..." Selene made a clicking noise, "Flip it off."

"He said he didn't wanna feel anymore," MJ felt light-headed, drifting to the foot poof and tripping into it, sitting, "He was staring, and rambling, and he said – "

"It's okay," Selene repeated gently, "We'll get him back."

"You can turn it back on?"

"I've done it before," She assured her, "I always need a little help."

Why she'd forced MJ to stay.

"But we can do it."

If Selene made every task into a team one, it was easy for MJ to see how she'd taken over the city.

"And once it's on," Her voice was soft, "I'll be here to help him learn control. Get him back to living."

MJ shook his head, "He's seventeen – he's gonna be seventeen forever..."

"And he will thrive. I promise you that."

"How!" MJ started to panic, "How is this a good thing – vampirism – "

"Is a gift."

"It makes evil people," MJ really wanted to have faith, but there was too much baggage.

She was just thinking about her mother's heart in her hands after Marcel had ripped it out.

"MiMi – "

"No. I can't – I, I, I, uh – he – "

Selene vamp-sped in front of her, MJ skipping a breath.

It reset her.

"I promise you," She was calm and slow, "He will be okay."

MJ's eyes were watering.

"I have done this before – I will continue to do this. Especially if he needs me."

MJ really looked at her.

She just felt so nice.

MJ had an important note from the situation: "You weren't surprised."

Selene stepped back a little.

"When I came, you knew he was ripper already," MJ shook her head, "If it's some personality thing, how did you know."

Selene and Andrea shared a look.

"Tell me what you did to him!"

"I didn't do a thing," Selene still didn't get mad, "He is suffering because of something out of his control. Which is another reason why you can trust me. I don't let people suffer for no reason."

"I'll trust you when you give me a straight answer."

"Fair enough. I just didn't want you to panic," Selene moved to the sofa, "My blood is cursed."

MJ stilled.

"Anyone turned directly goes insane with bloodlust."

Silence.

"People who are turned by them are fine. It's only direct blood transfers."

"...How?"

"A witch," She rested back, body open, "A few, actually."

"But you like magic," MJ's voice was quiet.

If the curse was something MJ could break, other witches would've already done it. Selene couldn't have been trying to manipulate her into helping.

"I know the good and the bad, and I don't blame the witches for it," Selene answered simply, "A vampire made them. Life is complicated like that. Not always what it seems."

"Why?"

"A deal? A punishment?" Selene rolled her eyes, "That message you were given?"

MJ nodded.

"Rory is a twisted little bitch."

MJ's eyes went wide at the bluntness.

"She's always been jealous of me. And her brother?" Selene lifted a hand, moving it as she spoke, "A tyrant – also jealous of me."

MJ almost wanted to laugh at the pettiness of the sentence.

"Every now and again, a vampire appears for a year or two. We find out he's a spy. They're usually harmless."

"Jack was one," Andrea summed up.

"And," Selene smiled to the ceiling, "His spine is currently being packaged and shipped to the latest rock Rory's decided to bury herself under."

The woman remembered the company, rushing to sit up, waving at MJ in apology.

"Not to give you nightmares or anything."

MJ bobbed her head, curling her lips in.

"Aurora just grinds my gears," Selene's perfections cracked slightly, "She spends every second whining in a fantasy 'Nik! Nik!' No matter how many flowers Luci buys her. It's just urgh. And her brother! The times I've tried to murder the man! He just can't take a hint – "

Mock gagging while Andrea laughed, MJ unable to follow the joke.

She could, however, follow the part where Selene had ripped a guy's spine out.

And Selene had

"I have been putting up with them for far too many centuries. The curse is the only time they've managed to one-up me," She admitted bitterly, "One of their vamp-friends runs this make-shift demon coven. It's a total abuse of the witches in it. They basically sell their soul to her for no good reason – "

"Well," Andrea interrupted, "I wouldn't say no reason."

Selene gave her a sour look, "The witches are always in bad situations. They always need more power. And they are completely manipulated. They get one reward when joining, and then never again – it's like a pyramid scheme!"

She glanced back at MJ.

"Off-topic."

A witch coven praying on people.

"They don't like me for dumb reasons."

MJ would quite like to know those 'dumb' reasons.

"We had a spat over real estate most recently, making them even more bitter about me, so they cursed me."

"But you gave Aaryan blood."

"He was dying," She shrugged, "I couldn't let him."

MJ faltered, "I could've healed him, and none of this would've happened."

"Don't do that," Selene sat forward again, "Not wanting to practise magic, whatever is in your past, you are allowed to carry scars for it. Setting boundaries about what you are comfortable doing does not make you the cause of any of this."

MJ took a long and shaking breath in.

