Damon couldn't breathe.

Which went to show just how hard Maddy was squeezing him. Even in her frail human form, she'd managed a nearly bone-crushing hug, holding him closer than she ever had before. The Salvatores weren't that big on hugging, considering that affection had been so frowned upon when they were children. This was like a hug that made up for all the hugs they hadn't really done in the past.

"Mads," he said, patting her back. "Let go."

She almost didn't want to. But she released him, and brought her hands up over her mouth as if she was praying, trying to contain a smile. "You're here. You... you're really here. But what about Bonnie? Where's Bonnie?"

"She's with Elena and Caroline. We appeared in the woods by the house... just outside of the border, luckily. We had to get to a payphone. The girls came and picked us up. Brought me here then took Bonnie to Jenna's apartment so she could shower and eat. They said you were at a doctor's appointment. What's wrong? Don't tell me that being human landed you with some illness or something."

Maddy pursed her lips. "We'll talk about that later, okay? Right now, I want to know about you." She shut the car door, smiling slightly at Klaus as she brought Damon to sit on the curb with her. "Where were you? How are you here?"

"It was strange," he mused. "We linked hands just as this white light burst out. When we came to, we were standing in the same place... but everything felt fine. We started to walk around, and we found Mystic Falls as it had been, but with older cars. We eventually learned we were in a Gemini Prison World. A repeat of May 10, 1994. Every day was the same, and an eclipse passed overhead."

"So you weren't dead? You were just in a prison world?"

"Exactly. I guess it was Sheila's final favor for Bonnie. And for me because I took her hand."

"How did you get out?"

Damon winced. "It... wasn't easy. We only recently found out how. Turns out that place was created to keep someone trapped inside of it. Some scrawny and annoying Pork-Rind-Muchin'-Freak named Kai. He's something called a siphoner, which I guess means he can suck magic out of things and supernaturals. He has to do that to be able to do magic."

"A siphoner," said Klaus suddenly. "I recall hearing of that happening. I was not in my own body at the time, I was in hiding. I could not go and investigate. A rather awful ordeal, of a boy killing his siblings."

"Yeah, that's him," said Damon. "Anyway, he had this thing called an Ascendant, which we needed to get out. That and Bennett blood. Before we learned that Kai couldn't die there, I almost ended up getting out without Bonnie. She wanted me to get out so that she could keep Kai in there. But I ah... tossed the Ascendant into the wall and it shattered and we had to fix it, and then we had to keep Kai down... and we left him there. There's only one teensy problem."

Maddy winced. "What's the problem?"

"He'd been stalking us for a while so... he knows about what we went through with Silas. He knows that there's a rock of calcified Bennett blood and magic up in Nova Scotia. If he manages to find that, he can get out. I had no issue with him getting out, honestly, I could care less, but Bonnie doesn't like him. I tried to tell her that Kol was way worse than Kai could ever be but I suppose since Kol was turning over a new leaf once he started dating her, she doesn't want to consider that. I don't know. The point is Kai might get out. So... that's probably something to discuss with the group. Bonnie thinks we should warn the Gemini Coven, whoever they are."

"I've heard that name recently," mused Maddy. "Stefan and the others were following leads, trying to find a way to bring you and Bonnie back. One of the leads was the Gemini Coven in Portland. But when Ric and Stefan went, they didn't find anything. So they just came back and called it a dead end."

Damon perked up. "Speaking of Stefan, where is he? Elena told me you were apparently living in an apartment with Enzo but she didn't mention Stef."

Maddy looked down at her feet. "He's been alright. Working as a mechanic in Georgia."

"I'm sorry, he's doing what? What the fuck is in Georgia?"

"Everything but me. I guess the urge to feed was gonna overwhelm him so he thought it was best to leave."

"Damn. That's messed up. Reckon he'll come back now that I'm alive again?"

"Probably." She looked up at Klaus. "Is it okay if we drive him to Enzo's apartment, then go home to start packing?"

"Packing?" said Damon before Klaus could answer. "You're gonna leave for New Orleans the day I come back?"

