Chapter 51: A Party for a Free Man
The Salvatore house had always witnessed blood, fire, tears, and death. But on this day, it smelled of cake. Which was… strange.
"Why does it smell like sweet frosting in here?" Alexander grimaced the moment he stepped into the foyer.
Stefan answered, coughing lightly as he approached him with a barely-concealed act, "No particular reason."
Alexander narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "You hate cake."
"Yes, I do." Stefan shrugged. "But Bonnie doesn't. And she asked me to smile and agree. So I did."
"And where is Bonnie?" Alexander asked, glancing around suspiciously.
The house was eerily quiet. And silence here was never a good omen—either something was about to explode, or someone had died.
"She told me to bring you back before six. Said she needed some time." Stefan looked up at the wall clock. "It's six-oh-three."
Suddenly, the lights went out all across the house. Alexander froze in place.
"Stefan…"
"I didn't do anything."
Then, as if it had been a coordinated signal, the lights came back on—the chandeliers lit up in harmony, fairy lights dangled across the living room, and a large banner hung over the fireplace reading: "Finally Free!"
A chorus of voices shouted from the shadows, "Surprise!"
Alexander blinked in astonishment. A crowd of faces stood before him. Bonnie, smiling from ear to ear. Caroline and Elena clapping enthusiastically. Klaus and Elijah, unexpectedly present, dressed semi-formally. Alaric with a drink in hand. Even Rebekah stood in the corner, smiling with a hint of mischief.
Alexander opened his mouth in surprise. "What is going on?"
Bonnie stepped toward him and took his hand. "You're free now. No curse, no restraints, no pain. And that deserves to be celebrated."
Damon entered from the hallway with a drink in hand, looking resigned. "I told them you'd hate this."
Alexander kept looking around, still trying to process it all. "I... what?"
Bonnie repeated, her voice warm and gentle, "You're a free man. And I wanted to give you one good day. Just one day… with everyone who cares about you."
Alexander blinked again. Then, finally, a faint smile formed on his lips. "Alright… one day."
Damon raised his glass. "He agreed! Mark the date, everyone: Alexander said yes to something not involving blood."
Laughter erupted through the room. Stefan patted his brother's shoulder. "Come on, man. You deserve this."
---
The music was soft, a mix of old jazz and some odd tracks Bonnie had approved for dancing, which Klaus pretended to dislike, though his foot tapped involuntarily. Alaric brought out an old bottle of something rare. Damon scoffed, "Thought you were saving that for me."
Alaric replied with a grin, "Alexander died and came back. You sat in the rain drinking bourbon."
Elena nudged Damon in the arm. "He's got a point."
Alexander sat on the couch, watching them all. Bonnie was beside him, her hand resting calmly on his. And for the first time in his life… he wasn't thinking about pain, or revenge, or fire.
He was thinking about peace.
He said quietly, "I don't know how to be this person."
She leaned in closer, smiling. "Start with cake. It's vanilla. Your favorite flavor."
He raised his eyebrows in surprise. "How did you know?"
"You mumbled it in your sleep once after being stabbed."
Damon passed behind them at the perfect moment to hear it, and quipped, "So romantic. Nothing says true love like cake confessions after a stabbing."
---
An hour later, Stefan tried to teach Alexander how to dance.
It was not a success.
"I will not move my hips," Alexander muttered with disdain.
"You have to," Stefan laughed. "It's called rhythm."
"I've fought blood monarchs and survived. I won't humiliate myself by shaking my hips in front of Klaus Mikaelson."
Across the room, Klaus smiled slyly. "I've killed for less, my friend."
Damon took a sip of his drink. "You all need therapy."
Caroline took Stefan by the hand and spun away from his embarrassed brother, while Elena pulled Damon toward the dance floor with a sly grin. He pretended to resist, but didn't.
Bonnie took Alexander's hand and led him toward the edge of the room.
He said quietly, "I don't know how to dance."
"But you can try."
So he did. His dancing was awkward, stiff, but Bonnie smiled through every moment.
She whispered to him, "You're terrible."
He replied, "I warned you."
Still dancing with him, she said, "And yet… I'm still dancing with you."
And he had nothing to say to that.
---
As the night went on, the house glowed with warmth and laughter.
Klaus and Elijah left eventually, with their usual promises of vengeance if anything went wrong again.
Rebekah hugged him briefly. "You're less boring now."
Caroline and Elena pulled Bonnie into the kitchen to chat, leaving the three brothers sitting on the front porch.
Alexander sighed as he relaxed into his seat.
Stefan looked at him and asked, "How do you feel?"
Alexander lifted his gaze toward the sky. "I feel… like I can finally breathe."
Damon nodded, swirling his drink in his glass. "You did good, brother. You made it."
Alexander gave a small smile. "Didn't think I would."
Stefan raised his glass. "To freedom."
Damon followed, "And cake."
Alexander finally raised his glass. "And family."
And for one moment—a whole, perfect moment—the world was quiet, and kind, and whole again.
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