The Last Lockwood - Legacies

16

December, 2017

Salvatore Boarding House -- Living Room

Tyler's coffin is in the corner of the room, where Stefan is looking down at his corpse, pondering what Damon had done. Elaine had stated the obvious. He killed him. Orphaning the young Eli Lockwood.

Stefan didn't know Tyler had a son. It was new to him. The boy is five years old. And he just witnessed his older brother tearing into Tyler's throat. And that's going to live with him for all time.

"It's not gonna bring him back." Caroline's voice broke Stefan out from starring at his body.

"Tyler deserved more than to be collateral damage in whatever game Sybil's playing with Damon." Stefan said to her.

"Yeah. I can't even remember our last conversation. We haven't talked in months. We've both been so busy. After everything we went through, I guess I just always assumed that he would be there. I didn't even know he... I didn't even know he had a kid." Caroline would have been angry at Tyler or be heartless towards him for sleeping with someone when he was with her. But... all she can do is mourn the man she knew. And feel horrible, because he wasn't just a friend to them. Best friend if she's being frank. But he was a father to a little boy.

"I'm at a loss with Damon. He killed in front of a kid. He's going carry the memory of what Damon did for a long time. And I don't know what to do with him anymore." Stefan shook his head.

"Maybe the best thing to do is just to mourn Tyler with his son. We all owe him that. And... maybe convince Eli's aunt that he can stay. I mean Mystic Falls is..."

"His home?" Stefan asked. "Caroline, Elaine made it clear that she's not gonna have her only nephew stay in a town full of vampires. And she's the last relative he has now. We have no choice."

"So we have to let him?" Caroline asked bitterly.

"Unless Tyler has Will somewhere that says one of us will take full custody of him, we have to let him live with his aunt. Plus, it's not safe for him here, Caroline."

Caroline and Matt (who was listening), knew that Stefan was right. The latter wish he wasn't. Indeed wished for a lot of things. He wished Stefan and Damon never came to town. Or The Mikaelsons or any other supernatural crap that came to bring trouble on their town. And he wished he can keep Eli around. Even from as a six year old, he looks so much like his dad. And if Matt were to keep him, it be like having a piece of his best friend.

But he can't. 

🐺🧛🏻‍♂️

Mystic Fall Cemetery

Matt, Stefan, Caroline and Alaric are carrying Tyler's coffin through the cemetery towards the other Lockwood graves, to be buried with his family.

Eli hasn't left his aunt's side, as he dressed in his little suit. The boy showed little emotion. Still traumatized about what he saw that night. And he's going get even more scared as Damon's head pops up from what of the holes he was digging.

"I was wondering when you guys were gonna show up. Body's probably starting to smell a little bit. Tried to keep it as intact as I could. But I got to admit, I got a little carried away about the whole ripping-the-throat-out thing. My apologies to Donovan. I'm sure you cleaned him up real nice. And sorry to Lockwood Jr. Would have killed him too, but I thought taking his daddy away and seeing the look on his face would be priceless."

Matt looks back at Eli, whose aunt is covering his eyes as he remembers Damon's vampire face. This angers Donovan and he pulls out a stake. "What are you gonna do with that? Stake me? Go ahead, try it. But first... take your pick. 'Cause I'm gonna bury everyone of you."