"Well, we've just been waiting for the green light."

"What green light?"

Maddy wrung her hands together. "I'm pregnant."

Damon stared at her for a moment, before bursting out laughing. "So what, you got funnier when you became human, or something? 'I'm pregnant.' Yeah right... You can't get pregnant, don't you not have one of your tube thingies?"

"When I turned human, my hormone levels balanced out. Technically the damage didn't affect me."

Damon's face went slack. "You're completely serious about this. You're actually pregnant?" He looked at Klaus. "You two—? Ugh. What the hell happened to you not wanting kids?"

"I reconsidered," said Klaus calmly, ignoring Damon's obvious disgust at the fact that Klaus was here to stay now that he and Maddy were beginning their journey into co-parenting. The Salvatore and Mikaelson lines were united permanently.

The hybrid paused for a moment and offered his hand to Maddy, helping her to her feet. "How about this, love— I head off to New Orleans now. Within the next two days, Elijah and I can bring down the Guerreras if the rebel wolves aid us. You, take your time to pack and be with your brothers before we go."

"Are you sure? What if something happens?"

"You're safer here with your brothers. It won't take long, I promise. Stay here just two more days and then we'll head out. You'll be safer if you stay."

Maddy considered it, then nodded. Klaus obviously wanted to give her time to appreciate her reunion after four months of missing Stefan and Damon. Besides, the Guerreras were wolves, not vampires, which meant they could potentially get into the Compound and cause a problem for her if they were to find out that she was there.

Klaus gave her a firm kiss, handing Damon the car keys. "Try not to damage it, will you, mate?" he said. "I rather like this vehicle."

"Are you kidding?" said Damon, taking the keys. "I'm a completely safe driver."

The hybrid made a face that suggested he didn't believe that. "Oh, come on," said Damon. "If I'm driving a pregnant woman around I'm going to be more cautious than ever before."

Considering he'd killed a pregnant woman before, these words didn't inspire much confidence. But Klaus just nodded before speeding away.

"Meredith's in the hospital," said Maddy. "How about we go and see her?"

Damon blushed. "She's here?"

"Of course she is, where else would she work? She wasn't just going to leave."

"So... she's been helping you?"

"Her and a doctor named Jo. Jo is actually going to come to New Orleans to be my doctor. She's a witch, but she abandoned her magic so she has no powers. She and Meredith are good friends now. Them and Jenna. Ric and her aren't working today... I think... so they should be at their apartment with the girls. We can stop by and see them if you want. Did anyone inform Stefan that you're alive or should I—?"

"Care Bear said she'd call him once they dropped me off." He put his arm around her shoulders, patting her arm and trying to contain a smile. It felt good to be able to do that again. Though, he could tell from the simple pat of his palm that she was so much more brittle now, and that worried him. "So... you really think New Orleans will be better?"

"Klaus wants to be involved in this. And I think we'll be more comfortable somewhere that he feels happier. I liked New Orleans. And besides it's not like we can live at our house, so I'd rather be over there. You're welcome to come along unless you want to stay here."

"I mean, I'll probably stay here to see if we can figure out how to remove that stupid Traveler spell. Maybe what we need for that is a siphoner. A little magical vacuum to get rid of that."

They entered the hospital again, turning through the hallways until they found Jo and Meredith exiting the Emergency Room. Jo saw them first, and was confused about who Maddy was with, considering she'd never seen Damon. But when Meredith looked up, she figured out who it was, because the brunette had dropped her clipboard and rushed into his arms, using her vampire speed. Thankfully, no one else had seen her do it.

Damon had nearly toppled over as Meredith crashed into him. He lifted her up, and Maddy could hear a sniffle indicating that Meredith was crying.

"So this is the famous Damon Salvatore," said Jo, smiling when Meredith and Damon pulled away from each other. "I've heard a lot about you."

Damon gave an awkward laugh, looking at her strangely for a moment before just extending his hand. "You're Jo, right?"

"Yes," she replied, shaking his hand. "I'll let you all have your moment. I need to get back to my shift." Before Meredith could open her mouth to ask the favor, Jo said, "I'll tell the Chief that something personal came up. You go home and enjoy."

