everyonelives | but oh what a year

She had a crush on him. And I think he did care, even if he didn't necessarily return her feelings.

[Stiles isn't a terrible person, as much as Isaac gave him shit and continues to give him shit. He thinks that Erica will at least want to test the waters of friendship, even if her crush will be officially unrequited, given the age difference now.

But he nods at what Bonnie says. It's true. They have each other. That isn't going to change.]

Are you worried about Enzo and your Grams?

( She nods at that. Complicated high school crap, check. Among the supernatural craziness. Check check. )

Worried? No. Grams has this way of being herself anywhere. Unapologetically. She will come back and not miss a beat.

( She sighs, crossing her ankles and dropping her head back. )

I don't know what to do about Enzo. It's been - it feels like forever. There was a time I thought I'd always have him in my heart. ( She's been closed off for so long. Her connection with Isaac felt natural. It progressed naturally. She trusted him. Enzo... ) I don't know what to do with Enzo, but I know he has more to say to Stefan, then to me. Stefan... killed him. During one of his periods he had his humanity off.

Yikes.

[He knows that Stefan is Bonnie's friend, but he also knows that it's complicated between them. This is probably one of the reasons why.]

Should we be worried that we're taking him to Damon's place then?

[Where Stefan and his vampire Slayer girlfriend are currently staying also.]

( One of the many reasons. And over time, her connection to Damon waned as well from the other side of the world. That letter really buried its hurt deep. )

I've decided it's not my problem. Stefan knows he's back. And, this time not as a ghost, so, it feels like an improvement. Plus, my grams implied he doesn't really seem... vengeful. I stayed vague, but, I had to know his state of mind. He made a lot of strides when he was with me. And when he wasn't, actually. I was incredibly proud of him. Still am.

Okay.

[That's good. Hopefully Enzo will remember all of that, and not just be waiting until they're together in person to figure things out.

He lets the silence sit between them before looking back at her.]

Should I be worried about your Grams?

Are you asking if she's going to put you through your paces as my boyfriend?

( She smiles to herself, before that smile dies. )

I don't know. She never lived long enough -- She'll have opinions but if I'm happy, and you not being a vampire will win you major points.

Score one for letting Derek get to me first.

[He jokes. And then he remembers that Derek is also going to be in the car so:]

Derek is also a quiet guy. Does a lot of communicating with his eyebrows. So if he doesn't say much, don't take it personally.

[He's very well-versed with his eyebrows. He can convey whole sentences with a dramatic arch. He's just not as good with his words.]

( She just makes a face. Sure. Horrifying start, but, here they are now, at least. )

I won't take anything Derek does personally. But, you two, I thought you weren't close anymore. He's not your -- Alpha.

No, but he was. And he's still the one that turned me.

[He also was the first person who truly understood all the angry parts of Isaac and gave him an outlet for them, even if it wasn't ultimately what Isaac needed.

Isaac needed someone to believe in him, not someone who thought the only way to protect him was to push him away. But the alpha pack was a bad year for everyone and by the time both Erica and Boyd were dead, he can see why, as an adult, Derek wanted his one remaining beta far away.]

He's still important to me, I guess. Even if he's not important in the same way.

There's nothing wrong with that. I'll ( pay him his dues accordingly, respect him, respect Isaac ) be on my best behavior. Try not to elicit an emotion for fear of one of his eyebrows. How does that sound?

That's not ... if he's being an asshole you can call him an asshole.

[He doesn't want her to feel like she has to dim herself for Derek's comfort, just for him.]

Just - he's not as chatty as my other friends you've met.

[She's met Stiles and Lydia and Allison, and they all are motormouths compared to Derek.]

I do want you to meet Scott one day though. And Melissa. Melissa doesn't leave Beacon Hills much, but maybe ... after the holidays, would you want to go to New Orleans for a little while? I think that's where Erica's going to be for a while, and Scott's been staying there with Davina.

[The McCalls are his family though, so since he's meeting hers, it's only fair she get to meet his.]

Oh, I will if he is.

( In her way. )

I'm not always chatty, myself.

( But, yes, she has met his other friends that definitely talk more than Derek. )

Scott's mom, right? ( But kind of like Isaac's second mom, too. She knows he spent time in the McCall house before Paris. She remembers hearing about it. ) I'd love to meet anyone and everyone. And, I think, maybe New Orleans could be a great new adventure. And I still haven't seen Beacon Hills.

[He relaxes some. He's still not the best at advocating for his own wants, but he's relieved that she seems to be interested in the idea.]

We could head out there at some point too. But cool. I'll text Scott and let him know.

[Scott will be pleased, he thinks. He and Isaac didn't really get to spend much time together the last time they saw each other, because he was heading off to New Orleans. It'll be good to take their time.

And just in time, his phone pings with a text from Erica, saying that they're heading towards the pick up section.]

And that's our cue.