She wouldn't be able to appreciate Selene's words until she was a lot older, and even then, she'd sometimes forget it.

"Though, you know my position."

The early point.

"Magic is a gift."

But it wasn't just magic.

It was siphoning.

What witches think as the true curse.

"Don't let yourself lose it until you are old enough to really know what you want in life."

"Aaryan," MJ repeated, "You said you needed me to do something."

"When vampires turn off their humanity, you need to trigger the emotion. It is going to be hard to watch. I will handle that part, but I need you, a friend, part of his humanity, to talk to him during it. To get him to care."

MJ would have to go into the room with the crazed version of her friend.

"He won't be able to hurt you. I promise."

MJ nodded.

"Thank you," Selene stood up, "It will be hard, and he will try and manipulate you into giving him blood or letting him loose, but if you break him, he will be better off."

MJ didn't really wanna break her friends.

"He will probably be an emotional wreck for a few days, but I will handle that bit too. Then he will return to your life, and he will be better."

"Adjustment to the plan," MJ stood up too, "I'll try. But I think we'll have a better chance at getting him to feel if we use someone else."

Selene smirked, "Really."

"Beni – the Kitsune...He's really good at bringing out the best in people," MJ looked down, "To be honest. His sister Pri."

"Then get her here."

"She doesn't know about any of this."

"Her brother's a vampire. Family who hide secrets about this stuff don't last."

MJ knew just how true that was.

She also knew Pri.

She knew how much she loved her big brother – how she'd do anything for him. No context or persuasion needed. That Pri was far braver than MJ was (at the time).

23rd JUNE 2013

When they arrived at the venue, MJ knew Ty and Cami had a point. Despite having spent most of her life convinced she'd never make it to her own/past eighteen, she loved weddings. Her fears had also morphed into past twenty-one, approaching past twenty-three. Though, it was easier to be optimistic nowadays. She was putting in the work, and she had a band of people she trusted to keep her safe, something she hadn't since the middle years of New York.

People were rushing about, the main set-up in a barn where thin white tent material was hung to make the ceremony feel more intimate, despite the number of Gemini rocking into town. Hanging lights were an orange-yellow, being tested while draped at the back of the Farmhouse, creating a wall of tiny stars as the backdrop for the event. On top of that, flowers were everywhere, an aisle being made as chairs were slowly put out, men working on a slightly raised platform to act as the altar.

It was rustic and light, and MJ felt the first wave of 'oh god' hit her system.

Kol never could've been her date, but the thought of sitting with him, both still in the honeymoon buzz of a 'new' relationship, might've caused them to get carried away again.

Talking about the dumb human things they'd covered at Christmas.

Did MJ want kids?

She'd never lied when she'd claimed the answer was 'no' previously.

Giving birth sounded awful and unnecessary, but MJ just didn't know anymore.

She was human. She could have kids. She had the time to think about that – especially since they'd put a few years pause to her turning plan.

MJ liked having possibilities.

The cure extract Bonnie had given her gave her even more possibilities...

Cami noticed her eyes glazing over as she spun in a tiny circle, "You okay?"

MJ nodded, tugging on her necklace.

"Nu-uh," Tyler narrowed his eyes, "Your face looks ready to bolt."

"It doesn't."

"MJ," He patted her shoulders, "I know you're bolting face."

They usually had a sparring session when he saw it.

"You had it the entire month before Senior Year. You had it when Ric died. And you had it like seven times a day the first few times you visited after Bonnie died."

She sighed.

"You can admit it. I'm just not gonna let you do it."

"I'm not going to run," She assured them, "I don't want to be here, but that's because Ric doesn't want me here, and because..."

Cami squeezed her hand, so she didn't have to finish the sentence.

Seeing the decorations made her simultaneously want to stay and leave. Except, her fate was sealed when she saw Caroline among the workers, trusty yellow clipboard in hand.

She sprinted into her humanity-filled friend's arms, "I love you – I love you – I love you!"

"I love you too," Caroline squished her so hard, to the point MJ coughed, ribs feeling it, "So much."

Tyler was laughing at them.

As much as they'd loved each other – the pair had been incredibly in love, there was a small part of them that both knew they'd loved MJ more. A mutual best friend who gave them exactly what they'd needed.

But that didn't mean they hadn't loved each other enough.

They had.

It was all just terribly messy.

For a moment, they'd grinned at each other.

Then the look had become awkward, a frown forming on Tyler's face as he turned from her, Caroline's eyes dropping too.

MJ scowled.

She didn't like it when things weren't good between the pair, especially if she was there to smooth it over.

Sensing a friend-tervention, Caroline released MJ and moved to Cami, "Hi!"