Meredith cast her a grateful look. "I'll make it up to you, I swear," she said, before taking Damon's hand and leading him out.

Damon drove them to Enzo's apartment while they waited for Stefan to arrive. According to Caroline, he was on his way to meet them.

Meredith had been fussing over Damon the entire time. Enzo had been happy to see him, of course, but he hadn't been about to cook him an entire five star dinner. Meredith had immediately changed out of her scrubs, gotten him some bourbon and a blood bag, and darted into the kitchen to start making him lunch.

Maddy tried to help wherever she could. In moments where they just needed to wait and stir, she stood by the stove while Meredith bombarded Damon with questions about how he was feeling and whether he needed her to get him anything else. Damon kept insisting he was fine, but she assumed that he was only saying that to get her to stop worrying.

"Here we go," said Maddy, helping Meredith serve the plates. "Fried brown rice, peas, spaghetti, and... a whole lot of meatballs drowned in marinara... and the lasagna is still not ready but that will be coming out after this. By the time Stefan gets here, I gather."

"Is this enough food?" asked Meredith once Damon had already stuffed an entire meatball into his mouth, and couldn't even speak. "Do you want me to make you anything else?"

He shook his head, his cheeks puffed out as he started to chew. "I reckon he's fine by now," said Enzo, who was trying his hardest not to laugh. Maddy supposed that he was the calmest because now that Damon was back, he had to face the truth that Damon had killed Maggie. Though enough time had passed to keep him from rubbing it in his face, it was clear that Enzo's social battery was quickly running out when it came to doting on Damon.

The door opened when the lasagna popped out, and Stefan rushed in. "Damon," he said, surprised. Damon got to his feet, and Stefan pulled him into a hug, one which was much tighter than the one Maddy had offered him.

"I missed you too, buddy," said Damon, patting his back.

"I thought you were gone forever," muttered Stefan. "All the leads we followed... we came up empty-handed."

"Well, you didn't think I was gone gone," teased Damon. "I promised you an eternity of misery, and I couldn't bring that about from 1994 Mystic Falls."

"Caroline told me. A prison world? That... is weird."

"I know," replied Damon. "If a bunch of witches were going to get together and create some space-time purgatory, you'd think they'd pick a better year than the one Kurt Cobain killed himself in. The whole thing was just very depressing. I've already gone through the story like three times so long story short— big flash of light, two decades worth of jet lag, Bon-Bon getting mad at me every other second. I will explain all of my adventures in that flannel hellscape as soon as I finish this load of food that Meredith made just for me."

He winked at his girlfriend, who blushed appreciatively.

"Anyway," he continued as he started to dig his fork into the pasta. "Can someone please join me in complaining about how sucky it is that Klaus fucking Mikaelson is never gonna leave Maddy... like... ever?"

Stefan and Enzo both stopped what they were doing. "Hold on," said Enzo, raising a brow. "Does he mean—?"

"Test confirmed it today," said Maddy quietly, not wanting this conversation to be about her. The more important fact was that Damon and Bonnie were back. "I'm pregnant. Can we not—?"

Enzo was the happiest out of the three brothers. Stefan shared a bit of Damon's distaste, but given that he'd already known that Maddy and Klaus were trying for a kid, he was able to cast her a congratulatory smile.

"If it's a boy," said Enzo, who didn't pick up on Maddy's unwillingness to delve into the subject, "it should be named Lorenzo Jr."

"Why the hell would we name it Lorenzo Jr.?" asked Maddy, scrunching up her nose. "When have I ever expressed a liking for reusing names? I literally spoke to you about how I was really hoping Klaus wouldn't want to name it after someone we know."

"Make it's middle name be Lorenzo," insisted the vampire. "I'm going to be the favorite uncle, it's only proper."

"You're in a competition with seven other 'uncles' for that."

"Seven?" said Enzo, bewildered. "How are there seven?"

"Technically, even if Kol, Finn, and Henrik passed, they're uncles too. Maybe this kid's favorite uncle will be Henrik. He was just a kid when he died, he was easily a better person than all of us."

