everyonelives | for the rest of us death will be a relief

We did. Beck's Ireland-famous steak and potatoes.

( So, that will answer that. )

They'll do anything that gets them closer to going to their home. Are... you okay with me bringing them there?

I assumed you would.

[She doesn't put any bite into that statement, because she assumes that Damon wants the answers to these questions too.]

And I kind of need you for the DNA test.

[Unless he's going to send a cotton swab with them which seems rather impersonal. It's easier if they're all together in person.]

If you can keep things civil, so can I.

I - yes. I'll, you have nothing to worry about.

( This is not about them, for once.

Dean, still, watches his very tired girlfriend, to see her reaction. What can he do. Does this work? )

Okay. Text me when you get to town. We'll figure out where to meet up.

[And after they say their goodbyes, Elena hangs up her phone and ... yes, she is very tired. She also seems a little shellshocked because what is she even supposed to do with this. It's not often that the surprise child is sprung on the mother.

She rubs her eyes, before looking over at Dean like:]

I swear I'm not trying to steal your thunder.

Hey, what can I even say? I spent the last month or two with my surprise kid.

( But, this matters more, then the shock. )

This crashing your system?

Little bit. I mean, I was just starting to get through the whole kidnapping thing, and ...

[She sighs, running her hand through her hair.]

I guess if I had kids out there in other worlds, I didn't expect them to be actually mine. I wasn't looking to make another doppelganger. Have another girl go through what I went through. I know it's magic and that's not how it works, but I was going to try to do my part.

[She passes him the phone so he can see the graduation picture.]

But looking at them it's kind of hard to argue. Maybe the other Elena felt ... safer.

( He studies the photo, though it doesn't look doctored. And why doctor half a vampire/doppelganger. To get them in the same place? )

Maybe she was happy with the other Damon. Maybe Damon being human made a difference. With that other Elena.

[Does that make the situation they're in now her fault then? Because she didn't give him the cure herself? It sounds like that Damon's situation was different, but ...

She takes a deep breath and shakes her head. She can't let herself go down that spiral. She's happy with her decisions and her life now. This doesn't change that.]

What are they going to think of me? I mean, I'm the one who left Damon. In their eyes, that makes it my fault.

They're going to think of you like we all think about our parents, eventually. They're people. Your Damon and you tried, he was a vampire, you were human. Their Elena's Damon became human. It changed things. If they know their parents, they'll see that. And, either way, you can't help what they think, anyway. I just wouldn't worry.

( But, he's gotten through a lot of his parental issues. )

I'm rusty on advice and opinions so if any of that came off wrong.

[She shakes her head because no. He's not wrong. She looks down at the picture again, and then shrugs.]

I guess even though they're not mine, I still don't want them to hate me.

[Though odds are that one of them might. She shakes her head.]

Regardless, it's going to be a crazy Christmas.

They won't hate you. This world or theirs, you're their mother. At a certain time in your lives, things veered off. I assume, that's your coma. But before that, you're you. There may be little differences here and there, but fundamentally. You're Elena Gilbert. And they are Elena Gilbert's kids.

( Dean does look forward at that, because )

Yeah, I kind of went crazy on the invites before all hell broke loose. I think Rowena's even coming.

We will figure it out. Honestly, it might be nice to have a big holiday. It's been a really long time since it's been anyone but me and Jeremy.

[That being said, she glances over at him curiously.]

Did you invite Ben?

Well, we got a lot to celebrate this year.

( Hopefully. )

I abandoned Ben, left him with mom and came here. ( Not on her, just saying it out loud because it's true. ) You think he'd hoof it up here? Maybe if I invite Lisa and Cliff Huxtable.

[Elena gives him a small, very fond look.]

Dean. You left because I was in trouble. Did you tell him you were going and why? Because if you did, that's not abandonment. It's only abandonment if you don't go back and just never call him again.

[She loves you, you ridiculous man. But you are ridiculous.]

And I think it might mean something if you're not just hovering on the edge of his world, but also invite him into yours.

Yeah, of course. I said it was serious. It looked serious.

( He was honest. )

Okay. You deal with your kids, I'll deal with mine. And... they'll all... meet.

That, plus a whole bunch of formerly dead parents if the group chat is to be believed.

[She exhales slowly.]

Maybe I can get Carol to help me plan.

[She will not monopolize Tyler's mother's time, but she basically did this for a living with the Founders events and she might be wanting something to do at that point. Especially if Tyler is off spending time with Matt.

Then she realizes something else.]

And we're also going to need to arrange for beds. Why don't you call Ben while I touch base with Tyler and see what our options are. I think he's in town currently.

Wouldn't call the chat's bluff.

( He smirks. Carol's Tyler's mom. He needs a diagram.

He nods, grasping his phone in his hand before taking hers and turning to face her, real seriously. )

So, we're going to comingle our kids.

( Such a weird fucking statement to make, but they are. )

And things are getting real real for us. And, they're only going to get more serious, which I truly suck at. So, just. Buckle up. I'm gonna say or do some boneheaded things. And you're going to have to be patient or you're going to have to kick my ass. But I'm going to be here for all of it, okay?

[She smiles back at him, because if anything, she craves the things that are real. She's always wanted a partner, wanted a family. It feels like for once, they're on the same page.]

I'm Elena Gilbert.

[She smirks, before leaning in to kiss him softly.]

Some people say I may have too much patience. I think I can handle it.

[As long as he doesn't go on a murder spree, there's probably nothing they can't solve.

Her bar truly is in Hell.]

( Murder spree's never out of the option for a Winchester, glad the bar is the infernal basement

But, as it is, he kisses her once more before unwinding from around her and getting to his feet. He does some mental time math before dialing Ben's number. )

[Ben is sprawled on his mom's couch, since it Mary argued it would be easier for everyone to stay safe if they were all in one place. Things are resolved, at least from what he could tell by Mary's demeanor, but he still maybe picks up his phone a little too fast when Dean's name pops up on the caller ID.]

Hey. Is Elena okay?

[Is everyone okay, really, but Elena was the one in the most trouble when Dean left.]

Hey, Ben. Yeah. She's good. She's out of danger. Coven's -- defunct. In this iteration. How're things there? Mom holding the fort down?

( He assumes they're all together. His mom would have it no other way. )

Yeah. I figured things were ... resolved, I guess, because she went from a ten to a two on the hypervigilance scale but she didn't share if she heard any news.

[Mary and Dean are hypervigilant in similar ways, so it's easy enough to recognize the signs.]

Sorry. Things're - really weird right now and we were both pretty exhausted. We're up now. Listen, what - what are you doing for Christmas?

( Ever the expert on changing the subject. )

Uh.

[Subject change whiplash is a thing, but he's kind of used to it with Dean at this point. He'll text to check in with Elena, because they do that now.]

Probably going to Aunt Cheryl's? Why?

Because, we're doing something in Mystic Falls. It's going to be a big to-do and, uh, we never do anything, so, I want - you to be there. If you want to be. Lisa and Rudy are invited, too, and Dickson.

( Is that his name? )

I know it's short notice, I just wanted to float it. I missed this time. And Mom's coming back up, anyway.

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