everyonelives | but oh what a year

Oh, yikes.

[She glances over to Bonnie in sympathy.]

Growing up here must have been ... interesting.

[To put it lightly.]

( "They painted it pretty and threw some events that have been discontinued, at least," she answers with half a shrug.

"People really liked dressing up for Founder's Day and for the yearly screening of Gone with the Wind." Even if it was problematic. )

I like Gone with the Wind, but it is a product of its' time.

I've never seen it.

[She didn't really have the time and she liked superheroes more.

Isaac shakes his head. "You're not missing much. I've come to like the real people better."

Erica tips her head to the side and stares at him.]

What?

["We met them at Thanksgiving. Scarlett bought me a very expensive shirt to make up for throwing me in a lake to save my life."]

The castle exploded. The landing ruined Scarlett's heels. But, she and Rhett were both of help to everyone outside and inside.

( They're very fun. A beat. )

They're real and they're vampires.

[Erica continues to stare before spinning around to look at Shelia. She raises and eyebrow and Shelia shakes her head.]

Don't look at me, I didn't know this either.

[She smirks.]

Even at my age, you still learn something new every day.

Scarlett would love you, Grams.

( Rhett would, too. And their son, Wes. Grams has a way of everyone liking her, taking her seriously, not underestimating her. )

[Little does she know she's already met Wes and yes, Bonnie's prediction is true. Shelia smirks before nodding.]

Let's worry about all the people we're getting together for Christmas first. Then we'll worry about getting Gone with the Wind.

Hey, who knows. They could be there. Scarlett and Stefan are friends, and now Damon and Melanie. I bet the invitation was sent. Maybe even Wes, ( She says, turning to Isaac. They just don't know. ) They're actually in Star City right now, too. Melanie Hamilton helped you?

Yes, she did. And I did meet her nephew Wesley.

[So two of four complete.]

But I don't believe they're planning to attend our little get together, or they would have said so.

[And now that Enzo is out of the car and they're moving on to the wolf house, why not a bit of hot gossip:]

And Enzo wouldn't have had to make alternate plans.

( She watches Enzo make his way up the drive and turns back to her grandmother. )

What kind of alternate plans?

( Back a short time and the gossip is already flowing. )

[The gossip is always the fun part. As Isaac pulls out of the driveway and heads towards the wolf house, Shelia shrugs.]

He and Miss Hamilton were making plans to meet up for New Year's. I don't know where just yet, but he seemed intrigued.

Well, he deserves the intrigue.

( Especially with coming back. With the both of them losing out on their happy ending. )

I think Melanie could be good for him.

I'll take your word for it.

[It doesn't take them long to get to the wolf house from Damon's - fancy neighborhoods lend themselves to larger houses and they needed a big house. As they're pulling up, Sam is coming back from running some kind of errand for Carol, and he gives a small wave to Isaac and Bonnie, before heading inside, looking for Allison:

"They're back from the airport."

Erica follows him as he goes. "Is that Jackson's boyfriend or Allison's?"]

( Bonnie waves back at him before she turns to face Erica. )

That is Allison's boyfriend, Sam. He may be the tallest person you'll ever meet. He's very sweet, a little quiet. The very opposite of his brother, who's dating my friend, Elena. You'll meet him at the Christmas party.

Cool.

[Time to find out whether Derek and Isaac are right about Allison. She grabs her stuff and slides out of the car, making her way up to the front door. Pack house and she's pack so she's going to fight the urge to hesitate and just slide in the door.]

Hello. Anybody other than Sam here?

[Because she saw Sam. She's not going to pretend she didn't for the sake of a bit.]

( Erica's voice echoes throughout the house. Jackson and his boyfriend are still in their room, but Allison hears Erica from the kitchen where she offered Sam some water. )

We're in here!

[Erica takes a deep breath before swinging into the kitchen and ... wow, Sam really is so tall. Even when he's kind of slouch-leaning against the counter. There's a brief glance at him before her eyes roll to Allison and she's back to being awkward again.

Isaac and Derek said it would be fine. She will trust Isaac and Derek.

She will not have flashbacks to her running her and Boyd down in a field. The nervousness is there, but she tries to pull her shield back around herself but Allison is older now, and she can probably see through the cracks in it, more so than she could as a teenager.]

Hey.

Hey, Erica. Are you thirsty?

( Her memories aren't as indelible to Allison as they are to Erica and it has been a few years. But she remembers her grief and the violence that erupted from it. She's got two glasses out, but turns when she asks back to the cabinet. )

Sure.

[Whatever they've got is fine. Her eyes wander to Sam again and he gives her a wave. "Hi. I'm Sam."]

Erica.

[A beat as she frowns. If he's Sam and his brother's named Dean -]

Are you friends with the guy in the trenchcoat that just appears out of nowhere?

[Sam snorts. "Yeah, Cas. You showed up with Ellen, right?"

Erica nods.]

She's not ... looking to kill werewolves, is she? Because I think I kind of spooked her.

[Sam shakes his head. "You're fine. There was a lot happening and she knows that you guys are allies."

Erica does relax some and nods.]

Okay. Cas did seem like a nice guy, aside form the nonconsensual teleportation.

( A third glass joins the two others and she pours from the water pitcher on the counter. )

Cas is... a little strange. ( She sets the glass of water in front of Erica. ) But, he's on our side. And our side is - bigger than it once was. ( She gives Sam a quick look before moving around the counter toward Erica. ) Erica, I was never able to apologize - about what happened during our sophomore year. I don't know what Isaac told you, but, that doesn't matter. All that matters is, I say sorry for what I did.

[An apology is not what she was expecting. Maybe a brush off or people continuing to tell her that everything is fine now. She startles slightly, her back straightening, and she nods slowly.]

Okay.

[She's not mad about it anymore, but she doesn't think they're going to all of the sudden be besties either, so okay seems good enough for right now.]

Your grandfather isn't still alive, right?

[Is she going to wind up getting electrocuted in the basement again?]

No. He died a long time ago. And, for the record, I am so sorry for him and everything he stood for. He played on an anger I didn't know I could tap into. I don't anymore. I don't think it's healthy to go there. And if I could do it all over again, ( with the right facts ) I would.

[Erica nods again, a bit of relief that at least one monster is off the board.]

Scott says you're part of the pack now, so. Guess we'll figure it out.

[And again, she promises she's not going to try and steal her boyfriend again.

And before this can get too long and awkward, Shelia, Bonnie and Isaac will come loudly in the door and Sam will give Allison's arm a small squeeze before going to greet them, and/or stall. Give Allison and Erica some more time if they need it.]

The house seems really nice. Do I get my own room?

( A part of her runs a part of it, tactically, but everyone decides on things equally. Unless there are the hard decisions.

Allison leans in. ) You do, for as long as you need it, though, most of us will probably gone by New Years.

( Bonnie lets Isaac do the leading, while Derek takes the back, letting everyone get in first. Sam has earned a hug hello! )

["Yeah, I'm going back to New Orleans with Derek when he leaves," Erica nods. "I like it there. It feels ... different." She thinks the more different it is from home, the better.

Sam smiles, and returns the hug from Bonnie, before looking over at Shelia.]

Hi, Miss Shelia.

["Bonnie really wasn't kidding about you getting tall," Shelia shakes her head. "How's your brother?"]

Dean is good.

["And your father?"]

He passed. And he's not one of the people who came back.

[Which is probably for the best, given the givens.

"I'd say I'm sorry to hear it, but I don't think he liked me much," Shelia smirks, and Sam winces.]

Yeah, not so much. But I'm glad to see you.

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