( Honestly, as far away from Kai as she can get, she's into that idea.

Scott will be pleased! He loves Isaac and he'd live with him in a heartbeat. He just wnats him happy.

Bonnie settles back, giving him an encouraging look, ready to be there for him when they all come face to face. )

[Isaac puts the car in drive, and they head off to the terminal, pulling to a stop in front of the doors. Almost as though on cue, Erica pops out of the doors, making a beeline towards the car with Erica in it, assuming that Derek is close behind her.

She pulls open the side door and greets them both with a bright smile.]

Hey.

[She slides into the middle row, all the way over to leave room for Derek, and pulls Isaac into a hug from behind. Isaac pauses, eyes closing as he catches her scent again, and suddenly all of this feels far more real than when she was just a person on the other end of the phone. "Hey," he says softly, his hand coming up to rest over her arm.

Then he nods to the woman next to him. "This is Bonnie."

He told her about Bonnie, but seeing her in person is another thing entirely. Erica flashes her a smile all the same, before giving a wave.]

Hey. I'm Erica.

( Bonnie turns, giving Erica and then Derek a smile and letting Isaac and Erica have their moment. She looks at Derek, who watches Erica and Isaac, and takes in the familiar scents as well, what it used to be like. It's been hard, having Erica back, but only because Derek feels like he failed her - and Boyd. And - also, Isaac. But, Hayley has been good at reading between those lines. So, Derek sits back, gruffly half-smiles at Bonnie.

"Derek." )

Hey, Derek, Erica. Welcome to Virginia. It's nice to meet both of you. Any music preferences for the ride?

( Music choices say a lot about a person. She wants Erica to feel comfortable. Derek just finds Isaac's eyes in the rearview. The 'is she serious' look. )

[Isaac gives him a silent look back that says 'serious enough.' He's not going to tell Derek he doesn't have to answer, but he has a feeling he will be judged all the same.

Erica, on the other hand, pulls back to settle in her seat as she considers her options.]

I have been gone so long I don't really know what's cool anymore. Hope and Josie were trying to catch me up a little, but ... it's a lot. Got any recs?

Probably too many, but what if I try and bridge the gap. What did you like? Maybe we can find something similar. Or, honestly, it's easy to find any song on any phone these days. Try me.

( Do your worst!

But, also, Derek is not answering this. But if he did. He'd probably like to listen to Smashing Pumpkins or Nirvana. But this is more Erica's ride, than his. )

Is Rhianna still a thing? Oh! Or Jessie J?

[She'll really take anything with a beat at the end of the day. Trying to move on from the sad girl music of her pre-werewolf days.

But as they're discussing the music, Bonnie receives a text from Shelia that she and Enzo are ready to be retrieved.]

Both are accessible. Oh. Grams and Enzo are a few gates down.

( She directs Isaac to the terminal number.

As Isaac navigates, she pulls up music on Isaac's phone, pausing the Christmas playlist - her idea. And she chooses "Diamonds" seeing if that does something for Erica. )

[Erica grins because yes, that does sound very familiar.]

Perfect.

[This was definitely on one of her playlists. Boyd would always point out how diamonds don't shine, they sparkle, and ... well, now she misses Boyd. So she shoves those sad thoughts down as Isaac pulls away and heads to the next terminal.

Shelia and Enzo emerge from the doors as they pull up, with considerably less luggage as Melanie got them a few basics before they left but figured they would be better supplied once they arrived. With a small bag tucked over her shoulder, she scans the cars until she catches sight of her granddaughter's face as Isaac pulls to a stop.

"There they are."]

( Enzo is fine with one incredibly nice small suitcase of things, plus a few airplane bottles for the road. He insisted they share a little whiskey on the flight over. He got to know interesting things about Sheila from Sheila, and it pained him because, eventually, this could have been his grandmother. But, he shelves that idea in the back of his mind. She can be his friend. His partner in back-from-the-dead crime. He steels himself, his only bag in hand as he inhales - and then exhales. He's fine.

"They are there," he says.

Even though they don't need help, and she probably shouldn't, Bonnie is first out of the car to throw her arms around her grandmother. )

[Shelia takes that hug without a second thought, winding her arms around her and pulling her close. It's been a long time since they've had a hug like this, a real hug without time limits or strings, and she intends to linger in it as long as the airport police will allow.

She pulls back with a small smile, looking Bonnie in the face with a smile.]

Hello. Hasn't been as long as it usually is, but it's still good to see you.

I can't even believe it. You're really here. Here, here, and not in Belle's castle.

( Or, the Other Side. )

I love you so much. And I miss you more.

I missed you too. But we should probably get in the car before the airport police decide your boyfriend's been lingering a little too long.

[She can see the uniformed officers getting antsy. She pulls back and gives Bonnie's hand a squeeze, before heading towards the car.]

We'll have plenty of time when we get where we're going.

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