She hugged her too, surprising Cami a little with the enthusiasm, all pep back in her voice despite the momentary dip.

"Much better way to meet you," Caroline beamed as Cami settled into the hug before they separated, "I'm about to become pedantic and controlling for the next few hours. Sorry in advance. Remember that I did greet you nicely."

MJ laughed.

"Understood," Cami smiled back, "Where do you want me?"

"Flowers," She pointed the clipboard at them, "The wedding coordinator is sick; I'm taking over and doing it better."

MJ raised an eyebrow, "Did you poison her?"

"MJ!"

"It's a reasonable question," Tyler defended as they walked further into the barn.

Instead of responding, Caroline started allocating jobs. MJ was positioned on the floor, muttering enchantments to make the flowers as pretty as magically possible while Cami grouped them together, Tyler placing them among the chairs and standing tables on the sides. Things got complicated when they got onto the arrangements meant to be clipped onto the aisle chairs.

Cami sat with her, watching the magic as she organised, then glancing at Tyler and Caroline.

MJ was doing the same.

Every five seconds, Caroline changed her mind about where she wanted things to be, and MJ couldn't help but think it was because she wanted an excuse to talk to Tyler. To keep him there long enough for her to figure out what she wanted to say.

"Cami," MJ stood up, "Could you go start getting ready?"

"Of course," She patted MJ's shoulder, "I'll take your stuff up to the dressing rooms."

"Thank you."

They needed to be alone, just the three of them.

MJ took the last of the flowers over to the pair of them.

"No, not there," Caroline wafter vaguely, "There – "

Tyler tried to match the direction.

"Still a little bit higher."

He stopped.

"Well, that's not a little, but – "

MJ waved her hand, and the display fixed itself, "He's terrible with flowers."

"Which she knows," Tyler said carefully.

"And it's time you two talk," She crossed her arms, "Because I'm not getting ready until you at least try."

Caroline was shaking her head at her, "Talk about what?"

"About why I'm here, Caroline," Tyler answered calmly, "You turned off your humanity, you turned it back on, and I haven't seen you since. Then you deliberately give me jobs that put us together all day?"

"I..." She hesitated, looking to MJ for a supportive nod before continuing, "I tried to kill you."

The norm for no humanity vampires.

"My humanity was off, but I still tried to kill you," Caroline's confidence vanished, "And you're my friend, and...I'm sorry."

"That's funny," Tyler's tone was confusing, "You and I moved on a while ago. It's fine."

MJ relaxed a little.

"Then again, getting tortured by your ex and her new boyfriend is never good for the ego."

"He's not my boyfriend," Caroline shut down instantly.

"Whatever he is," MJ intervened, "It doesn't matter."

"Yeah," She nodded, reaching for Tyler's hand, "You have to know, I would never do anything like that if it weren't for – "

"You're good, Care," He assured her, "And if you want to make amends? Let me get the hell out of here."

MJ laughed, "Nice try."

"If I were getting married on an altar that looked like that," Caroline shook her head, "I would be divorced in a week. So come on, Lockwood. Next row."

"Honestly?"

They'd been joined by another person.

"You should probably do that yourself," Liv joked, "Or let the witch keep fixing it."

MJ relaxed at the lack of hate in Liv's eyes.

Her hair was curled, clipped back slightly, eye makeup on point, and a dark blue dress. A puff skirt that made her legs look really long, but that didn't really match her old style.

"Liv," Tyler was shocked, "What are you doing here?"

"You do know that Jo's my sister, right?"

MJ patted his head, "He can be a little slow sometimes."

Tyler rolled his eyes.

"He is sharing one brain cell with the two other dudes in your cheer squad," Liv fought off a smile, "Guess I should cut him some slack."

"Goody!" Caroline lifted her clipboard, "More amends. Drinks will help – strong ones."

She went to pull MJ away, but she shook her head, "I'll fix the alter."

Given his track record with break-up confrontations, she wasn't about to leave Tyler.

She'd back off and continue spelling flowers, but she wasn't leaving the room.

The awkwardness was suffocating until Liv finally spoke.

"You look good."

"Thanks."

"How are things?"

"Good."

"Still recovering from that injury?"

Ty paused, "What injury?"

"Whatever head injury turned you into a monosyllabic goon."

MJ snorted, attracting their attention, mock whistling while continuing to run her fingers through the greenery.

"Monosyllabic?" Tyler's dry voice was not helping the tension, "That's a huge word for a college drop-out."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Liv snapped, "Was I supposed to stay at Whitmore after my ass of a boyfriend told me he never wanted to see me again?"

"Hang on, you're mad at me?"

"I lost my brother and then my boyfriend in a week."