"If your child's favorite uncle is someone that hasn't seen the light of day in a thousand years, I'd be very concerned..."

"Enzo, that was morbid..."

"Your child will probably be that way, just prepare yourself." He then made a face. "Hang on. We're meant to be 'Mum's side of the family.' Is that a good thing? Or a bad thing?"

Meredith giggled slightly. "I mean, in most families I think 'dad's side' is always the weirder and unhinged side, while mom's side is seen as more normal. My dad is one of five and my mom has no siblings so all I had was dad's side, and that was fine for me."

Damon hummed. "Our parents didn't have any siblings. We didn't have cousins or anything, either. That we know of, at least... secret family members have a tendency to pop up at random times. Point is, we're the cooler side. Kid's gonna have a cool Uncle Damon that'll let them do whatever they want, an Uncle Stefan who is... probably going to be boring and teach them to read... and an Uncle Enzo that'll influence them to speak in a British accent for a solid two years."

"There are more 'uncles' and potential 'aunts,'" argued Maddy. "Elena's my best friend. Plus Meredith is an aunt through you. Caroline and Bonnie will take it very personally if I don't consider them 'aunts' for the baby. Even Liz Forbes, Carol Lockwood, and Jenna have to be aunts, it's like an unwritten rule. Gotta give Rebekah some competition so she doesn't get too confident."

Stefan and Damon both groaned. "Ugh, that's right," said Damon. "Rebekah is gonna be on 'dad's side of the family.' That alone makes it crappy."

"Aw, come on, ignoring the part where she tried to kill me, she's not a bad person. Klaus and I already discussed that if something happens to me, Rebekah, Elena, and Elijah will all get custody." She then frowned. "Which... actually I don't know about anymore." She looked at her brothers. "Um... opinions? Damon was considered 'dead' when we had this talk just hours ago. Stefan, I assumed you wouldn't want to. Enzo... same."

"No offense," said Enzo, "but I would not be comfortable with being considered for that. I'll be involved from afar but I just might bring you back from the dead and murder you if you saddle me with your child."

Maddy rolled her eyes, then looked at Stefan, who shrugged. "I don't know, to be honest," he said. "I saw myself as a dad many times. But... I don't think I'd be in a good place, mentally, to take in a kid if you died in childbirth to bring said kid into the world."

"You two are dicks," said Damon, staring at them, bewildered. "Our sister is giving us an opportunity to be considered 'Hot Dads' and you're not going to take her up on it? Fuck yeah, I'll take care of it if you die."

Stefan cast him an exasperated look. "Damon, a Ripper and a newborn sounds like a catastrophe waiting to happen."

"I'm not a Ripper," Enzo piped up, "I just don't want to care for a baby. That's far too much work. I'd have no time for things that bring me pleasure."

Maddy faked a cough to say, "Flirting with Liv," under her breath. Enzo rolled his eyes. "Anyway, are you serious, Damon? Would you want to—?"

Damon looked at Meredith, considering she'd be involved if he were to take in the baby in the event that Maddy didn't live past the birth. "I would," he said. "Pre-prison world me would have said no. But..." he looked down, mildly ashamed, "it brought up memories of a time when I was a real monster. And it made me think of redemption and the fact that I might not get another chance to do better. The Other Side is gone. If I die, there's only going to peace or going to Hell, and I think we all know where I'm ending up. Maybe this is my way of making up for... it."

Stefan and Maddy shared a look. Both recalled the date that had been repeating in the prison world, and they knew that Damon had probably had to face what he'd done every morning if he looked at the calendar he'd probably had in the kitchen.

"Damon," said Maddy, "are you sure you would actually be okay with raising my kid if something happens to me? Don't do it just because you want to atone for that."

"Mads, I'll be damned if I let Rebekah take your kid when I'm right here and available. You do realize Rebekah is dating Matt Donovan, right? Do you really want him being the adopted dad of your kid?"

