18. One Way or Another

Complete story — includes the ending

Damon arranges an ambulance as Marty Hammond's state worsens. Alaric and Damon track down Ambrose - the vampire who has taken residence in Stefan's body. After both Marty Hammond and Stefan's body are arranged, Valerie does the transfer spell during which she realizes that Stefan was meant to be with Caroline and she should not be in their way. After fixing Stefan, she lets go of him on good terms and parts ways to explore the world. Damon apologizes for his selfish desiccation decision and begs Alaric to get back to being friends who blankly refuses stating that he has been better and safer without being disturbed by Damon and he does not want things to go back to the way they were. Cut-to Bonnie in a psychiatric ward in Asheville, where she has been taking the pills for over three years, to stay off The Armory's radar; she learns that they needed her to open some basement vault once sealed shut by a Bennett witch. Enzo gives her a visit and lets her know that these pills would eventually kill her so she should stop taking them. Just as they hug, Bonnie sees Damon standing outside her room holding flowers. He has come to apologize to her but cannot bring up anything to say. A tear falls from Bonnie’s face before she slams the door shut.