"And instead of coming to me, you tried to kill yourself!"

"I was hurt."

"That doesn't make it okay!"

"You're lecturing me on flying off the handle?" She looked gobsmacked, "Wow. You know what?"

She was shaking her head.

"I'm gonna wait outside. Gemini wedding means big-coven-reunion heading this way."

She stormed out.

MJ shot him a look.

"I know!"

"As the other person in your life on suicide watch," She rubbed her neck, "You don't have to take on her demons. Removing yourself for your own wellbeing isn't wrong, but when she's doing better, don't bring her down unnecessarily."

He looked down, "Yeah, yeah."

"Ty – "

"I know!" He sat down on one of the chairs, "I'm acting like Ric."

MJ blinked.

She hadn't made that jump in her head.

"You're just easier."

MJ joined him, "Because?"

He rubbed his legs.

"Ty," She nodded, "We love each other."

"Obviously."

"But you are not in love with me – that's why it's easier – that's why it's easier for me to be around Klaus than for you to hear about Caroline and Klaus. You were in love with her. It cuts differently."

"And I was in love with Liv," He didn't deny that.

"Which makes both of you uniquely vulnerable to each other," She reminded him, "We're always gonna have each other. We've done the lows and the highs to get to where we are. Liv is someone you can lose, but just because you can lose her doesn't mean you should push her away."

She'd made that mistake herself.

"Just because you don't love us the same doesn't mean you shouldn't give her the same lenience you give me."

Caroline came back in with some alcohol mix in her hand.

"I made you guys some amazing drinks," She wasn't looking at them, "With a little bit of tequila - Okay, a lot of tequila – "

She finally noticed that Liv wasn't there.

She looked at Ty disapprovingly, "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything!"

"He said angrily," She took a seat firmly, giving him a look that made it clear she wasn't leaving.

He tried to take the drink from her.

"Nu-uh," MJ got there first, downing both so he couldn't try, "Oh my god."

Her head was buzzing.

"Care!"

"I wasn't kidding when I said a lot of tequila. Supernatural levels."

"Shit," MJ rubbed her temple, "Eh, I'll put a healing rune on in a minute – you!"

She pointed the now empty glasses to Tyler.

"If you love her, why not give her the chances you give me?"

"Because nothing has changed," He put it simply, "You killed yourself because you killed your brother, watched me die, knew Stefan was dead and wanted to give us, as well as Ric, the chance to come back. It's different."

It was.

"I gave her a choice; she made the one that meant she'd rather die than be with me."

Both girls gave him a look.

"What?" His hands came out, "Because she walks in here with a pretty dress and a new haircut, I'm supposed to forget how she acted?"

"No, you're supposed to talk to her like an adult," Caroline corrected, "And work out your problems."

"You don't know about our problems."

"No, but I know about your problems," She reminded him, "Unless you're cool with only making it two weeks in the police academy and having no purpose in life?"

MJ really didn't like the fact Tyler was still in Mystic Falls.

"At least when you had her, you were trying, Tyler."

"You're giving me advice about relationships?" He retorted, "After all your Stefan drama this year?"

He stood up.

"Do me a favour, figure out your own damn life. Let me worry about mine."

"Nope," MJ stood up too, hand coming up to magically hold him there, "Her own life doesn't cancel out the point she's making."

"You just said you got it," He turned to face her, "If I don't think her demons are good for me, I don't need to take them on for her."

"And I stand by that," She softened her tone, "But her demon is literally locked in a Prison World with no way out. And her brother died. And her family is crazy. And, you can 'not take on her demons' while still being less challenging than you were. You can apologise and be nice without being her boyfriend."

He sighed.

"Go get changed," She let the magic drop, "I'll meet you at the bar."

He headed off.

Then she turned to Caroline, "Ready to talk about Stefan yet?"

"No."

"Okay," MJ nodded, "I need to get changed too. Text if you need anything."

"Will do."

She wanted to find Liv. Talk to her about Tyler – potentially apologise for him and for her. But, she also wasn't the relationship whisperer. Even when Caroline and Tyler had been together, she'd tried not to get involved. She couldn't communicate for them. But like Caroline, she was using excuses to apologise to people.

Instead of getting involved, she found Cami and got dressed in one of the upstairs rooms.

When she'd responded to the invite, Jo had sent her a message asking if she wanted to be one of the bridesmaids, but MJ had politely rejected. As much as she loved the idea, she knew she'd try to back out of the wedding day, which a bridesmaid couldn't do. And she'd wanted a day in Mystic Falls without a responsibility (other than prep).

Since she wasn't a bridesmaid, she didn't have to wear the dress Elena would've been pulling on.