Maddy sighed. "There is nothing wrong with Matt. He's helped us a lot and tolerated things he didn't have to, all to make sure we were okay. He cares about Rebekah and frankly, he's always been kind to me."

Damon didn't care about her defense of Matt. "Point is I want custody. I'll rock paper scissors with Elijah over it. Or better yet, put me and Elijah down. We'll be a pair of two hot DILFs." He blew Meredith a kiss, and the woman rolled her eyes.

"I'm sure Elijah would love coparenting with you," said Stefan, making a hand gesture that suggested he was lying. Elijah would probably grow frustrated with Damon easily.

"Let's just say that you don't die, though," said Damon. "'Cause as nice as it is to think I can walk around with a baby and look like a mysteriously hot young dad, the point is for you not to die. I don't want to deal with Rebekah bitching about how she didn't get her name put down for this. Besides, why wouldn't Klaus be a single dad?"

Maddy raised a brow at him, surprised he couldn't just assume why this was even a topic of conversation. "Because he told me he wouldn't want to raise the kid alone...?" She huffed. "Nevermind. Can we finish up this meal so I can go and see Bonnie?"

"Maybe you should name the baby 'Bonnie,'" suggested Enzo thoughtfully, having finished his entire meal at this point. "If it's a girl. When can you know what 'it' is?"

"Earliest at fourteen weeks," answered Meredith. "But most doctors wait til the eighteenth week." She looked at Maddy, who was slightly confused. "You're at around four or five weeks so you have a lot of time before you find out."

Maddy held up her fingers to count. "May... June... July... August..." she trailed off and mentioned the rest in her head, "So... I'm looking at giving birth in late December or early January?"

"Yes," confirmed Meredith. "Unless for some reason a hybrid or tribrid pregnancy is shorter than average or longer than average, then that's around the time you can expect your due date to be."

Damon, Stefan, and Enzo's eyes all looked ready to pop out of their sockets. "A what pregnancy?" said Stefan sharply. "Did you say 'tribrid?'"

"It's all theory," said Meredith quickly. "But um... your sister might either have just a werewolf, just a witch, a witch-wolf hybrid, a wolf-vampire hybrid, or a tribrid."

"What about witch-vampire hybrid?" asked Enzo. "Is that not possible?"

"I highly doubt that," said Meredith. "The child would need to be a siphoner to maintain both. Even the tribrid part is uncertain. There's no guarantee the child will retain its witch abilities— if it were to have them— once it turns. It could be that they're a werewolf-witch hybrid until they turn, and after that they're only a vampire-wolf hybrid. We won't know until it's born and until it grows."

Maddy nodded, to show she was listening. All the words were swimming in her head, and she was trying not to let the unknown overwhelm her. She couldn't afford to be so panicked.

The next two days helped her calm down from the initial news. She spent time with Bonnie, and hugged her as tightly as she could each time they parted ways. They'd made a plan: once Bonnie and Elena graduated, they would move to New Orleans to keep her company. Eventually, Jeremy would follow, and likely Matt if Rebekah was ever welcomed back into the Compound by Klaus.

She packed her things with the help of her brothers, already imagining what she wanted her room there to look like. So far, there seemed to be only good news. The Guerreras were no more. Hayley and Jackson had a plan to get the wolves back on their side, to keep them away from the witches. Soon enough, Maddy was boarding a plane alongside Jo, who was excited for her new adventure.

"We're gonna get this Traveler Spell mess sorted out," Damon promised. "As soon as that's done, we'll come and see you."

"Alright," she said brightly. "Thank you for everything. I'll call you when we get to the Compound."

Once their flight was well underway, she allowed herself to fall asleep, having kept her phone in airplane mode. Jo's was in the same condition, though she'd remained awake, watching a movie and enjoying the free drinks that came with their first class tickets, courtesy of the Salvatore and Mikaelson bank accounts.

Neither of them were able to answer Klaus as he called, about to beg them not to come to New Orleans now that he'd learned that both Mikael and Esther had come back to life.

A/N: Only took 52 chapters for Maddy to finally go to New Orleans lol. Also, I fit inside of a dryer? That's nice to know.