MJ's pale pink dress was made of a flowy material, darker grey-pink lace flowers sewn across it, with a short skirt and v-neck top. It was soft and elegant in tone, and that was what she wanted for the event. MJ had made it herself, and it was perfect to be back in something homemade again.

Especially when she started braiding the dark pink flowers into her up-do.

A breath of positive familiarity.

Then she and Cami found Tyler, who had three cards in hand, and more drinks – not a good plan considering MJ had forgotten to heal herself up from her last load of straight tequila. She didn't want to worry about it too much. She'd had a pretty high tolerance before her death, and she'd been building it back up; plus, her Floare magic.

Cami accepted the sheet, "A Bingo Card?"

"Welcome to 'Event Bingo,'" Tyler explained, "The aim is to hear or see as many of these things as possible."

"Then you know it's a real Mystic Falls event," MJ read over the list, "Ty!"

"What?" He raised his eyebrows innocently.

"Some of these are playing with fire."

"I needed to update them a little," He gestured around, "This isn't a Founder's Party."

True.

At a Founder's Party, people would greet her, talk about charity work, school, or Carol.

As the venue slowly filled up, more and more Gemini Witches were arriving, and they all clearly knew who she was, not even trying to hide their glares and worried looks. It was nowhere near the kinda environment she'd gotten used to around the upper class of Mystic Falls.

Cami glared straight back at them for her.

"Fair enough."

Looking at her card, MJ saw some old classics;

- Something goes wrong with the music
- You hear at least three conversations about parking.

And

- A guest has 'too much fun.'

But there was also;

- Someone's neck gets snapped.

And

- MJ and/or Bonnie magic whammy the situation.

"I mean," MJ smiled as she read it, "We all know it's gonna happen."

"You guys are planning for the worst?" Cami disapproved.

"Not for the worst," Tyler assured her, "For the Damon."

MJ snorted, "I feel like the neck snap should be changed to 'MJ telekinetically snaps Damon's neck'"

It felt nice to joke about it.

Nice, because none of them felt like they were in any danger.

No potential enemies loitering around. Damon wasn't at a low point in his relationship, meaning he wasn't about to go off the rails. And Stefan –

Speaking of.

"MJ!" Stefan was in a tux, a hand on her back as he smiled, "Good to have you back."

"Nice to be here."

For once, she meant it.

"This is Cami," She nodded to her friend while taking another sip of champagne, "Meet Stefan."

Cami just had a warm face, "Hi, Stefan."

"Welcome to the other side of her life."

"Happy you're all being so welcoming."

"Hope you don't mind if I steal her for a dance later," He smiled.

"I think I'll let her free for a few."

"Implying I want to dance with you," MJ teased.

He feigned shock.

"Then again," She looked him up and down, "You can't say no to a Salvatore in a suit."

"Don't let your boyfriend hear you say that."

"He would compel you to break your own ribs," She mused.

"Exactly," Stefan lost the upbeat attitude too, "As Miss-Pro-Vampirism, can you talk Damon into not taking the cure?"

MJ almost choked on her drink, "Damon wants to take the cure?"

"Elena took it," He caught her up, "Bonnie brought it back – "

"Yeah, I know that bit; she gave me an extract," MJ looked at Tyler, who seemed shocked by the news, "She's already replicated it?"

"If he drinks it out of Elena, she'll only age two years," He pointed out, "No death."

"Shit," MJ had lowkey forgotten about that, "Fair enough if they wanna be together."

"Elena wants me to talk him out of it."

MJ flicked her hand, and one of her bingo squares gained a red cross through it, "Elena and Damon have a disagreement!"

"I should've made it a drinking game," Ty realised.

"We can still do that," MJ downed her next champagne flute, declaring, "Let Damon do it."

"MJ!" Stefan complained.

"Why would I want him not to?" She gave him a look, "If he's human, he no longer can repeatedly attempt to kill me."

"He hasn't done that in a while."

"He bled me out to wake Kai up in December."

"...Yeah..." He winced.

"Mhmm."

"That wasn't with fangs."

"Fair," She shook her head, "If he wants to be human?"

Time for genuine advice?

"You gotta let him be human – and whatever the Salvatore bond is telling you? Saying, 'don't let go?' I'm looking into a way to recreate the cure too. You'll join him soon enough."

"That's not it, MJ."

"We both know it is," She looked him dead in the eye, "No matter how much you loved Elena – you always loved Damon more."

Four years of watching his actions.

"And I'm not gonna stand here and act like it doesn't make me very nervous about you and Caroline."

Tyler chose to focus on his drink and Cami.

"I don't wanna watch her heart break because you continue to sacrifice your happiness for his."

The hard truth.

"I get that it's gonna hurt. You'll watch your brother die – but it's a way for you to both be happy without repeating history."

"Repeat – "

"You blame yourself for him being a vampire," She reminded him, "It isn't your fault."

Sure, he'd left the body there, but Damon had taken Katherine's blood willingly. Stefan had been lied to, compelled and assaulted, then killed, then taken Damon's shit when Damon had admitted to just being butthurt about Katherine.

"Not letting him take the cure when he wants it will be."

Yes, MJ was trying to save them a Damon Year One repeat.

"And, no matter how much it will hurt, we will be here for you," She stressed, "We love you, and we'll support you, and we won't let you go through that loss alone."

His shoulders slumped.

"If you don't, that guilt gets worse."

Stefan didn't deserve to blame himself any longer.

"Especially if we're going back to no-Elena Damon. We know that fallout has a body count."

MJ had never liked that Elena had to be with Damon because she made him better, but she couldn't act like that factor wasn't part of her thinking.

"If he says he wants to take the cure, then you have to let him."

"I've missed you."

She went to laugh, "Missed the lectures?"

"The lectures feel like you," He shrugged, "Haven't had one in a while...They're kinda nice."

MJ wanted to hug him, "Missed you too, Stef."

He turned away slightly, "Can you help me find Caroline and Elena."

"Caroline's not helping with this."

"I need to see her."

"She's avoiding you."

"I noticed."

"Stef – "

"I get that she needs time, but I still need to talk to her before coming to the wrong conclusion."

"Fine," She poked Tyler, "Look after Cami."

"On it," He gave her a thumbs up, "We'll drink test."

"I like that plan," Cami and him clinked glasses.

Looking around meant heading outside, waiters dressed neatly, holding silver trays of champagne, presents stacked in a large pile to the left of the barn entrance, wrapped in gold, silver, and shiny white paper. MJ had given her gift to a worker when they'd arrived and tried not to smile at the pile-up.

She didn't want to think about weddings.

She didn't want to let herself get distracted, or longing, or anything.

She just wanted to help Stefan find Caroline and Elena.

The girls were also outside.

By the punch table, Caroline had her hair pinned to the left side of her head, curled in cascades over her shoulder, light pink lipstick on, and a detailed blue dress with cuff sleeves. The ceremony was running a little late, and maybe MJ should've been trying to find out why, but since she was avoiding Ric, she didn't want to ask about and attract attention. Caroline was managing waiters in different directions, and Elena talking to her about something at the same time.

She didn't exactly have to try and get attention.

As she and Stefan walked, they passed a small group of witches, the Gemini all freezing to stare.

After the fourth group went silent, she turned on her heel to address them.

"Yes, I'm the siphoner! Get over it."

That alerted Elena and Caroline to their presence, MJ downing another glass and taking a fresh one from the nearest server Caroline was dealing with.

Caroline was staring at Stefan, "...I'm gonna go wait for Jo."

"Okay," Elena smiled.

Caroline ran off without even a second glance.

MJ looked at Elena.

Her hand came up to touch her shoulder, "Human."

A very, very, very faint trace of magic that was either due to the cure or her doppelgänger status.

Not only was she human again, but she'd straightened her hair for the event, which was giving MJ all the Junior Year throwback feels from when they'd been in it together.

Elena had always been pretty, but MJ couldn't help but think being human suited her more than being a vampire – as ridiculous as it sounded. The lilac eyeshadow gave her a flowery feel, matched the designed dress she was wearing, plum lipstick too. Her clothes felt more genuine, and the curls (plus momentary red streak) hadn't been her.

Elena giggled, "It feels good to be back."

Stefan was staring after the fleeing Caroline.

"Stef," MJ and Elena shared a look.

"I'm not used to scaring people away."

"Okay," MJ mused, "'Ripper of Monterey.'"

"When my humanity's on."

"People are uncomfortable around Salvatore's in tuxes," Elena put it simply, "It stirs...feelings."

"Uh-oh, Elena's human again," Stefan teased, "Am I sensing another brother swap?"

MJ laughed at the bluntness of it.

Elena did, too, "Is he with you?"

"No," Stefan admitted, "He needed some time to think."

She was clearly very nervous, rubbing her arms, "That sounds very ominous."

Stefan looked down.

"You don't want him to take it, do you?" Elena realised.

"Well, it's not up to me."

"Stefan," Elena said sympathetically, "I'm not him. You can tell me how you really feel."

"Look," Stefan's eyes bounced between them, "Of course, I don't want him to take it. He's my brother."

It was good he was admitting it.

"The thought of losing him is..."

"Yeah, I know," Elena shifted, "What do you think he's gonna do?"

"He'll take it," MJ answered, "And he'll be fine."

Elena's eyebrow furrowed, "Will he?"

"Yes."

"You never knew Damon as a human," Stefan stopped them, "He was aimless. Always searching for something more. Sweet and earnest to a fault."

"Those are positive adjectives," MJ pointed out, "I might actually like that 'Damon.'"

"You like him now," Stefan smirked, "You said so."

"I said I didn't hate him – massive difference," She continued sipping on her drink, "Still don't see the problem with human-Damon."

"It's not a problem with human-Damon," Stefan reasoned, "As a human, he was those good things, but he was never strong. That came later...when he found himself...when he truly became 'Damon'"

Elena nodded in understanding.

"He loves being a vampire, and I just don't think he'll ever give that up."

"I do," MJ finished the glass, tipsiness killing her filter, "For all of Damon's faults, we all know Vampire-Damon is a mask."

Elena was smiling a little at her.

"He lies on roadsides to overcompensation for when he doesn't feel worth it."

Like a little weepy bitch.

MJ had been a massive victim of those moments, so it was hard to sympathise.

But the 'mask' was why she hadn't been allowed to retaliate too hard over the years. For Stefan and Elena's hope in him. Because Damon was lucky she was patient and cared about their feelings more than her own.

"If he finally does? If he wants to take that cure – 'worthy of humanity?' Why shouldn't we force it down his throat?" MJ bobbed her head a little, "Before he backpedals and goes to lie on the route out of town, blabbering on about how he's a monster."

MJ didn't think Damon deserved the cure more than Stefan.

Or Rebekah.

Or anyone.

She still kinda stood by her cure-hunt lash out about how Elena and Damon deserved it the least.

But if it meant they didn't have to clean up mass murder, why shouldn't she encourage it?

A human Elena and Damon would logically solve most of the problems in Mystic Falls, and if they broke up, oh well, MJ didn't care. They'd made their choice.

"But what if he hates it?" Elena spoke, "What if he ends up hating me because of it?"

"Then you weren't meant to be," MJ responded honestly, "But even if he doesn't take it, even if you hadn't, Elena, that was still a possibility."

Something she was willing to let happen in her own relationship by offering to turn.

"You could both be immortal and fall out of love. It happens."

To mortals and immortals alike.

"He could grow to hate the vampire-you just as easily as the human."

Elena looked down, breathing slowly.

"But," MJ paused to try and undrunk her brain, "He fell in love with you while you were human. Why would he stop loving you now you're back to that?"

Silence

"Every new day is another 'what if', and whether you're a human or a vampire, making those leaps is part of living," MJ had come to town as Elena's grief therapist, "So live, Elena."

'doors can be reopened.'

"Have faith in him the way you always have. Especially if he's finally ready to act like the person you think he can be."

Her phone buzzed, Tyler and Cami sending her a selfie of them holding half-completed bingo cards.

"See you guys in there; I have a game to win."

When she turned, she wobbled.

"You okay?" Stefan teased.

"I should be," She steadied herself in her heels, "I don't usually lose balance until I slip into Spanish."

"Let us know if we need to cut you off."

"Will do," She pointed at Elena, "You too. The cure means no vamp blood healing, so Bon-Bon and I are your lifelines."

Elena's eye went wide, "I forgot it doesn't work anymore."

"Speaking of," MJ frowned, "Where is Bonnie?"

She'd phoned and texted while getting changed.

"My phone anxiety can only be held off so long."

"I'll call her," Elena assured her, "She's been having bad dreams recently. Might just be taking a nap."

MJ froze.

"It's nothing to worry about!" She quickly added, "Just, Kai dreams."

MJ did relax a little, "PTSD stuff?"

"Sure."

Elena didn't sound convinced, but not in the 'I know it's something else' way, more in the 'I hadn't thought about it like that' way.

"Actually," Elena's eyes were momentarily back to nervous.

MJ panicked, "What – "

"No, pause," Elena was frowning, thinking, "It's fine. It can wait."

MJ didn't like that, "Elena..."

"It's not bad, and it's not something you need to worry about."

MJ was just staring at her.

"Jo learnt some stuff from her dad about siphoners," She spoke warmly, "It can wait until after the wedding."

MJ forced herself to nod.

Something about siphoners from a guy who banished them into prison worlds could definitely wait.

MJ didn't need what she could only assume to be bad news dumped on her, killing her vibe when she'd momentarily gotten it back up. Cue more alcohol! She grabbed two more glasses, downing them on the walk back to the house, giggling, clearing the comment from her mind.

Searching for Cami and Ty involved passing even more judge-y witches.

Also passing Liv, who, surprisingly enough, shut them down.

"Keep staring," She commented into a glass of champagne, "You just look stupid."

MJ offered her a grateful smile while picking up another drink, feet unsteady, head-light, but no Spanish falling out on instinct yet.

She knew her limits, and she didn't want to vomit at the wedding, so she would stop once the language slipped out.

"MJ," Tyler called from an upstairs section of the house.

He and Cami were standing on an internal balcony by the stairs, her rushing up, almost spilling some of her drink, then feeling a tug of something weird.

She was reaching the top step, foot stepping down firmly, only for the step to disappear beneath it. Like a hand had yanked her ankle back, sending her crashing down in a heap, mind a little too fuzzy to save herself from colliding with each wooden step, still feeling the pull of power shaking her body. Latching on to cause pain.

"MJ!" Three voices yelled.

Tyler and Cami bolted down the stairs, Ric pushing through the foyer.

"You with us?" Ric was there first, a hand over her face as she lay in a pile of embarrassment, moving fingers back and forth to check that her eyes were responding.

There were three of him with very gelled back hair.

"You look stupid."

"Which one of you did that?" Tyler growled at the coven members nearby.

No response.

"I know it was one of you."

"Tyler," Cami murmured, shaking her head, "Not right now."

"It was magic – "

"She's had too much to drink."

MJ's back felt incredibly bruised, she had glass driving into her hand thanks to the smashed champagne she'd brought down with her, and her head was bleeding from slamming into the stair corners. The fact she hadn't blanked out for a few seconds was a little impressive.

"I'm – " There were stars in her vision that stopped her from finishing her sentence.

"You saw it too – "

"She had too much to drink," Cami's eyes made it clear she agreed with him while also reminding him not to start a fight with a bunch of angry and unsympathetic withes, "We need to get her help."

Tyler frowned.

He knew none of the Gemini would step up, he didn't know whether he had a right to go searching for Liv, and none of them knew where Bonnie was.

"I've..." Ric was picking her up in his arms, "...Got this."

Cami looked at him cautiously.

"We need to talk anyway."

She let him take her dazed state away.

"I'm fine!" MJ whimpered out, wincing each time she tried to lift her head.

She'd landed funny on her spine, which was not good.

"My body – the magic," She would heal.

Though, since it wasn't rapidly life-threatening, it would take a beat.

It had taken time in the prison world too.

Spines weren't something you mucked about with.

Ric moved her up the stairs she'd fallen down, "You're coming with me."

She was taken into one of the upstairs dressing rooms, near where she and Cami had gotten dressed, except much larger. Filled with his things, as well as a lounging sofa Ric could put her down on, slowly pulling the glass out of her hand. MJ jumped and winced at the stinging feeling, knowing the pieces had cut deep but knowing she needed them out if she wanted to heal.

Another reason it took her body a minute to kick into gear.

Ric was focused, and once all the shards were brushed aside, he went into the bathroom, grabbed her towel to wash the blood away and dry the spilt champagne.

"Thank you," MJ murmured, eyes closed, lights hurting to look at.

She had a concussion, no doubt.

A concussion, a back problem, a cut in her hairline, a bleeding hand, and several bruises forming on her forehead.

"Get me a pen, and I can 'healing rune' all this away."

She hoped she could.

The back, nerve stuff, might need Floare level charms, but she still wanted to at least try.

Rather try and cough up a bug, then wait an hour or two for it to fix itself.

"Nu-uh," Ric rooted through his bag, "I've got this."

"I need magic," She rubbed the bridge of her nose, "I know you're all anti it now, but – "

"I said," He showed her what he'd been looking for, "I've got this."

A vial of blood.

"Mine," He added with a half-smile, "I, uh, Jeremy gave me one of your healing-on-the-go packs before he left..."

MJ managed to shift up a little, almost crying out in pain and sink back down.

"As much as I want to keep things as human as possible, I'm not letting you miss my wedding," He declared, "Especially if you're in the hospital."

Right back to their first moment alive together since Senior Year.

"If you're in the hospital, I'll postpone the ceremony a little."

MJ felt like she didn't deserve that, "My magic will have me back on my feet in an hour."

"And I want you back on your feet now," He picked up an empty glass in the room and tipped the tiny vial into it, "My old blood definitely still works?"

Her eyes got bigger - rounder.

"I told you," Ric smiled, "I got this."

"I preserved it," MJ confirmed, "There's still magic in it, so yeah...it should."

"Then bottoms up," He handed it over, helping her arm move it up to her mouth and drink.

Her natural instinct to gag felt like a memory, watching her hand heal.

"And," He took a cautious seat on a chair too, "I think we need to talk."